STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2934, 8 June 1910, Page 7

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

By Dhover. -

■We«kly Stock Sal«s: f Monthly: Burnside, Wednesdays jKgapara, first ThurtA.kburton, Tuesdays ! day in each month . , ■,'. . -«r j „;!„.,„ Glenavy, second WedAldington, Wednesday,, *• h Waiareka Bwlwaj Diurtroon, second FriJunction, Tuesdays d&y fa ea<;h mQnlh Fortnightly: Clinton, Palmerston, Bwklutlia, Fridays Win ton, and WaiGora, Tuesdays kouaih. Oimmu, Tuesdays Periodically: laTercargil!, Tuesdays Heriot, Kelso, Kyeburn The stock markets at Addington and Burnside last week were well supplied, and the prices remained firm at previous week's quotations. The freezing works generally are still rather oversupplied, but when clearance is made by shipments shortly it is not unlikely that prices may improve rather than go back, as the position of the meat market in Great Britain is stronger than it has been for many years, owing to the continued short supplies of beef from the usual sources other than the British colonies. Every farmer—certainly every dairyfarmer—ought to read' the addresses given by the Minister of Agriculture and Messrs Reakes and Cuddie at the meeting of the South Island Dairy Association of New Zelaand during the winter show. The subject was the urgent necessity for pasteurising skim milk and whey at our creameries and cheese factories. Thisi matter deeply affects the future condition of our cattle herds, and with the position of the beef market in Britain and its future short supply, there will probably be more in cattle than .there has been for many years, and the demand for export will greatly increase. All farmers, therefore, whether dairymen or not, should be interested in Mr Reakes's address, far he clearly showed that the evil done by tuberculosis spread through milk does not end with the pigs affected, but that the constitution of "the young stock ie ruined or weakened by fighting diseases spread through uhpasteurised milk. I have been writing lately calling attention to the prospects of benefit to be derived from pigr&aiing, but before this -can ever come to anything we must get rid of tuberculosis among our pigs. Mr Reakes cleanly 6hows that this end can be effectively, if not entirely, secured by pasteurising the whey and skim milk on which they are fed. X know of an exporter in Canterbury who purchased 600 pigs for export, and after slaughter 400 of them were condemnel through tuberculosis. That exporter won't buy pigs again for export till the pasteurisation of skim milk and whey has rr.ade it possible to buy with some degree of safety. I trust that the directors of every dairy factory will carefully study Mr Reakes's and Mr Caddie's statements a 3 published in. this issue of the Witness on the subject.

Denmark exports pork and bacon to the value of six millions sterling, and the pig is nearly as important as the butter to the Danish dairyman. The Few Zealand dairyman is generally wasting his substance in this respect. Not until the byproducts —whey and skim milk—are turned into cash value —say, g d {per gallon—will the New Zealand dairyman be getting his own. At present this id per gallon on millions of gallons is mostly wasted afc best, but, worse still, is poisoned with tuberculosis and other dirt germs, spreading disease and disaster in all directions. If every dairy factory .and creamery in New Zealand starts pasteurising whey and cream in a, year's time we shall see good value for all the expenditure that incurred. Mr Cuddie showed that this ocpenditure is but paltry compared to the

immense good that- will be done. If this* desirable end should be the result of this year's meeting of the South Island DairyAssociation, it will be a greater benefit to all concerned that any gelling scheme to hit the buyer that thev can devise. Pasteurising their skim milk and whey, testing and" culling their cows, are the things, that will do most good to the New Zealand dairy-farmer —much more arced than if they managed to control the British dairy produce market, a thing they will never do. Controlling or forecasting the prices of produets is ouite out of our power. Let us do well -what it is in our power to do, and we shall get our share, but we must also expect our share in the ups and downs of the market.

The business meeting of the South Island Dairy Association was very well attended. The- main subject for discussion was the selling scheme, and the report of the meeting in this issue of the Witness gives a correct idea of what was arrived at. The discussion took nearly .a whole day, and was a difficult one to report. The new committee have now got a general idea of the views of members on the subject, and will set themselves to devise ways and means for making a start in selling monthly by auction or otherwise as factories may direct, or consigning the cheese to firms selected as British agents for the association in London. The committee, after deliberation, will issue full information on the subject early in August. It may. take a little time tc develop the scheme properly, but with the co-opera-tion of its members the deliberations on this subject among' factories and directors extending over the past siy months will eventually result in benefit to all concerned.' At the meeting the following gentlemen were elected directors: —Messrs James Lumsden (Brummond), John Barrett (Christchurch), John Grey (Mataura), W. J. Bolt (Taieri and Peninsula), D. R. Hunter (Edendale), ■J. E. Hurdley and. H. M'Call (Seaward Downs). When the directors met to appoint a chairman it was found that Mr J. E. Hurdley was not qualified to sit, and he therefore retired. The committee then apnointed Mr Thomas Parker, of Stirling, to fill the position. The committee as now constituted consists of practical dairymen of large experience both in the association work and in factory management, and the forward movement in the association's work will be vigorously carried on. It is a matter of regret that Mr Hurdley had to retire. He. has been an excellent chairman, "and deserves the thanks of members for the life he put into the association. He made many friends, all of whom recognise his many good qualities.

' I trust that the new committee of the South Island Dairy Association will not confine their efforts to the commercial side o' the business, but will 1 , give the lead in many other directions for the improvement of the dairy industry, such as the pasteurisation of skim milk and whey and the development of the pig-rearing industry, the testing of our cows with a view to the improvement of our dairy herds, and the growing of winter feed. These are &11 very important matters, in which I think the association should take a very lively interest, as there is more money to be made in these directions than in improved selling or consigning methods, important as they might be.