NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 16

NOTES ON RURAL TOPICS.

There are a number of rules for finding

Carcase Weight of Animals.

the dead weight of animals by measurement of the living carcase. The best

method is to weigh _ the animals and then estimate the dead weight. In the case of sheep and cattle the carcase weight is four-sevenths of the live weight, and in the case of pigs the carcase weight is about seven-ninths of the live weight. Considerable variations occur. In the case of sheep, for example, animals weighing from about 2501 b to 3001 b live weight in wool will have a carcase weight of about 70 per cent, of their Jive weight; whereas animals averaging about 2001 b live weight will have a carcase weight ol only 63 to 64 per cent. There is no reliable method of estimating the weights of sheep from the measurements. In the case of pigs, the accepted rule is to measure along the curve of the spine from the square of the shoulders to the tail-head, and adding one-sixth' for head and neck. Then measure the girth immediately behind the shoulders, counting each in inches. Square the girth, multiply by the length, and divide by 7344. The result will be in imperial stones. In the case of cattle, square the girth in feet, multiply by five times the length in feet, and divide by 21 for the weight in 141 b stones.

Artificial manures are costly items in the

Condition of Fertilisers.

requirements of any farmer, and careful treatment is necessary and common-sense

observance of proper practice in their handling. A fertiliser should be in a condition sufficiently fine to bo delivered from the drill without any blockage. It is comparatively a rare thing nowadays for farmers to like to see bone manure in lumps showing partly-dissolved bones; and it is fortunate- that it is so, as lumpy material cannot be spread evenly over the soil, and, if persisted in, some plants arc, consequently, injured by getting too much, and others are deprived of their proper supply. The fertiliser should bo uniform in quality and condition, so that there can be an evenness of distribution, and the plants may thus get their proportion of the fertilising constituents. The artificial manure should be kept dry. Often manure is left out in the paddock uncovered and exposed to heavy dew or rains for days, so that it becomes damp and sticky, and cannpt be distributed by the drill in an even manner. If a fertiliser is worth buying it is worth looking after, and bags of manure should always have some covering—an extra sack will do —if left in the field overnight,_ and they should be set up on end; otherwise it is impossible for the crop to benefit to the extent that may be r-iglitly anticipated if the fertiliser is kept in the state as delivered by reputable manure merchants.

The horse is especially worthy of good treatment, its future useful-

Care of the Horse.

ness depending a good deal on the treatment it receives

when young. The time when it is being “ broken in ” is most important in the education of the horse. Gentleness, yet firmness, ought to be a prevailing principle of the management. It is- not good policy to overload young horses, many an animal having been spoilt in that way. On no account allow the harness to hurt the animal, and some care and interest in the feeding should bo taken. Large feeds should not be given, and irregular! ties avoided as much as possible. The kind of feeding will depend on the work which is being done. If the work is hard, crushed oats with good clean chaff, with a little bran or swedee or carrots mixed, will prove most satisfactory. On no account should a horse be left to stand in a stable when in a heated condition, and he should be watered with caution. A horse has a small stomach, and digestion takes place best when only half full. The inlet and outlet pipes of the stomach are situated closely together, and a distension of the stomach by overloading or the results of indigestion causes trouble. Small feeds, therefore, at a time are better, and feed often. When the animal is drink ing the water passes straight through the stomach, then through the watergut, bringing with it the food that is in the stomach; hence it is necessary to water the horse before rather than after meals. No harm results from a horse drinking when warm under general farm circumstances, and horses not accustomed to this practice should bo gradually trained to it.

To prevent a cow from sucking herself a

correspondent recommends a A Suggestion, plan he finds successful. “Put

a head halter on cow, also a

surcingle just back of front legs, not very tight—in fact, mine is quite loose. Fasten an ordinary harness snap on one end of a stick about sft long; a fork-handle is about tho right size. When you turn the cow out put stick between front legs and through surcingle, snapping into ring in halter. She can eat, drink, and do anything necessary except to lick or suck herself. When she lies down the stick prevents her from sucking herself. Take it off when she is in the barn.” AGRICOLA. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. By Ageicola. “ Farmer ” asks about tho comparative merits of the Shorthorn and Hereford breeds of cattle. The Shorthorns are perhaps the most cosmopolitan of the cow kind. They adapt themselves with ease to varying conditions of soil, climate, and management. Add to this that the breed is equally noted for its beef-making and milk-producing properties, and it is not difficult to see why the Shorthorn is so extensively bred over such wide areas. In England its importance exceeds that of any other breed whether as a grazier’s beast or as a dairyman’s cow. The iShorthorn crosses Well with other breeds, improving them in so doing. Some pedigree strains, however, are not good milkers, having been bred for beef; but breeding on milking linos has taken a forward move of recent years, and possibly in ■tho Old Country there is more of the Shorthorn than of any other blood in the majority of crossbred cattle. Herefords have ao-

quirk'd little fame as dairy cattle; but they are very hardy, and produce beef of excellent quality. They are quiet, and fatten easily and readily. As graziers’ beasts they are very hardy, and cannot bo surpassed. The Hereford cow under the system of management usually adopted in Herefordand on the South American estancia and in New Zealand —that is, allowing each cow to raise her own calf, both running together in the pasture,—does not develop the milking properties; but there are instances of Hereford cows brought up to the pail making excellent dairy cattle, the milk being very rich, although the Hereford is essentially a beef breed, and reaches maturity at mi early age. The steers readily fatten at two years old on grass alone, and in the summer months they command the top price in the London market.

“Curious” wishes to know (1) if linseed is of much value as food for horses, and how should it bo fed to horses? (2) Has molasses any value as a food for horses I. (3) How do the above compare with bran, and which of the three would be the most profitable as a horse food? Linseed is very expensive in New Zealand, and is not used to a great extent except in the case of valuable horses, as, for instance, in a racing stable, occasionally during the week —say once a day in the food. It is, customary to boil, say, four cupfuls of linseed in a bucket of water, and use, mixed with the oaten chaff, say, two cupfuls of the mixture to a feed. Molasses is a safe food to feed to any iarm stock, but on account of its laxative properties it has to be fed very cautiously. Oaten straw treated with molasses (mixed with an equal quantity of hot water) makes a palatable food. The treacle may be put in an old watering-can and the hot water poured over it. The straw can then be watered with the hot liquid turned a few times and left over night to heat. As to whether linseed, bran, or molasses would prove the most profitable as a horse food, it would depend, of course, on the market price.

“ Subscriber ” asks what becomes of the skin, fat, and offal when meat is sold to the Imperial Government at the freezing works? on the “ hooks,” all sunk. This, matter of sale on the “hooks” has not created much concern in the south, and meat is bought in most cases by the exporter who has space secured at the works. Meat sold, however, at a price per lb, f.0.b., places upon the seller the necessity of selling his skins and fat through one of the stock and station firms, or he can sell them to the freezing company.