STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 7

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

' Bt Dbotbb. "Wwltly Stock Sales: j Monthly: Burastde, Wednesdays Ngapara, first TbuiaAshbuiton, Tuesdays ' <*«y in «•<* month Addition, Wednesdays Glenavy, second W«dWaiareka Railway ****** in each "J 0 "*} 1 Junction, Tuesdays Duntroon, second Friday m each month Fortnightly: Clinton, Palmerfiton, Bulclutha, Fridays "Winton, and "WaiGore, Tuesdays kouaiti. Oamaru, Tuesdays Periodically : laYercargill, Tuesdays ,Heriot, Kelso, Kyebura At all stock markets last week store lambs were in remarkably good demand, but for sheep generally the market was not so brisk. There is no active demand by exporters for mutton, the- local trade taking the yardings at higher prices than exporters are prepared to pay. At Addington there was an easier tone in the export lamb market, although prices were about maintained. Cable advices from London report that despite small stocks on hand frozen meat — lamb included — is dull and even depressed. Probably the reason for this is the fact, according to reliable private advices, that during January a-nd February 900,000 lambs will land from Australia and 135,000 from Argentina. This indicates that the lamb export trade from Argentina is developing very rapidly. This quantity to land in January and February , is in excess of almost any previous whole year from Argentina. For the four previous years Argentina lambs imported into Great' Britain, were as follows: — 1904, 135.891 carcases ; 1905, 127,290 ; 1906, 66,155 ; 1907, 109,04-7. It is quite certain that the export of lamb from Australia ,will be fully equal to that of last year, while from New Zealand there will be a large increase. I am of opinion there can be no rise in prices, as come appear to expect, and if I weTe a. farmer I would keep on selling drafts of fat lambs and sheep as they were ready, and be cautious in buying store stock, not allowing speculating dealers to run the market up beyond proper value, as has nearly always been the case in past seasons. j Farmers should take particular note of ' the new railway regulations re the weight of grain in backs. This is strictly limited to 2001b, and if any 6acks exceed this weight the freight to be charged is to be four times the ordinary rates. This rule will be enforced both in regard to the oominsr harvest grain and to grain now in stack or in store. The- matter will be serious for farmers if they do not pay strict attention to this regulation, &o I think it advisable to mention it in these notes. We have heard a great deal lately about the dairy inspection and its now famous regulations. Mr Gilruth disclaims having had anything to do with them, and seems to think the whole success of the scheme for an improved milk supply is bound up with the management and control of it by veterinary surgeons. With regard to the inspection of cows to ascertain whether they are free from disease, so far as milk supply for human -consumption is concerned, of course this i^ all-important. In regard to the milk supply to factories all cows should be free from disease, bat I regret to 6ay this is not always the case. Th<>re is reason to -believe both tuberculosis and mammitis are not unknown in various parts of the- Dominion, and if Veterinary .surgeons alone are to deal with these matters the staff will inquire to be largely increased. But I do not think this is necessary. My beiief is that the Stock Department oan give sufficient training and information to men to enable them to deal to a great extent with these diseases, and they could always fall back on the veterinaries in cases of doubt or difficulty. Our Stock Department men, although not trained veterinaries, have done good work of late years in coping with disease. They have proved themselves good judges as to disease, and where ca«es in dispute have boon referred to veterinaries for final decision the decision of the stock inspector has almost invariably been upheld. As to Mr Clifton's new inspectors, although > it appears Mr Gilruth did not teach them, j they have receded a ]on# conr~r of tuition from cne of the b<?=t ifterinary purgeons., and also in hygienic matters from a. lead- j ing medical man. Many of them I know ' aro good young men, brought up on the ] land among dairymen. They have all been selected by Mr Clifton, absolutely independent of political control. Farmers in past year» had a bad experience with inspectors in the Rabbit Department—^too freouently, it is to be feared, appointed as the result of political influence. There is nothing of that sort in the case of Mr Clifton's men, and I think they win, as they deserve, be well received by farmers and_ do jrocd work that much needs doing — viz., bring a percentage of milk-suppliers into proper line as regards milk supply j and cleanliness. lam not ("baling with the milk supply to towns, a* I know little about it, beyond the fact tliat matters, in this respect have been veiy much, improved by the Stock Department of late , \ears. With respect to tue supply to ; factories, what is mo<?t needed i<j an improvement of the methods <}t -wing for tth«

milk after it comes from the cow, and 6ee» ing that the premises and surroundings are clean. A veterinary is not needed to accomplish this. Mr Clifton's men, on the other hand, have a training m all the best methods to accomplish this. They have not yet had a chance to show what they can do, as I think the Government have lately been afraid to let any of them loose on the country, as the politicians had" so stirred up all farmers about these wicked? regulations. Farmers know well the regulations were tentative, and Mr Clifion always explained that they would aot b© unduly pressed. The whole movement is really in its experimental stage. It is quite a new thing for any Government te propose suoh a scheme as the late Minister did amidst applause from the great dairymen's gathering at Palmerston North. Where Mr M'Nab made his mistake that caused all the trouble wae in 6ubmitting his -regulations to Parliament. He need not have done so. The act was in operation, and he had the power to frame bis regulations and put them into force. "Way they should have been submitted to the Stock Committee is uncomprehensible. The Minister of Railways might as well let members of Parliament have the details of cleaning railway yards or engine sheds' submitted to them. Even farmere ma*b a political question of the reguiation£. s and differed widely as to matters they hadF previously agreed on. I should like to sea, the Agricultural Department lifted above and kept clear of politics. Only then wiB 1 it be really useful.

There is to be a conference of th* National Dairy Association at Invercargill on Thursday, February -"11, at 7 p.m., anci probably the question of the improvement: of our milk 6upply to factories will come up, and with it, of course, fhe whole question of milk inspection. I have, therefore, by permission of the secretary, extracted from the minute book of the National Dairy, Association the resolutions previously passed. These show clearly that the dairy 7 farmers and factory directors were at one time keen on having Government inspection, and it remains to be seen whether they are so now or not. Certain it is that onl an improved milk supply to our

factories rests the improvement in th Quality of our cheese and butter, and there fore to a large extent the price also. Th were all carried unanimousl; careful discussion at the various mccl ings. In fact it was a burning questior. and one of them, be it observed, advocate %he obnoxious "cow tax" which politician raved about at the late- elections. Th resolutions were: — Duiedin, June 7, 1905.— That the in epection of milk and milking yards sup iplying dairy factories should at once b< qput under tho control of the Dairy De Jpartment, and qualified men appointed t< instruct milk-suppliers and inspect milk Jnilking yards, and sheds. Inyercargill, February 5, 1906.— Thi meeting is of the same opinion as hereto fore — that dairy inspection should be un der the control of rhe Dairy Commis sioner, — and is willing that a tax of uj to Is per head Jiouid be levied on al Sherds of cows, -provided the Governmem •übsidises £1 for £1 towards the expense S.B. — Afterwards confirmed at conference Lyttelton and Ohristchurch, March 2 1906. "Dune^in, June 7, 1906.— That the in spection of milk and milking yards sup pljing dairy factories should at once b< .put under the control of the Dairy De •partment, and that qualified men be ap pointed to instruct milk-suppliers and U inspect milk Yards and sheds. Dunedm. June 5, 1907.— That all- per sons supplying milk to factories oi creameries should be registered, and' thai the Government should appoint qualified men to inspect the premises and instruct dairymen in the best methods for producing good clean milk, and that combined ■with this Government ehould establish milk-testing stations, to which farmers could send samples of milk from indhi dual cows to be tested, so that they may ba in a position to weed out and improve their herds. — N.B. — This was passed 4fter Mr Clifton and Mr Cuddie had "clearly outlined what they were prepared to advise Government to do." Invercargill, January 31, 1908. — That it be a recommendation to the Minister for .Agriculture to include instruction in the pooling of milk in the dairy inspector's kiuties, and that these inspectors and instructors should assist and advise farmers as to the cheapest and best mode of such treatment of milk. Dunedin, June 3, 1908.— Mr Clifton, Chief Inspector of Stock, at the invitation of the National Dairy Association. jyavo a most interesting addres3 in regard to the working of the scheme in his hands lor the improvement of the milk supply and 1 the dairy industry generally, which had teen initiated by the Government. Mr Clifton gave a concise account "of the new regulations for the working of this scheme. Mr Clifton answered questions tad detailed "'the working of thp proposed Jcheme; and the chairman, in moving a cordial vote of thanks to Mr Clifton, which was carried with enthusiasm, said that the subject matter of Mr Clifton's iddress had been exercising the minds of the dairy-farmers and factory managers for many year?. He believed it to be their duty to assist ihe depaftmnt. If obstacles were thrown in the way. no £ood could coim of it. He only hoped Mr Clifton and his staff would use the same judgment and tact as they .had done with, the Rabbit Department, since it came undor his charge. Mr Clifton clearly showed he was anxious to help farmers in every way possible." The Rimutaka sailed last Thursday from Wellington with a total of 52,075 boxes butter and 19,719 cases cheese. The corresponding steamer last year took 4252 boxe3 butter, 18,722 cheese. A further substantial increase may be looked for in subsequent shipments, for last year at this time and later droughty conditions prevailed all over the Dominion. Happily this is not the case this year. The buffer market seems improving in [London slightly, and cheese, I am pleased to note, shows a marked improvement in price.