STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES,

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 6

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES,

By Daovßß.

Weekly Stock Sales : Invercargill, Tuesdays Burnside, "Wednesdays Monthly : Ashburton, Tuesdays oiinton, Palmerston, Addington, Wednesdays an d -winton. Fortnightly: Periodically : Balclutha, Fridays Heriot.Kelso, and KyeGore, Tuesdays j burn. Oamaru, Tuesdays. | [GommusicAtions of interest to stockbreeders and dealers »ro oordiallr invited. All jominunioatioui to reach Witness office not later than Monday niitit.l

The yarding of cattle at Burnside last week consisted of prime cattle and very inferior — 130 head in all. The competition for prime beef wae keen, and prices for best bullocks ranged from £8 10* to £9 10s, a few extra prime and large going at £10 and £11. Inferior beef was much neglected. Butchers now seem to confine their competition to the best sorts. Ifc seems that the day of competing as to who shall sell meat cheapest is past, and I think that the corporation abattoirs will continue to be of immense benefib to all farmers, and have a tendency to maintain good prices. What is now wanted is regulation among tbe agents as to the number of cattle that should be yarded. The quantity required for town supply can be fairly well gauged, and with regard to the cattle yardings this matter should be attended to. I do not anticipate much over supply for some time to come, but later on we may expect to see yardings far in excess of requirements, with the usual result; of lower prices. If farmers were to insist upon it I think agents cculd be got to arrange this matter among themselves for the benefit of all ecncerned. Otherwise, despite the advantages in prospect from the abattoirs, the fat cattle market at Burnside will, as in the past, be little better than a lottery, causing loss and disappointment more often than not.

The' yarding of sheep was over 2000, bufc few among this number were prime mutton. Notwithstanding that export buyers were not operating, prices for prime mutton, improved, and more could have been sold. Prime wethers brought 14s to 15s ; good, 12s 6d to 13s 6d • prime butchers' ewes, lls to 12s 6d ; some nice small mutton, 10s 6d. The sale for all good mutton was brisk and lively, but for the large number of the yarding of inferior sheep there was no demand at all.

All batchers now leave the old owe severely Alone ( in fact, the action of the corporation inspactors and the keen interest taken in the question of healthy meat by the public have quite "established a funk" with regard to this aged female, whose destination must now be the digester alone. There is, however, a large quantity of really good healthy meat which will never pass muster as butchers' meat, and which is the very thing required for "meat preserving, where lean meat is requisite ; and I must say that in this province we are not up-to-date yet in our prese mig works. It seems to me that meat-preserving works could be established and Qon4n.cse.d JU 06761^1 jgftfbß o£ the CQUAfcr. XfaU

olas9 of sheep should be dealt with there for many reasons, nob the least being thab the values will nob stand the expense of driving or railing to town. A good boiling-down and meatpreserving establifchmenfc sufficient to do the work required ia various centres does nob involve a very large expenditure of capital, aad I think this question worthy of the attention of farmers. The demand for good tinned meat is one thab shows signs of increase everywhere. This business hai in the past been overshadowed by the frozen meat; industry, but we must endeavour to have both on up-to-date lines, and the one will materially assist the other.

Lambs, I regret to see, conbinue bo be yarded, but there is very litblo demand for even prime lamb. Most of those yarded were only stores. Ib seems to me that sending in these lambs ia very unprofitable. The fact should be realised that the lamb season has closed.

Greater attention ia now being generally given bo pig-rearing and fattening. Statistics will show that pigs have bean steadily increasing in numbers ia the colony and ab the same time ib is most satisfactory bo note thab the demand more than keeps pace with the increase, 'and prices improve also. The traie in bacon with all the Australian colonies is growing fa«t, several of our largest curers being quite unable this year to fill the orders received. There i s room yefe for a considerable increase in our pigs, for we have always a London export trade, which would ab any time absorb our surplus and keep prices right. It would appear, however, thab some time must elapse before we need this outlet.

With regard to our frozen meat trade, the utter want of organisation iv the conduct of ifc from start to finish astonisht-s everyone who takes any interest in the nmtbter. I regret to say that the large bulk of farmers seem to fc*ke little or no interest in ib. Many, I i egret to say, seem to think far more of the frozen rabbit industry. It ab any rate is in better hsnets, and seems to be better managed than our frozen meat trade has ever been. The following from the circular written by our old friend Mr T. Mackenzie for various f&cmerb' cooperative scebfcies he represents in London should interest faroiero. It seems that Mr Macksnzia expsots seme scheme of combination and distribution will be placed before New Zealand producers, and I sincerely hope this will ba so ; but at the same time I heartily wish thab New Zealand producer-* were a little more actively interested in this matter themselves. Only a scheme of working in- which they are actively interested by co-operabiou will be of any u«e. I expect nothing from " tbe powers that be," though even they seem now to realise thab there is something wrong in their methods. This in itself is a sign for the better, as ia the pssb most of their leading lights told us thab the possible had been attained, and they always said, and I believe honestly thought, thab their plan of woiking and management could nob be improved upon. I have always held a different opinion, as readers of these notes will remember. Mr Msu;kaaz:e i alludes to us as •• Disjointed Naw Zealand," | and certainly on this matter we are very much | so. Under thab heading he says :—: —

Various meetings h»ve been held during the pasb three weeks of holders of New Zealand lamb, with a view to checking a downward tendancy in prices brought about by a few consignees cutting prices. Although some slight benefit h»s resulted from the combination arranged, skill the position has been abandoned, owing to one or two holders placing at rates below those agreed upon. The unfortunate feature connected with the cutting 'of prices is that those who are disloyal secure the market and place their stock*, and are consequently in a. position to showvjbetter results to the shippers than those who are loyal and hold for the reasonable prices agreed upon. This experience aU'poiafcs to tha necessity of combination. Why will the New Zealand sheep-farmers not arcuse themselves and recognise that unless their output is placed under one controlling body here the trade will surely and gradually becoma profitless. Although the get-up of soroe of our mest is not all that is desired, still tha facb remains that our colony's mutton and lamb occupies the premier position on the British market. The use of frozen meab (New Zealand) is becoming very general among the middle-class people, and they now depend upon obtaining regular supplies. They insist on being served with New Zealand mutton and lamb ; in fact, oar meat has now become a necessity in the domestic ecsnomy of the average British household — a necessity to the class who ate willing to pay a reasonable price for a good article. \b follows, tnerefore, thab if we produce the fiaesfc quality of meat, and if the consuming British public will insist on having that meat, it should be possible to devise a mode of distribution free from the present internecine warfare which As going on, and I venture to predict that before long some scheme of combination and distribution will be devised and placed before the New Zealand producers.

The winter show was again a success, and was, I think, fully as interesting as previous shows. The farmers and dairymen attended in large numbers, and the interest in all competitions was as keen as ever. The show of cheese and butter was, as usual, a main feature. The quantity was, perhaps, not quita so large as in previous years. Edendale, which generally has a large exhibit, did not show any, the reason being, I believe, that they forgot about entering until the time was past, although I did hear it said that Mr T. Scouiar, the manager, who has been very successful in pant; years, this year stood out to allow a lady to win. Be that as it may, the ftPNairn Cup was carried off by Miss Dumblefcon, of the Mataura Factory, a result that by no means surprised those who know the winner and her make of cheese. Miss Dumbleton's brothers at Dalefisld, Faatherston, and Woodlands will feel proud, and next year I hope to see if they can hold their own against their sißter. The butter was, I think, equal in quality to last year's exhibits, but I don't think tha cheese was equal in quality to that of the two previous years, the flavours being inferior. This has also been the case, I notice, during the season's shipments. The question is, Who is to blame ? and it seems to me that we are still more careless than we should be with regard lo the condition of milk supplied to factories. Without mjlk. jfta. make* Qfta_jjroduoa A. fliMti-elasa

article, and, in my, opinion, ifc is to tie supply ing of good milk that the main attention of farmers must ba directed. So far as one can see, our factory managers are fairly up-to-data in dealing with the manufacture, but in some cases they have not the power they should have to reject unsuitable milk. This is a matter that must be attended to, for a few gallons of bad milk will at any time spoil 700 gal or 800 gal of good milk. The shows from the counties were one of the best sights of the exhibition), and were admired by everyone. Although Bruce County won, the others deserve very great credit. I hops to see all counties competing next year. Mr O. Sorentoa gave a most interesting lecture on butter-making. It was one of tie most lucid and interesting lectures ever de> livered, and the Departmeafc of Agriculture are to be congratulated on having a mia of Mr Sortnsen's practical ability to impart; instruction. I feave been through a considerable part of the dairying districts of New Zealand lately, and was struck with the advance observable both in quantity and quality, more particularly in Tar»« aaki. A few years ago cheese made in Tarasaki was not looked upon as by 'any means equal to that made in Southland and Ofcago. Now there is such an improvement that in future competitions where southern makers meet our northern friends they, will have to improve on this year* show form, for I am of opinion that had some of the best Taranaki cheese beea shown here the M 'Nairn Cup might probably have been taken across Cook Strait. In Taranaki dairying is the one and only thing, and immense interest is takes in everything pertaining to the industry The advance in improvement of plant and methods is more marked than in any other part. Oa all hands lam told thab much of the improvement is due to the work of the Department of Agriculture in its various efforts te instruct farmers, and certainly the depart" i ment and its staff of 'instructors deserve credit;. I Whatever it has cost, the colony has got full value, and I hope to see the department making still further efforts. A few daya' trip in Taranaki would show any one what tha dairy" ing industry has done for settlement on the land, and prosperous settlement too.