STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3003, 4 October 1911, Page 15

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales: Burnside, "Wednesdays Ashburton, Tuesdays , Addington, Wednesdays Waiareka Railway Junction, Tuesdays Fortnightly: Bulclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Oamaru, Tuesdays Invercargill, Tuesdays I

Monthly; Ngapara, first Thursday in each month Glenavy, second Wednesday in each month Dunixoon, second Friday in each month Win ton, and Weikouaiti. Periodically: Clinton, Palmerston, Heriot, Kelso, Hyeburn

BURNSIDE CATTLE. Cattle.—There was a larger proportion of fat cattle forwarded to Burnside last week than usual, but no heavy-weights. They might be described as a good lot of light beef. They were all wanted, and butchers gave up to £ls 7s 6d for bullocks and £ll 12s 6d for cows, equal to 35s for prime beef, 30s to 32s 6d for medium, and 30s for cows' beef. Fat Sheep.—A very much larger yarding of fat sheep was.sent in than was required for local purposes, but there seemed to be buyers present from all over the South Island wanting mutton, with the result that values were maintained, and a clearance was effected at prices well up to last week's rates. Quotations are: For prime wethers, 4s to 4&d per lb. For forward wethers there was a considerable demand, and all of this class present sold at relatively high rates. Buyers were operating for Wairnate, Timaru, Oamasru, Lawrence, and other country places, and fab dbeep are evidently desperately hard to get in the country. Fat lambs were hardly so good as those sent in the previous week, but sold at high prices—viz., from 19s 6d to 245. ADDINGTON MARKET. Cattle. —The entries in cattle and sheep were again much below the average. Although few in number, the quality was excellent, and the demand keen. Prices were similar to the previous week —prime beef, 30s to 355, and up to 40s for extra good quality. Sheep.—The greater portion of a small entry cam© from tihe North Island and Southland, and all classes participated in improved values. Prime wethers, 2ls 6d to 265, extra prime to 325; other sheep in proportion. Fat Lambs. —One hundred of all classes were yarded, some indifferently finished. There was there a wide range in prices—smaller clasai 9s to 14s, larger sorts up to 21s per head. THE CORNER IN BEEF, It is just about as impossible to manage a comer in beef as it is to corner up any other article of diet. There is certainly some justification for considering that beef Will rule higher than it is at present, and for various reasons. Canterbury buyers find they cannot'obtain sufficient supplies from the Ncrth Island, and there is therefore the possibility of the present high value in Canterbury being materially increased. This has caused the largest northern buyers to turn their attention to Southland as a source of supply, only to find that the situation had been correctly gauged in time to forestall them and all the best beef obtainable had boon snapped up before they began to operate, 'lhey naturally did the next best thing, ana bought up the leavings, and there seems to be no manner of doubt that the speculators mentioned' practically control the market for the time being,. so far as prime quality is concerned. Mow far they can affect the price remains-to be seen. It is astonishing how Is or 2s per 1001 b will produce unexpected supplies. But the.?e cannot be said to bo a corner of any kind any more than that the dealers imagine they can squeeze the price up a little, and make a good profit on the prime beef they have secured. They do the same thing every year, but occasionally their cxpectationis are not realised. One factor which will bear on the question is that turnips are becoming exhausted, and new grass is not sufficiently matured to bold the condition, let alone improve it. The largest supplies to Burnside do not hold heavier stocks of fat cattle than usual and freight to Christchurch is a material item. SOUTH OTAGO FREEZING WORKS. If nothing unforeseen happens, this new venture will be ready to receive sheep for freezing in February next, in time for the first of the seasons lambs. Very few lambs are ready for freezing before that time, although 'they begin earlier in the year up north. The construct ion of the siding on the northern side of the river would have involved' very heavy works on unreliable ground, and could not have been allowed without reducing the height of the permanent way at considerable cost A good level site has been secured on Finoegand, situate on the Catlins branch, two miles from Balclutha Station, where a level siding was obtained and ample room for expansion. The locality chosen is only a few chains from the Koau branch of the Clutha River, and there is plenty of dheap shingle to be had in the river-bed for the construction of the works, which are being built in concrete. There are 106 miles of country on the railway line between Burnside and Mataura Freezing

Works, and the new works will be as nearly as possible midway between the two. The greater portion of the shareholders are resident flock-owners, and it is anticipated that the work will be conducted on the same lines as at Pareora and other South Island freezing -works, where there is an open-door policy, by means of which an owner can either accept the quoted price at the works on hooks or consign on his own account if he thinks he can do better. All the by-products, skins, fat, tongues, kidneys, etc., will be worked up on the ground, and there is an unfailing and abundant water supply available by pumping from the river. The position will comimand the Tapanui district oil equal v terms with Mataura, and the valley of the Clutha as far up e» Tuapeka West is ex-, peeted to contribute largely to the stock of frozen meat. After the few remaining "social pestp" are taxed by the Government until they will be glad to subdivide their properties, very large additional supplies will be available lccally. Provision is being made for a storage capacity of 25,000, and a killing strength of 1000 daily.

MASTERTON FREEZING COMPANY. We have been favoured with, a perusal of the third annual report of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company (Ltd.), whioh, inter alia, states that f 'th© year has been full of difficulties consequent on the establishment of the industry, and a large amount of expense had of necessity to be incurred in organisation. The low values for frozen meat ruling in London for the greater part of the year, and) tihe keen competition for live ©lock, added considerably to the responsibilities of the management. It is worthy of note, however, that the earnings of the company at the end of the killing season are sufficient to wipe out the los3 shown b ythe accounts." Tine works were opened on December 20, 1910, and the amount of stock handled to June 30 was as f0110w5:—69,383 sheep, 46.168 lambs, 757 cattle, 135 pigs, and 10 calves. It is anticipated that next returns will greatly exceed these figures. Although a very satisfactory number of sheep, running into six figures, had been handled, the balance sheet shows a loss of £395 3s < on the year's operations, and this result might for the first year's work be considered very satisfactory. In looking over this balance sheet it is noticeable that this company were working during the year on a paidiup capital of £39,000, and would' therefore have very little or no interest to meet, and in spite of that the balance came out for what was practically the first year's working on the wrong side of the ledger. Considering -the fact that the outgoings are generally heavies the first year than expected', and that incidental expenses in starting a business, even if they_ do not recur,, are always considerable, this result can only be regarded as satisfactory. The point to which attention is 'directed is that, after being well supported and'dealing with so large a number of "sheep that they run into six figures, the best the company could do was to finish up the year with a loss of nearly £4OO. A pretty broad hint seems to be conveyed by the above paragraph to the South, Otago Freezing Company, Their paid-up capital at present is £2 10s on 5333 shares, equal to £13,326, some of which has been( used to meet disbursements, and they have commitments, so far as can be miade out from the chairman's statement, to the extent of £34,287, made up of buildings, £21.230; machinery, £8334; eleotrio plant, £3032; site. £550; and siding, ,£llsl : totel, £34,2B7;—without considering the accommodation which any business has to pay for at times by way of overdraft. A large amount of the above sum will evidently bo carrying interest, and, judging from tho experience of the Masferton company, this "position! might resolve itself into an 'untenable one. The directors will require very tangible support if they wish to pay dividends and at the same time pay .n. lot of interest on the capital involved* The remedy is obvious. MATAURA FREEZING WORKS. It would be interesting to know what concession the Mataura Freezing Works can allow anyone using their works by virtue of their cheap waiter power and ability to run at a low cost. They have established a record in point of numbers this year, and ought to be able to present a good balance sheet. Up to the present over 190,000 carcases of lamb and mutton have been slaughtered, eclipsing the record established last season by about 10,000. There are a few lots to be killed yet, but Wednesday should witness the close of operations for the season. Considering the season, this is a marvellous result, and a matter for congratulation if the proportion of seooind-olaS3 meaE was not large. Such figures should give confidence to buyers of Southland land. TOO FAT FOR LAMBING. A Tima.ru Henald reporter learned some of the results of the inquiries made by Messrs A. M. Paterson, M.R.C.V.S., and J. Brown regarding the mortality amongst sheep int the Morven district. The weed thought by a farmer to be kUlinnr his sheep was raiouse-ear ohiekweed, which could not cause mortality' among sheep. Ow inspecting the sheep Mr Paterson found that they iwere affected by a fatty condition of the liver and kidneys. Linseed oil had been given, to a number d <&s sluggisls sheep, and tho 3 served' only to aggravate the

trouble. In shorty it seamed that th* sheep were in too good a condition' fof lambing-. In a year where evidence of drought was visible everywhere, it seams remarkable that the ewes should 'be in good condition for lambing. They must have been wintered on turnips or a succession of gnsen crops. These enable ewes and iambs to come through tryiirg times successfully, and- may have a tendency to fatten too much, but that can be avoided if judiciously handled. Rape and young grass in early spring' is incomparable for young lambs, while rye and Italian' kale and other fodder orops may supply a sua* oession. In a dry year it is fconiewhail fortuitous to get them ready exactly when required, but a little more than is needed if each kind makes that aill right, and a*' a rule the excess is easily disposed of. The plethoric condition which makes lambing dangerous usually follows a rapid andj continuous formation of fat. The ewe may; be observed to be dull, off her food, anas' straying away; from the rest of the No notice will be taken of anyone ap« proachdnig till disturbed, and _ then slw moves aimlessly. Soon after this she will be found lying down, and if forced to move will stager and fall. ■ Unless in lihe earliest stages—when Epsom salts may bo used—* curative treatment is of no value, and pre* vontive measures must be adopted with the others. When in lamb, and ewe 3 have been fed through the winter on dry or artifioiaJi food, the effective remedy is to keep them on bare food for a month.before lambing, or rather on.' pasture, so that they require to travel for their food. If this cannot be done, put theon in a bare field, and travel them for half a mile to a mile; on to young grass; keep them there for anChour, and return them to their pasture.: The exercise will relieve the congestion* - MEAT IMPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. The total value of the meat imports into Britain for the firs* six months of this year was £20,637,602, against £19,162,395 for the corresponding period of last year* Commenting "on the aigrioultural (statistics for last year, the Field remarks that, turning to the supplies, the colonies and foreign countries"naturally play an important part, The total imports of mea.ts_ of all* kinds, except rabbits, have been falling during thai Last few years, ' and the 22,722,0000 wt brought into our ports last year • was nearly a million and a-half hundredweight* lees than in 1906, when they attained thei* maximum'. This may have had its effect on the price of beef, but the shipments ol beef itself, alive or dead, were larger than in either of tho, two preosding years, the total being 8,960,000 cwt. The United States is gradually disappearing a© a factor-in our meat supply, and the Argentina and Australia are assuming greater importance. Of muttony 5,556, OOOowtwere imported, a large increase on the 1909 quantity, but the 5,290,000 cwt of pig meats compared badly with 6,441,000 cwt in. 1909. The amount of beef per head, of population wa« 22.11 b, mutton 13.71 b, and pig meats 13Ihw The proportion of imported meats coming from the colonies weret Beef, 23 per cent. I mutton, 67.7 per cent; and pig meats; 8.8 per cent.; the rest coming from foreign countries. The proportion of imported meat 3 of all kinds coming from, the colonies was 30.7 per cent., as compared with. 21 per cent, in 1905 and 20.8 per cent, as recently as 1908. The butter imports (4,325,5390 wt) were larger than in any year since 1906,;and cheese (2,456.3400 wt). was- the largest quantity during the same years. The proportion of butter from the colonial was 19.3, the largest since 1906, but there does not appear to be amy particular movement to a bigger percentage; Only 1 per cent, of the imported cheese caine from foreign countries., and here the colonic* have a big hold. > UTILISING WASTE PRODUCTS. A statement in the Budget that the Government is taking into consideration the question of turning to profitable accouna the waste products from the butter ana cheese factories was the subject of comment bv a well-kno-wi? Wellington merchant, who is reported, in the Dominion, to have saiq that, ""looki-my at the matter from a genenaj

standpoint, I aim under the impression that if the above suggestion is given effect to it will mean a considerable profit to the suppliers of the various companies,' and it W of particular .interest! to the "industry, os I consider- it wall affect very cohsiderobly the price -of; butter. There is at jpresent a possibility : thafr factories now making butter will go in for making cheese, on account of the high prices which are ruling for the latter commodity. For instance, lib of butter-fa* produces aboufe;jlßoz of butter, or about 2ilb- weight of As butter this year has been sold for export at lljd and cheese- at 6id, it" will be Been that cheese gives 25 per cent, better result© to the farmer. This means that either one of two things has to be done—yiz., raise the price of butter so that butter factories wili be able t 6 pay a price on a level.with the cheese factories, or utilise ;the by-products (skim-milk, etc.), and so be able, to make up the deficiency by' this means. I understand, that one factory in the North Island is going in very extensively for.the manufacture of casein." '....'-. "', ■■ ■/ ' ? The various cheese and butter factories -in self-protectioni will have to adopt pasteurisation, to keep up heailitlhy supplies of cows, and when they do that they will provide the mean© of utilising their' waste' products to the fullest extent. Even now the country is fuli of tuberculous misfits, with blind 'teats and defective udders, which appear at regular intervals at the saleyards, and are passed from one dairyman to another, only when found out to bo returned to the same place: Dairymen should be protected in some way by having. such cattle branded. Pasteurisation would do much to reduce the number, of ; these cattle, and' supply healthy stock tc ieplace rejects, and it also would enable the factories to secure the turnover on. .what pigs they could f attorn When this is, done the by-products of the factory will go into the natural channel, and the export of hams and 'bacon wild beOQuie ; ah" appreciable quantity. "■■ Properly -sterilised,. there 'is little difference between the value of skimmed milk and whey, and both are serviceable for pig-feeding. The Idea converting . these, into other forms may :b£- serviceable when we know more aibcytit /'them; but suggestions such as these emanate from the present impossibility of fattening healthy pigs._ which when fat will not be condemned. Given .sterilisation, th'ev export of- bams ..and bacon, will -. be the cheapest and most profitable source of in- ; come from the by-products of the factory. ! The anomaly, which exists at present, and has existed for some years, of better returns being secured from cheese-making than from ! butter-majkixig may disappear at any time; in fact,, the. prices, for both products are abnormally high, and a continuance of them cannot be reckoned on.

CONDITION IN cows. Those dairymen who seek to make the moat of the grazing: season and arrange so that their: cows calve about the time the factory begins work, arrange matters so that the cows may calve at or near the beginning of- October. -.-For the success of the lactation period it is important that the oovve should oalve down in sood Order—that ia, that they should neither be too fat for oalying r safely, nor too thin after they have called to milk well. It lias been abundantly proved by experience

that starved oowb do not yield what milk they should. On the other hand, as with sheep, it is the fleshy one that is liable to parturient fever.. Without grazing incalf cows on rich pastures abundantly supplied with grass, it, is alwavs possible to keep them in good'thriving order without piling 1 on fat. Moderation in food* as in condition, is what is wanted. A cow darryinij a calf hot only requires a maintenance diet, but has to supply the calf she carries also, and sufficient food is necessary for that purpose, but no more. Anything more than that is not likely' to be available this year, but where the food is so good that she may lay on flesh, the chances are that trouble may anise.' " Aiier calving discrimination is required in the apportionment of the varying quantites of food to individual animals according to their special heeds and their milking capacity. Some will pay for a liberal allowance .in inreased supplies of milki while feeding others: in the same way will result in a dead loss. Young heifers, particularly when milking, fully require -extra food to enable them to grow in size, as well as to milk abundantly; but as a* rule cows running on good pasture require no other food, and the provision of, plenty of sjucoulent grass will in the long run be found to be the most economical all through summer. Fodder of soane sort in early spring and, autumn, and for, winter a good supply of clover hay along with the roots,-ought also to be arranged for at this season of the year. THE OALVES. As the calves are born it becomes necessary to determine whether they are to be retained or. fattened or otherwise disposed 6i The best heifer calves there is no doubt about. They will be retained for filling up gaps in the herd, and replacing the cows tested out.. For the same reason there will not be much difficulty in deciding what to do with calves the progeny of inferior cows. Improvement will only be effected ■by retaining and using the calves from the profitable cows which have been got,,by good bulls. Whether the bull call is retained or not for breeding, fattening for veal, or for the grazier, the feeding should be good all along. There should be no loss of calf flesh. .'•'. They will no doubt; be weaned at birth and taught to drink , from the earliest moment. Their food, can be varied at: will, and if spring calves were kept in during most, of the first summer there would, not be so many potbellied, miserable specimens seen at the store, sales. Whether new milk is to be used or separate milk with a mixture of 1 ineeed meal, or cod-liver oil, or some other calf food will be decided by.the individual breeder, but in order to seure .satisfactory growth the animal must be continually im» proving. FAT VARIATIONS OWING TO UNEQUAL INTERVALS OF MILKING. The Mark Lane Express is responsible for the following statement, which ought to provide a guide to magistrates in adjudicating on cases of tampering with the milk supply:— - ■ It ie _ well known that afternoon milk is richer in fat than morning milk, arid that this difference is largely, if not wholly, due to the shorter time from the morning to the afternoon milking. Mr S. H. Collins has collected together the results of a large number of investigations of the composition of milk in order to find the amount of difference in the proportion of fat that is caused by various intervale between the milkings. The results arrived at are as follows: Interval between - "Milkings. Difference in Milk. 12 and 12 hours—e.g., Morning milk richer 6- a.m. and 6 p.m. in fat than evening milk by 0.18 per cent.. 13 .and 11 hours—e.g., Ev n ng rienrr than 6 a'.mv and • 5 p.m. morning milk by 0.83 per cent. 14 and 10 hours—e.g., Ditto, by 0.70 per 6 a.m. and' 4 p.m. cent. 14J and 9J Ditto, by -1.09 per e.g., 6 a.m. and cent. 3,30 p.m. " On the average, if a herd be.milked 12 minutes earlier in the morning and 12 minutes later in the evening, the milk w'll be richer in fat by 0.1 per cent, in the morning, and correspondingly poorer in the evening.

FIRST FRUITS OF THE SEASON'S CHEESE. Evidence of the dry season and insufficient succulent food is furnished by the statement quoted below that the tests.are lower this year than usual. This will right I itself automatically as a full supply of food as available. - The first consignment of cheese from the Mangatainoka Cheese Factory will be shipped from WelErijrton on | October 5. It will consist of 120 oases, I double the first shipment-.of last season. : The milk supply at the factory is stated

to be increasing daily,-and on Saturday the amount delivered was 930 gallons. Saturday’s testing sheet showed that one supplier had the excellent test of 5.8, an exceptionally high figure, for this time of the year. The majority of the tests are, how ever, not as high as for the corresponding period of last season, one being as low as 2.9. The average is about 0.2 lower than last year.