THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE MARKET.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 22

THE AUSTRALIAN HORSE MARKET.

GOOD DEMAND FOR USEFUL ANIMALS. (From Our Own Correspondents.) INVERCARGILL, June 6

By the last steamer from Melbourne ihere arrived at Bluff a fanner from Victoria, who brought the news that good rains had now fallen throughout his State, .the result of which would mean almost a complete recovery for those interested in agricultural pursuits. He described how desperately bad things had become, not only in Victoria but also in the other States, and the amount of stock, particularly young horses, that had died, with a result that almost meant ruin to some of the small farmers. Coming just now, he said, this rain would make it possible to prepare a large area for cropping purposes, and, provided horses for the work can be obtained, farmers would be able to participate in the good prices going for cereal crops. The ram fell for five or six days, and gave the ground the best soaking it had had for some years, and good crops of everything were now assured, even if no more rain fell until harvest was over. In the south the rain came too late for the grass to recover before the winter really set in, but inland and in the northern districts the temperature was higher, | and sheep feed would quickly recover. I The horse market being of especial in- | terest to many breeders in the province, | the visitor was asked if there would be any chance of the prices improving sufficiently to make it worth while for our breeders to ship again this season. He replied that, owing to the long spell of dry weather, thousands of draught horses had died or been destroyed, to save feed. In addition to this, thousands had also been purchased and shipped to the war by both dhe Imperial and the commonwealth authorities. This meant that in Victoria .the good horses had been about cleared but, and it was difficult to pick up a decent farm” animal in good condition just jhow. The class that was being bought pow for war purposes was a good, active, medium-weight draught—just what the "farmers used for ploughing and general SiS . i

farm work. During the few days prior to the visitor leaving, the values had advanced fully £lO a head, and not many were offering. The greatest inquiry just now was for good, useful farm mares. Even at advanced prices they were almost unprocurable, and prices would yet have to go higher. Regarding the prospects of the demand remaining good until the usual July sales, he said that the demand was sure to last until then, and though farmers would not be in a position to pay exorbitant prices, he thought the prices jvould be much better than had been the case at the last two annual sales. In the following year he -would not be surprised to see colts and mares as dear as ever they -were, and probably these good values woidd last for five or six years in the commonwealth. His reason for thinking so was that a very large percentage of the horses that died or were destroyed ranged from yearlings to three-year-olds, and very few mares were stinted last year. Consequently they will be short for some years of young horses to take the place of the worn-out ones. And another factor which would help to make the next July sales good was the very high price of feed over there just now. That would probably prevent many of the Victorian breeders from getting their horses into good sale condition, and thus the entry from local breeders might be small. It was just on the cards, then, that any New Zealanders who might make the trip this year with decent sorts of colts or mares would meet with ready sales and good prices.

SOUTHLAND ROOT CROPS.

SHORTAGE ANTICIPATED. (From Ode Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, June 6,

Now that our turnip crops are being tested, quite a number of fields have “been found wanting,” and they will not stand the amount of feeding off that was originally anticipated. This means that the surplus feed which was generally considered would be ’available towards the end of winter may not exist, and some farmers in both the eastern and western districts are now beginning to realise that there may be a shortage. Feed in the Tapanui district will probably be short before the spring growth commences. One farmer in the Limestone Plains district has received equivalent to £lO an acre for his turnips this wdnter.

Thrashing is just commencing in the

Portrose district, and yields are turning out above the growers’ anticipations. In the Portrose district turnip crops are already showing signs of not holding out very well, and that district may be short of root feed this winter.