STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 5

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays ABhburton, Tuesday* Addington, Wednesdays Waiarelta Railway Junction, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Oamaru, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Eeriot

Monthly (continued). Mataura & Waikouaiti, 2i)d Thursday Biverton, 3rd Thursday Wyndham, last Thurs-

day Balfour & Thornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, 2nd Friday Biversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday

Monthly. Palmerston, Ist Monday Ngapara & Wiuton, Ist Thursday

Periodically. Waipiata, Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepukl. Clifden

OTAGO. The past week has been cold throughout Otago, and, although lands have dried up very considerably, ttiero has been little or no growth, and the next few weeks dairyfarmers and others who havo wintered a, full stock will be drawing largely on their hay, mangold, and swede stores. Stock values are about maintained; but stpro Bheep transactions are quieter, while holders of store cattle seem confident of a demand Bprirging up round about their ideas ot values once the grass begins to come away. Fats are making late rates, beef of quality keeping up remarkably well. Central way a few lambs have made their appearance, and ewes are in good order 'lhere has been so far this season very little snow or frost, and the former has remained but a few hours, while ploughing has not been held up at any time during the winter m P irts reported that a find of phosphate rook has been made beyond Bluechfts, Waiau. If at all extensive, it would enhance the value of practically all the lands in the southern provinces. According to tne ngures submitted to tiie Efficiency Board in connection with the lands under cultivation in Otago and bouthland, it appears that for the coming season it is proposed to cultivate some 7164 acres more than last season, or 2.76 per cent, The figures represent the cultivation statistics from 2225 farms. The usual .abour available is put down as 5.008, and to-day s 4 is6—a decrease of 852, or 17 per cent. The labour statistics are made up from the returns of 1926 farms, some fanners failing to furnish information. It is suggested that prohibition ot using ■wheat for lambs should be introduced. Wheat is scarce, and transactions are limited. Three of the local mills, it is stated, have had to close down, two others can carry along tor some weeks yet, while eight weeks' running should about pull up the remaining one

BURNSIDE MARKET. There was a good yarding of mixedquality sheep at Burnside, and the demand was very firm for best sheep at values ruling a fortnight ago. Graziers' demands for unfinished lots, a good proportion lacking finish, sufficed to just about maintain last s gale's values, while, the few fat hoggets penned sold freely at late rates. There was a good yarding of beef, with an unusual number of unfinished animals. At the present high values butchers have no use for this class, and a number was passed. Prime and well-finished cattle elicited attention, and were cleared at firm rates, beef selling much the same as the previous week —viz., f.rime to 55s and plain and light to 50s per 001 b. About 100 store cattle were penned, nothing very special, although mostly right colours. Just a few steers were penned. A few aged steers, but thin, sold to £l6 10s; two to three-year-olds, £lO 12s 6d; thin poley heilers, said to be in calf, to £8; yearling poley heifers, £5 10s; yearling steers and bulls, £5 16s. Ordinary-con-ditioned cows were not in active demand, " canners" not being anxious buycrsjit the moment. Dairy cows were making from £5 to £l2, according to time due to calve. Forty fat pigs and 50 small and store sorts were penned, the former making late rates, while the latter were rather cheaper. ADDINGTON YARDS. The yarding of fat sheen at Addington was a "small one, despite southern entries. Values were up Is a head at the commencement of tile sale, but fell away, and sales were much on a parity with the previous week's • values. Some good wether and fairish hoggets comprised a small entry in the store sheep section. The demand was excellent, and hoggets were up Is a head, and wethers firm at last sale's rates. Thoro was quite a good lot ol fafc cattle penned, a consignment from the West Coast bein" of mer : t. with the usual supply of medium-quality beef. Values soon firmed to last sale's rates and thoro was a ready clearance. Year and a-half to two and a-half vears comprised a fairly large yarding of store cattle, all of which met with a good demand, and the tone of the market appears to bo improving. A line of mixed yearlings was passed at £6 133. Dairy cows were in short supply, and made from £3 to £l4; extra, £2O for a good Jersey jusfc tx profit. All grades of pigs were in de-

mand, both fats and stores, some nine weeks' old pigs making 40s each. Just 15 spring lambs wore penned, good sorts, but tno demand was poor, and some were passed, 29s to 33s being paid for a few. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Values of stock in the North Island show little, if any, alteration since our last reports. The following sales effected in widely-separated districts may be of interest:—ln South Auckland beef makes from 48= to 525; rough stuff, 38s to 42s per 1001 b; store cows. £7 5s to £3 ss; year and a-half steers, £8 5s to £9 10s; fair mixed year lings, £6 10s to £7; small, £4 to £5; hoggets, 23s 6d to 26s 6d. In Wanganui-Feild-ing all good sheep are selling freely, and rates are firmer. Cows at dispersal sales make from £ll to £l6 ss, averaging £l4 14s In the Wairarapa district hoggets were sold from 20s to 275; weaner steers, £4 10s; two-year-old steers, £9 to £9 15s; three-year-olds, £ls ss; springing heifers, £7 ss. In the Poverty Bay district sales aro slow. Extra good hoggets were sold to 295, fair sorts, 21a 6d to 265; culls, 16s to 19s 6d; but generally this class of stock has eased a shilling or two per head the last few sales. Cattle maintain late quotations. In Taranaki market rates show little change, and ready clearances at auction are effected. Hoggets make from 30s to 29s 6d; forward wethers, 27s 6d to 30s 6d ; yearling steers, £4 10s to £5 10s; two-vear-olds to £ll ss; good dairy cows, £lO 10s to £ls; springing heifere. £7 10s to £8 15s. In the Wellington district a good demand is experienced, hoggets making from 17s to 25s 3d; two-tooth wethers, 375; wether lambs (delivery January), 14s; ordinary weaner cattle, round about £3 3s; yearling Hereford cross, £8 ss; two-year-old ordinary steers, £9 15s to £l2; three-year-olds, £l4; springing heifers, £7 to £l2; store cows, £7 to £8 lis. STOCK NOTES. The Palmerston stock sale on Monday of last week was rather quiet, and as a result of the wet the few sheep forward were not looking their best, and in most instances were returned to their paddocks unsold. Cattle were selling very well, however, and practically the 120 penned found new owners. Yearlings made from £3 7s 6d to £4- and old cows from £3 15s to £7. The quality yarded could -hardly be classed as first grade. The cold season is retarding growth in this district, and business is slacker south than northwards at the present time. At a joint sale of Holsteins at Worcester, Mass., on 7th and Bth June, 143 head brought an average price of £414 12s. A six-month-old bull calf out of a champion milk and butter cow, it is reported, was sold at £10,640, a four-year-old cow brought £3660, and 59 animals sold at £2OO or over. The Otago Horse Show will be held at Tahuna Park on Thursday, the 27th of this month, under the auspices of_ the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, entries closing next Wednesday, the 26th inst. The Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand offers the Wright-Stephenson Challenge Cup, valued at 50. guineas, for competition for the best Clydesdale stallion or ontire colt registered in the society's Stud Book and entered in either of the Clydesdale horse classes. The cup is now held by the Clutha Clydesdale Horso Society's Boquhan Kennedy. Messrs Hughes and Cossar, Auckland, offer the Reliance Cup, valued at 50 guineas, for competition at the Otago A. and P. Summer Show for the best group of four mares or fillies, two years old or over. All must have the G.V.L. and P. certificate. To be won three times, not necessarily in succession; one new maro must be introduced each year. The Canterbury Jockey Club offers a prize of £lO at the Christchurch Horse Parade on September 19 for the best thoroughbred stallion at the disposal of mares in the Canterbury district (three entries or no award). Horses entered for the prize must be entered in the Stud Book, or eligible for entry in the same. The feeling one has in regard to the American moat menace depends on the point of view. From a national view it .moans that in the course of time producers will be enmeshed in a stranglo-hold, the town communities having first been easily convinced that foreign manipulation of our moat supplies is all for their betterment. The Swifts and the Armour companies aro welcomed in the Argentine. Here we don't want them ; but thoy gradually <ve sinking their foundations firmer day by day despite our best endeavours.

A recent Buenos Aires paper lias the following:—"The Santo Fe authorities are prepared to give encouraging terms to the Swift Company, who contemplate the installation of a freezer in that province. It is understood that the privileges accorded will he extended to 40. year.* as an inducement to the company to establish works at Santo Fe. The establishment of freezing works in that part of the Republio will result very beneficially for cattlebreeders in the northern zones. The Armour Company are expected to open a freezer shortly in Sao Paulo, where a most up-to-date establishment will be installed. These new works are expected to employ 1500 workers, and will be capable of handling dailv 1500 head of cattle. 1000 pigs, and 2000 sheep. This company already own Santa Ana de Livramento, where important developments are also In progress.

PEDIGREE SALES IN AMERICA. Pedigree stock are making great prices in America, all breeds participating in tho general prosperity. At Chicago in June last 107 imported Shorthorns were sold. The average prico was £274, with a top of £I4OO, the sale being reckoned one of the most satisfactory in the history of the American trade. The highest price was paid for tho yearling bull Caledonia, by the Colynie bull Proud Emblem. Females sold to £620, which was given for the three-year-old Brandsby's Jinny XIX. At a sale of Shorthorns the average price of 45 head was £2Ol. At a sale of Shorthorns at Chicago in Juno the average price of 45 head was £l4l Bs. At a sale of milking Shorthorns in May tho average for 39 head was £2Ol 12s. At Granger, Mo., in June the average price was £131: At lowa City in May there was held a very successful sale of Aberdeen-Angus cattle. The average price of 51 head was £136 12s. Tho highest price was £485, paid for a two-year-old heifer, while tho yearling bull Eltro was bought for £4BO. At Shell Rock, lowa, the following day 53 head of Aberdeen-Angus cattle brought an average price of £BB Bs. The highest price was £2BO, paid for a seven-year-old cow. Thero was a great sale of Aberdeen-Angus cattle the same month, when the average price of 123 head was £154 16s. Tho highest price was £6lO, paid for tho seven-year-old cow Blackcap M'Henry LXXXVTI, another female of the same familv bringing £6OO. Bulls sold to £402.