STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Weekly Stock Sales. Bumside, Wednesdays Ashburton, Tuesdays Addington, Wednesdays Waiareka Railway Junotion, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Oamaru, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Heriot Monthly. Palineiston, Ist Monday Kgapara & Whiten, Ist Thursday

Monthly (continued). Mataura & Waikouaiti, 2cd Thursday Eivertollj 3ld Thursday Wyndham, last Thursg a y Balfour & Thornbury, lßt Friday Duntroon & Otautan, 2nd Friday Riversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday _, ~ „ Periodically. Waipiata, Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepukl, Clifden

OTAGO. The past week has been fine, with drying nor'-west winds more or less general throughout Otugo. Early lambing ewes have been well favoured, and this important phaso on the farms promises well in the "initial stages. In the Central high winds have been experienced, followed by rains, and the country has rarely carried a lot of sheep promising a better or .weightier clip of wool. Sheep, indeed, are jn first-class * order, and the hills are well clothed, although, of course, this area can do with rain at short periods. The less said about rabbits the better. There is practically no change in the values of store sheep, all being easily taken when a genuine seller comes on the market. In regard to dairy matters the position remains unchanged in as far as the sale of the exportable surplus of cheese and butter is concerned. Representatives of the dairy factories have leased three sections from the Otago Harbour Board for the purpose of providing further storage. Word also is to hand that, the South Island Dairy Association has arranged with the Canterbury dairy factory companies for extra storage for cheese and butter at Lyttolton. It is satisfactory to note that the cudgels have been taken up on behalf of Central Otago. The State Forestry Department's statement in re the improbability of tho successful establishment of commercial forests is too sweeping altogether. Mr A. Moritzson points out that trees raised from seed planted in the Central Otago district have done admirably, particularly when watered in their early stages.. Wheat is in very small compass indeed in Dunedin, and tho Minister of Agriculture recently stated that no Australian wheat Sylll be available until the strike in the Commonwealth is over. Fortunately there is a fair amount of flour in tho South Island. BURNSIDE MARKET. A yarding of good-quality sheep was submitted at Burneide. with a moderate proportion of graziers' sorts. The demand for tho most part was much on a par with last sale's values, with an easement towards the close of Is a head for unfinished lots. There was a good but rather a email selecof fat cattle, with the usual pens lacking finish. Values were firm at late rates, with graziers ready buyers at unchanged values for sorts* not up to the trade s standard. About 150 store cattle were yarded, and prices evinced little, if any, difference on recent rates. Some 20 dairy cows of ordinary quality were aold at round about £lO each, according to con'dition,. age, or whether close to nrofit or not. A larger entry of fat pigs and norkers elioitcd very fair competition, but prices were hardly up to tho previous market rates. Both stores and weancrs were in moderate supply, and were readily cleared at late good values. ADDINGTGN YARDS. There was rather a good yarding of fat sheep at Addington, including some extra good lots from Otago and Southland. There Was a bright demand, and all were taken at rates ruling a fortnight ago. The store gheep section was but moderately supplied, hoggets chiefly comprising l tho entry. All grades of dry sheep appreciated hi value, and several buyers wtro unsupplied. Some- 200 head of fat cattle were penned, generally of medium to fair quality. Tho trade secured their supplies at slightly lower rates beef ranging from 52s 6cl to 555, extra choice to 57s 6d per 1001 b. There wa3 a large yarding of store cattle, including several lots from tho south. Oood grades sold freely, but low-conditioned Sorts wore avoided. Hereford heifers (thin) made £l2. three-year-old to four-year-old Iteers .to £l2 7s per head. Three lines of year-old to two-year-old low-conditionecT fenimals, totalling some 160, failed to find fmyers at auction. Dairy cowc? were 3low of Aale. Springing cows made £9 to £l2, end

ordinary £6 to £B. Fat pigs maintained recent rates, but a fairly large entry of small store pigs failed to make up to lato rates. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES Values of stock in the North Island, although variable when compared with prices ruling in other provinces, are fairly steady. In South Auckland yearling steers made from £6 to £6 10s, two-year-old to two-and-a-half-year-old steers to £lO, store cows £8 to £9 2s 6d, and dairy cows £9 5s to £lB 15s. In Poverty Bay values of sheep show some improvement, good hoggets making 29s to 31s, medium 22s to 26s 6d. culls 16s to 19s year-and-a-half-old steers £7 10s to £8 7s 6dj two-year-olds to £ll, dairy cows to £l6, and springing heifers £8 to £l2. In the Wanganui-Feilding districts cattle sell very freelv, yearling steer's bringing £5 to £6 17s 6cl, heifers £4 10s to £5 15s, store cows £6 10s to £9, springing heifers £lO 10s to £l2. In Taranaki the demand continues very firm, yearling steers selling at £4 53 to £5 ss, heifers £3 10s to £4 4e, wearier steers to £4 10s, store cows £6 15s to £7 15a, fresh-condi-tioned cows £8 10s to £lO 10s. extra springing heifers £l2 to £lB 10s, and ordinary springing heifers £8 to £lO. In Hawke's Bay cows with calves made £l3 3s, two-year-old Shorthorn steers £l2, polled Angus steers £l3 3s, year-and-a-half-old Shorthorn steers £lO 10s, good hoggets 26s 6d to 32s 4d, others 16s to 21s 3d, and a line of four-year-old-ewes, some 1200,- just lambing, made 42s each. STOCK NOTES. The British Food Controller has announced _ that arrangements have been made fixing the prices of cattle and meat required for military and civilian consumption as from the Ist inst. In agreement with the Army Council and the Agricultural Departments of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Lord Rhondda has decided that the following- shall be the maximum prices for live cattle for the army: September 7-ls per live cwt. October .. .. 72s per live, cwt. November and Decembar.. 67s per live cwt. January 60s per live cwt. These prices represent very considerable reductions on those now ruling, and on those which it was anticipated would prevail if free market conditions were allowed to continue. Maximum prices will be fixed on a corresponding basis for civilian consumption, and steps will be taken to control the profits of butchers and others in such a manner as to ensure that the benefit of the reduced prices will accrue to the consumer. It has also been decided as from an early date to standardise the price of flour in such a manner as to enable bread to be sold under normal circumstances at 9d per quartern loaf. The Food Controller will make a fuller statement on these matters shortly. The federal award recently made on the mainland by Mr Justice Higgins in regard to shearing and other pastoral occupations does not apply to Tasmania. So far as shearers and other employees, members of the A.W.U.. are concerned, their union agreed that for three years from October, 1916, their members should work in Tasmania at the rates and under the condition* which obtained at last shearing. Like everything else, the price of poisons has soared high, and this is likely to be reflected in the cost incurred in destroying rabbits. The Chief Inspector of Rabbits informed a gathering of Tasmanian- farmers that it was a pretty difficult matter to procure poisons in order to carry out his free-feeding experiments. Ho pointed out that ho used to pay 3s 6d an ounce for strychnine, but it could not now bo procured under Is an ounce. Phosphorus was unprocurable, owing to its being used for war purposes. In his opinion there was a "ring" in poisons, and certain people were holding in anticipation of higher rates. TAvSMANIAN SEED FARM. It may not be generally known that- a farm has been established at Macquario Plain*. Tasmania, by Messrs Arthur Yates and Co. for growing farm seeds of several kinds, and promises to prove an excellent venture, and a great boon to Tasmanian farmers (says the Weekly Courier), especially as the seeds grown' in the State are better acclimatised, and therefore more reliable. The "Oxbridge correspondent of the Mercury > writes:—"Mr J. C. Fenton has entered into a contract with Arthur Yates and Co., of the Macquario Plains seed farm, to plant eight aere3 of swedes this season for seed. As the* climatic conditions here arc undoubtedly very suitable for the production of such seeds, there seems little doubt that a good sample should result." PASTURING- TTGS. The United States Department of Agriculture, in a recent bulletin, has something to say about pasturing pigs, which, in the light that less work is entailed and that there is money in growing pigs to-day, should be perused with interest: —"Pasturing pigs reduces the amount of grain needed to bn'nrr them to a profitable weight and marketable condition. Either permanent pasture or temporary crops afford such a grain reduction. The amount to reduce the grain ration is a problem for the individual farmer. Pasturage, however, does not furnish a completo food because a sufficient quality of roughage can not be consumed and digested to supply all the nutrients required for rapid growth. The

forage, especially from leguminous pastures, a cheap source of protein, supplies ash for bone-making, adds bulk to the ration, and acts as a mild laxative and tonio and keeps the hog's system in condition to utilise profitably the concentrated feeds. Pasture crops alone, however, make a pig's fat thin and soft, and grain is required to remedy these defects. Cutting the grain ration down by half should pay well enough even when prices to-day are high. The concentrated feeds to use should be carefully considered.. By product feeds and feeds unsuited for human consumption are preferable. On alfalfa pasture - the grain should be largely carbonaceous in .character. With non-leguminous pastures more protein supplement will be required. I "Pigs, grain-fed on pasture, will gain lib or more a day from weaning to a weight of 2001 b to 2501 b, while those getting a little or no grain will gain but £lb to |lb , per day. This will bring spring pigs to j a marketable weight in early fall, at the period of high prices, whereas those being • pastured only are not ready for market j until a month or two later. A gram ration, I by bringing the pigs to an earlier market, reduces the time of feeding, the risk, and the interest on the investment. The animals are in higher ' condition with a finer and more palatable meat and fat. "Farmers, in substituting pastures entirely for grain and other concentrated feeds for their marketable pigs through the summer, will find that before marketing in ! the fall it will be advisable to feed gram to harden the soft fat and meat and put on additional weight. Light, but steady, grain-feeding on pasture, however, gives better results than a heavier feeding during a shorter finishing period. ■ DAIRY SHORTHORNS. I The extension of the practice of koeping accurate milk records adds testimonv to the already well-known excellence of the dairy Shorthorn at Home in the matter of milk production. Official statistics now in tho possession of the Dairy Shorthorn Association show that 171 cows have been classed as having yielded over 80001 b of milk during the year ended September 30, 1916. These returns were made by 62 members, and compare with 140 cows returned by 54 members in the previous year. Of the number mentioned there are 31 animals whose record was over 10,0001 b. At the head of the list are two cows whose output was well over 13,0001 b. The figures afford striking evidence of the growing popularity and importance of the pedigree dairy Shorthorn. Tho dairy Shorthorn is booming at Homo at the present time. Their worth is comparatively little known in Now Zealand, though Australia has a fine herd. In the North Island, too, they aro making headway. In the Pedigree Dairy Shorthorn (C.H.8.) Association's Year Book the followstatement of points is printed: BULLS. 1. Head masculine in character (not too short) and finely cut, horns flat and well set on without coarseness at base, forehead broad, eyes prominent and lively, nostrils wido and expansive, nose clean, throat clearly defined. 2. Neck long, arched, and muscular, but not heavy. i 3. Withers strong but not too wide. 4. Shoulders flat and sloping, indioating style and liberty. 5. Chest broad and deep, not running light at the girth. , 6. Barrel hooped and well ribbed up. 7. Back broad over tho loins, the top line being straight from withers to tail. i 8. Hips wido apart and light in bone. | 9. Rump long, broad, and level, with tail neatly set in. 10. Hindquarters wide, the leg 3 when viewed from behind being straight and without nearness when walking, 11. False teats well developed, set horizontally, wide apart, and away from "the scrotum.

IS. Escutcheon even and well defined (the hair from the inside of the thighs to the outside, and also from the scrotum, growing in an upward direction), the horizontal markings high up and the more pronounced the vertical the better (see "Economies in Dairy Farming," Mathews). 13, Skin thin, mellow, flexible to the touch, and carrying a good coat of hah', patchy or faded colours being avoided. 14. Flesh level, with an entire absence of unevenness or cushions.

15. Carriage and aotion in walking gay and vigorous. 16. General appearance symmetrical, combining sizo and scope.

COWS AND HEIFERS. 1. Head feminine in character, long, and finely cut, horns curved inwards and small at base, forehead broad, eyes large and of gentle expression, nostrils wido and expansive, nose clean, throat clearly defined. 2. Neck lean but not weak. 3. Withers not too wide. 4. Shoulders flat and sloping. 5. Chest broad and deep, not running light at the girth. 6. Barrel 1 deep and well hooped. 7. Back broad over tho loins, the top lino being straight from withers to tail. 8. "Hips wide apart and light in bono. 9. Rump long, broad and level, with tail fine and neatly set in. 10. Hindquarters wide, tho logs when viewed from behind straight and without sign of nearness when walking. 11. Udder well carried, thin-skinned, with pronounced milk veins, largo in capacity (not fleshy or split up between tho quarters), extending high up at the baok, hanging

almost perpendicularly, and running well forward in a line with the belly, teats of good and even size, squarely placed and wide apart, milk veins about the abdomen, tortuous and highly developed. 12. Escutcheon even and well defined (there being an absence of coarse hair between its upward growth and the downward growth of the ordinary coat), high and wide horizontal markings in addition to vertical being of the greatest importance (see "Economies in Dairy Farming," Mathews). 13. Skin thin, mellow, flexible to the touch, and carrying a good coat of hair, patchy or faded colours being avoided. 14. Flesh level, with an entire absence of unevenness or cushions.

15. Carriage and action in walking gay and agile. 16. General appearance symmetrical, combining size and scope.