SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 12

SOUTHLAND AGRICULTURAL NOTES.

(Fbom Oub Own (JonaESi’OKDSNT.) The unfortunate turn tiiat the weather took during tne past week alter The Weather lour months of well-nigh and perfect climatic conditions the harm. lias not been relished by outdoor workers, and a good deal of time has consequently been lost. Work, however, is forward, and one does not hear of any scarcity of labour. it is true that shearers are difficult to pick up, and although tew farmers are desirous oi commencing shearing operations just at present, those who require the services ol tnreo or four shearers arc experiencing difficulty m find.ug the men. Despite tne fact that growing crops have received a check owing to the cold, wet snap, they are looking exceptionally well. iho autumu-sovvn ones are showing a wonderful growth, and present indications point to the bulk of straw being phenomenal. Grass is doing exceptionally well, and as a consequence live stock are improving in condition daily. Cows arc milking extra well, and the daily intake of milk at the factories is increasing rapidly. The numerical strength of most herds has been strengthened this year; but climatic conditions have also been conducive to an increased yield. A largo number of calves arc being reared, which is only reasonable, considering the high prices ruling for all classes of stocK. Almost all known methods of feeding calves arc being resorted to, and with varying success. Many of the animals are totally different in appearance from the sleek creatures one was accustomed to see in the vicinity of farm steadings a matter of three decades ago, when dairy factories wore fewer in number than they are to-day, and when separators were unknown. It is, of course, only natural that food substitutes of various kinds should be resorted to; but it is feared that the desire to be economical has not been consistent with good judgment.

The stock market at Wallacotown on Tuesday was bordering on a Live Stock state of excitement, espcciMarket- ally the fat section. Prices for beef ranged in the vicinity of 46s per 1001 b, while fat sheep sold at up to 42s 6d—an advance of about 5s compared with prices ruling a fortnight previously. Those prices are something of a record, and have certainly not been even approximated at public saleyards in Southland hitherto. There is a demand from Otago, and it is known that representatives of Dunedin butchers were operating at Wallacetown sale and privately during the week. This applies both to sheep and cattle, and indicates that prices, high as they are at the present time, will advance still further in the immediate future. There are stockmen, however, who do not hold to this opinion, and who aver that Tuesday’s prices for fat sheep will not be maintained on Tuesday 2nd prox. The operations of a prominent grazier and dealer are said to have had an important bearing on values. The fact remains, however, that fat sheep are scarce, and until shearing becomes general they are not likely to become plentiful. There is a specially keen demand at present for both store sheep and cattle, especially forward sorts. Well-grown hoggets and sappy wethers are keenly sought after, but holder's are not evincing any disposition to sell. The fact is they are willing to risk the wool market, and the superabundance of feed will offer holders encouragement in this direction. Small store cattle, if they look healthy, have been in keen demand lately—in fact, any class of stock which looks like putting on condition quickly is readily snapped up.

We are now approaching the season of the

Cure for Call Scours.

year when dairymen experience a good deal of trouble with what is termed scours

in calves. First, special care must be taken to avoid scours by keeping the calves in clean, bright, well-lighted, and well-ventilated quarters if it is necessary to keep them housed. They should be fed regularly, and care must be taken to have the temperature of the milk as near that of freshly-drawn milk as possible, and always to have the calf pail scrupulously clean. In spite of precautions, however, cases of scours will occur. As soon as symptoms appear the following treatment should bo resorted to: —Two to four tablespoonfuls of castor _ oil mixed with a halfpint of milk, and given to the calf. Follow this in from four to six hours by one toasponful of a mixture of one part salol and two parts sub-nitrate of bismuth. It can also be given with onc-half pint of new milk, or the powder placed on the tongue and washed down by a small quantity of milk. The salol and sub-nitrate of bismuth can be secured from any druggist mixed in the proper proportions at the time of purchase, and thus have the powder readily available for use at any time. As an additional precaution against contagious scours, it is advisable that the navel of the newlybona calf be -wetted with a one to 500 solution of bichloride of mercury (corrosive sublimate). IVnfnrA nrnvirlorl srmipfhinrr in f.Vio

iMaturo nas Call Feeding.

provided sometning in tne first milk that is very essential in getting the calf’s digestive machinery started right. Some dairymen leave

the calf with the cow a couple of days, until it is nicely straightened up; then comes the most important time in the life of the calf, when we take upon ourselves its feed and care; and here is w 7 here we want to exercise a lot of kindnes and gentleness, for if you arc impatient and rough in your treatment with thorn, they will distrust and fear you. and the chances arc they never will forgot these first lessons and impressions. A cow will never do her best unless she has perfect confidence in you. It is an old saying that you catch more flies with molasses than with vinegar; and so you can do more by coaxing than by driving. When teaching the calf to drink, don’t push its head into the pail. Wot your fingers in the milk and let it suck, and gradually coax its head into the pail, and usually the second or third time it will drink of its own accord. There are three essentials at this time—the quantity of milk, the temperature, and quality. Calves are injured more by not, observing carefully these rules for the first few -weeks of their lives than by any other way. At this stage their little stomachs are not strong enough, and a little care exercised at this time often moans the difference between an unprofitable and a profitable animal. The amount of food at this time will depend largely on

the calf, and somewhat on the nature of the milk. This amount must be determined by the feeder; but this precaution is always advisable—better to begin carefully and work up to what they can handle rather than to begin with a largo amount and get thorn off their food and have to begin over again. The natural animal heat, which is about lOOdcg Jj’ahr., should lie adhered to as closely as possible. The mother also furnishes the milk in a sanitary condition, and we should try to follow her example in this respect, and see that the pails and the surroundings generally are kept in a cleanly condition. It will also be noticed that quite early in life the calf will begin chewing straw or hay if these are available. A little clover hay placed within its reach is excellent, and if this is not procurable, some crushed oats placed in a trough will make an excellent substitute. When changing over from whole new milk to skim milk let the change be gradual.