STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 15

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

HOW TO KEEP RECORDS

Weekly Stock Snips : Monthly : Burnjifle, Wednesdays. Kcapara, first Thursday Ashburton. Tuesdays. In oacb month. Addington, Wednesdays. Qlenavy, Beco nd VTedWatoreka Railway June n< . s d uy f n each month. tion. liicslnys. Dnntroon, second Friday Fortnightly: in each month. WinBalclutha, Fridays. ton. and Waikouaiti. Oore. Tuesdays. Periodically: Oamoru, Tuesdays. Clinton, Palmerston, lurercargili, 1 ueoUays. lieriot, Kelso, Kyeburu. BURNSIDE MARKET. As some 80 of 80 head of cattle remained at tho abattoirs from the p re vie us week, and 189 head of fat cattle were yarded on Wednesday, there was a fall in price of from 10s to 15s per head all round. Of those yarded some S 3 were cows and heifers, sumo of the former being prime beef. Best beef may be quoted at from 52s to 34 s per 1001 b. Best bullocks fetched £l2 to £i4 10s, best cows and heifers £lO 10s to £l2. About 70 head, of store cattle wore forward, mostly cows and young stock. Very few of those now offering are suitable for placing on turnips, and for this kind a good demand exists —that is, good wellgrown two and a-half to throe and three and a-half-year old bullocks. There was a moderate yarding of 2114 fat sheep, tho quality being rather mixed. The sale was somewhat erratic, tho best prices being, as a rule, obtained at tho beginning. A pen of wethers passed at 29s 3d eventually sold at 30s each, which was the top price. Heavy-weight wethers were keenly competed for. Some extra heavy from tho Crookston district sold up to 23s 9d. Most of the wethers were secured by northern buyers. The quality of tho ewes may be described as ordinary, but some realised up to 235. Medium sold at from 18s to 225; best ewes, 20s to 245; medium, 17a to 19s 6d. A small yarding of-100 lambs, mostly light and medium weights. But for tho presence of buyers for feeding-off the market price must have declined. Some 25 fat and 32 store p : gs wore all that were offered. For fats suitable for curing full rates were obtained, but the price for stores was a little lower. ADDINGTON YARDS. A representative entry of 203 fat cattle was yarded at tho Addington stock sales last week. Tho market was not a.s brisk as the previous week, although beef realised as high as 27s to 35s per 1001 b. A considerable proportion of the entry included some extra prime quality bullocks, which realised £l2 and upwards. In the store cattle class tho yarding was small, tho majority being cows of rough quality. Tho yarding of fat sheep was lower, both in number and quality. As export buyers refrained from operating, prices throughout were oas : er than the previous sale. Prices ranged : extra prime wethers, (o 355; prime. 21s to 26s 9d ; prime ewes, 18s ro 23s 9d. The bulk of the store sheep consisted of ewes, and included in these were a good number of overseas sheep of a useful class. Keen competition was commanded for owes, and prices showed an upward tendency. Hoggets were slightly dearer, while wethers were unchanged. Prices ranged--ewes, two-tooth. 23s 6d to 245: oversea ewes, 17s 5d to 17s 9d ; wethers, 18s 7d. The majority of the fat lambs yarded were light and of moderate quality. The entry totalled IIC6. as against 1586 tho previous week. Best lambs rrah’sed 16s 6d to 18s 9d, and lighter sorts 14s 9d to 16s. There was a good all-round demand for fat pigs, prices being about on a par with Ihoso of tho previous week. Choppers realised £3 10s to £6 15s; heavy porkers made £2 to £2 6?. For store pigs there was good competition in all sorts. Sows brought from £4 to £5 10#. The dairy cows, wth one or two exceptions, were mostly of a poor elas.s. Prices ranged from £4 10s to £11; extra made £l3. THE SHEEP RETURNS. Inquiries made go to show that in the Otago district the number of sheep did not decrease last year as might bo inferred from tho figures given in tho interim return. the principal shortage south of Waikiki being in the Southland district. In Waitaki County there was a large increase, while there was a decrease in Vincent County. The poor lambing returns, with the ravages of the rabbit pest and the short tenure system account for the decrease in Central Otago. DAIRYING v. LAMB-RAISING. In his presidential address to the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union Mr J. G. Wilson, while referring to the great progress made bv tho dairying industry, said ho was inclined to iyolievo if the present prices of lambs kept up the trade was so profitable in suitable country that it was likely to check the conversion at present going cn ‘rom sheep-farnrng to dairying. Although there had been fewer lambs exported ?>y 136.P42 carcases than tho previous year, tho smaller number had realised about £75.000 more by reason of tho higher level of prices. Quoting the fia-ures of a ten-yearly period. 1902-3 and 1911-12. Mr Wilson pointed out that dairy cow« had increased from

281,482 to 033,733, and I wo-year heifers from 39,001 to 170,545. In the same period sheep increased from 20,342,727 to 23,750,133, and our wool (including that and locally), increased from 159,855,875ib to 190,802,3131 b, winch gave an average of / .851 b in 1902-3, as against 8.031 b in 1911-12. With labour source there is no doubt a great temptation to change from the drudgery of dairying to the comparatively easy work of lamb-raising. But dairying is the hope of the small man, and if the change takes place it can only be made profitable by the aggregation c f smaller properties, which would bo anything but desirable. AUSTRALIAN PROSPECTS. The Pastoral Review regards the prospect for tho coming lamb season in Australia as bright, and says;—“Given fair weather—i.c., a reasonable amount of rain :ui sun, between now and September, ana a largo export is assured from New Souca V. .uis anil \ ictoria. At the time of writing a splendid season is being experienced in these two States, where feed is plentiful and stock are in (irst-class condition. Lambing is finished in all the earlier districts, and high averages have been obtained almost everywhere. Unfortunately, South Australia not so well off. A largo tract of country is suffering from droughty conditions, herbage has almost entirely disappeared, and tho lambing is a partial or entire failure. There is almost certain to be a decrease in exports front that State. New South Wales and Victoria promise a considerablo increase (provided climatic conditions remain favourable), Queensland has a small increase, and present indications point to a total export of about 1.500,000 carcases between now and June 30, 1914. Should this bo realised, it would represent an increase of about 25 per cent, on last season’s output. It is possible that mutton export will increase by 20 per cent, during the next 12 months. This would moan a total increase to all oversea ports of, roughly, 2,700.000 carcases, and would establish. a record for Australia. However, it is more difficult? to forecast mutton shipments than lamb. English market rates, wool values, and local demand for live stock play a more important part in determining the operations of shippers of sheep than of lamb. If all goes well there should bo large numbers of fat sheep fit for freezing in Queensland, Now South Wales, and Victoria. Given a firm market at Smithfield, exporters should bo able to operate extensively. If, on teh other hand, London weakens to any great extent, buy ng for export is likely to case off. Owing to the losses of stock in 1912 and the high price of wool, values of live stock in Australia are likely to bo high for some time to come.” VIEWS OF AN M.P. Mr T. Bux'm, M.P. for Temuka, who has just returned by way of America from a visit to the Home Country, informed a Tirnaru reporter that in the matter of handling our produce at London “great efforts are being made to overcome tho difficulties that have existed in tho past. New Zealand meat is very highly thought cf in the centres where it has boon properly handled, and 1 am strongly of the opinion that if instead of banqueting tho merchants who deal with our produce, wo gave practical demonstrations to the people in large centres such as Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds —the users—showing our meat being properly defrosted and cooked, it would bo much more profitable, and would go a long way towards breaking down the prejudice which now exists. This could bo done at small cost. The wage-earners and more especially those who are meat-eaters are paying Is to Is Id per lb for English mutton when they coulif use prime Now Zealand for 8d or 9cl. It is prejudice and prejudice alone which is the reason of their refusing to use our meat. That prejudice we must and can break down. Tho standard of quality in our exports,” continued tho traveller, “is very largely on what wo will have to depend for future business. I have looked into this, and find there is some genuine cause for complaint, which I have reduced to writing, and at tho proper time will give publicity to. Grading is the thing upon which wc have built our trade, and grading must always be made tho most important consideration.” GUARANTEE WITHOUT RECOURSE. Buyers in the south have at present retired because of tho action of some of the North Island factories in selling at a lower figure than that ruling here on tho pernicious system of guarantee recourse. A lower price for some North Island cheese was inevitable, because there is no blinking tho fact that practically all the complaints last season were with respect, to North Island cheese. The South Island cheese was of better quality, and that fact was recognised by buyers at the other end. To avoid confusion the South Island Dairy Association has decided to brand all cheese from tho South Island with a special brand. This should do something towards inducing North Island factories to improve their outputs. THE CHEESE MARKET—HEAVY SALES MADE. Nearly three-fourths of tho cheese output of the South Island has thus early boon sold this season. Tho prico may be said to have ranged from 6Ad to 6id 'on truck, which must bo said to bo very satisfactory. About 1200 tons were, wo understand, disposed of through the South Island Dairy Association, and from what can be asccr-

tained, tho highest price was realised for the outputs placed in the association's hands. Why more factory directors did not sell through tho association is not understandable. The association is practically a co-operative concern, and yet, instead ot co-operating, directors of factories will act “on their own,” and thus to a considerable extent nullify tho efforts of tho association to maintain tho price. Inquiries made show that the outputs disposed of are :

PACIFIC COAST MARKETS. Ac; nding to Mr W. F, Crichton, representing Messrs Wcddel and Co., who lias been visiting Canada and the United States, the demand for N.Z. cheese in Canada was increasing rapidly, and it is generally believed that if Hie increase in population continues Canada will cease to export cheese in about five years’ lime. The United State* are drawing from Canada, and while Vancouver was, in tho meantime, obtaining supplies from Eastern Canada, Vancouver merchants arc beginning to inquire about N.Z. cheese as they begin to see that this is the source from which they will be compelled to draw supplies. Mr Crichton believes Now Zealand’s geographical position will enable her to supply tho Pacific Coast more easily than the eastern part of Canada. Mr Crichton says Queensland must be regarded as an important competitor in the cheese trade. Several lots were sent during (he season, and tin- quality was pionouueed excellent, which is more than could bo said for the New Zealand cheese forwarded. As regards batter, Mr Crichton says that Vancouver butter merchants, having los* rather ’heavily last season by making early contracts for supplies, are determined to get back a little of their own if possible, and will not enter into contracts covering tho season, but buy from steamer to steamer or month to month. They aro well satisfied with the qual ty of the Now Zealand butter. MARGARINE. Tho competition of margarine in the United Kingdom is. according to Mr Crichton (Messrs Wcddel and Co.’s representative), who bias just arrived in Wellington, certainly a factor, ‘‘but,” he added, “thero would always bo a good demand for bighgrado butter, provided it could be got at a reasonable price. Tho British public was now educated up to realising that good butter could bo bought retail under Is 2d. per lb. When the market was forced up, and tiio price artificially raised, then even tho bettor class of buyers were compelled to use margarine, but generally sneaking, margarine was ousting the second-grade butter of poor flavour. New Zealand must maintain a high standard of quality, and if it dkl so, it need not fenr tho competition of margarine. The margarine manufacturers at Homo.” said Mr Crichton, “were employing first-class chemists at tho of Cabinet Ministers, and they were producing an article which so closely resembled butter in colour, texture, and flavour that even experts were puzzled to distinguish tho difference. Furthermore, to encourage tho consumption of margarme, tho manufacturers delivered to retailers iti small quantities several times a week, so that tho product reached the consumer fresh and sweet, and with the aroma of butter. _ The margarine trade,” lie added, “was growing.” MORE ABOUT MILK RECORDS. While all progressive dairy farmers recognise the value of keeping milk records, there are others who will not take the trcublo involved, preferring to keep to a rule-of-thumb method. Tho system i of value to the milk-seller, tho butter-maker, and tho breeder. The advantages of milk records are thus given :•—(!) To find out the lowest annual yield of milk a cow should give to bo profitable. (2) To ascertain how many cows in tho herd are giving up to this standard, with a definite object in view—namely, to enable the farmer to retain the best. (3) To enable the owner to note tho difference between the milk-giving capabilities of tho different cows. (4) To onablo tho farmer to retain the best heifers (from a milk point of view) for adding to tho herd as occasion requires. (5) To detect bad cr slovenly milking. (61 To note tho difference in tho milk yield owing to change of pasture or change of food, and generally to call the fanner’s attention to any adverse influences. (7) If tho milk from each cow is tested, as it should be, it eatables tho owner to gradually eliminate tho cows which aro giving poor milk and to gradually increase the herd’s average buttor-fat. In view _of tho annually increasing demand for milk, with the great appreciation in tho value of dairy cattle, it behoved tho dairy farmer

to take stops to secure the maximum of output from Ids cattle; but lie should only retain those cows whoso annual production of milk gives remunerative results.

The requisites for keeping records are. — Sheets for recording weights; book to enter result of weekly weighings; circular spring balance to weigh 401 b, marked to show halfpounds ; sample bottles of 4oz or soz each, to be labelled with number or name of cow from which sample is to be obtained; a sample clipper; preserving pellets; and box for holding sample bottles. For all practical purposes it would be sufficient io •weigh each cow’s milk once a week, and Mr Mansell could conceive no better education for a farmer’s son than to see this carried out. Some people recommend taking each, cow for throe consecutive days about the middle of each month, and multiplying by 10. In these days of keen competition every possible leakage should be stopped, and ho was quite convinced that the great majority of dairy farmers would benefit by a system which would toll them in no uncertain language which were the profitable cows in their herd and those

which could only bo considered as ‘‘lodgers.” The only objection that can. be urged against testing is the trouble involved, and yet the advantages more than compensate for this trouble. Apart from the augmented annual returns the capital value of the herd would probably be increased by quite 50 per cent.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND. Last year’s Last year'* output. output. Crates. Crate? Henley .. 2003 Fairfax .. 794 Allan ton 2200 Gorge Bead 500 Stirling 4070 Island 3333 Waikouaiti .. 2030 Kennington 1437 Awarua ' .. 1576 Locliiel 1232 Balfour .. 584 Mataura .. 4971 Drummond .. 851 Morrivale 795 Edendal© ’ .. 14,828 Morton Mains .. 602 Otamita 1231 Otav.tau .. 1216 Oware .. ■ .. 1024 Ryal Bush 1580 Switzers 639 Tapanui .. 770 To Tua .. 1113 Waimumu 461 Woodlands .. 2147 Wyndham CANTERBURY. 3545 Lc Bons Bay 563 Wainui 832 ’ Saxon 773 Pidgeon Buy 1273