STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3342, 3 April 1918, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sains, j Monthly (continued). Burnside, Wednea<l 1 Woodlands, 2nd TharsAshburton, Tuesday I day Addington, Wednesday* / A'yndbani, last ThursWaiareka Railway Juno- day tlon, Tuesdays Balfour, 3rd Thursday WaUacetown, Tuesdays . Tbornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon & Otautau, Fortnightly. 2nd Friday Clinton, Thursdays Riversdale. 3rd Friday Balclutba, Fridays l * Rka ,' I,u f ? H £? 7 Gore, Tuesdays Clydevale, last ThuraOamaru, Tuesdays . " aT -. Wallacetown, Tuesdays Periodically as AdverHeriot, Thursdays tlsed. unnthiu Lumsden, Moss'ourn, Monthly - Orepuki, Wataura, Paimerston, Ist Monday Waikoualti, RiverWinton, Ist Thursday ton, Ngapara, and Duntroon, 2nd Friday Otago Central Sales. OTAGO. Early in the week the weather was fine and warm: but the temperature was considerably lower during the holidays, and decidedly autumnal at times. Marked benefit has resulted already from the previous week's good rainfall, and, generally, Otagans with farm lands have little to growl about. There are, of course, the wheat prices, which fail to please anyone, and unless a change comes o'er the minds of erstwhile wheat-growers, the area put in this cereal, it is fearedj will slump badly this • autumn. In this connection attention is drawn to the note on "improved seed wheats," and whether it would not pay intending growers to communicate with the secretary of the Canterbury Seed-growers' Association with a view to getting seed which beats the ordinary commercial sample out of sight. Values of sheep are barely maintained. Breeding ewes are certainly easier than, was the case earlier in the season. The price of wethers fluctuates considerably in the different markets, while lambs, although selling well in the chief stock market, seem cheaper outside. The rain will do a vast amount of good in Central Otago. The hills are covered with the seed of the thistle, which has now „ every chance of. doing well. BURNSIDE MARKET. The fat* sheep yarded at Burnside were of moderate quality, and the demand wa3 quiet, values being appreciably lower than was the case at last sale, particularly so when compared with rates ruling for the last raco of the previous week. The fat lambs forward were of mixed quality, but best heavy prime sorts evoked keen bidding on a parity with values of last sale, medium unfinished being somewhat easier, and rape lambs were taken by graziers at 19s to 24s 6d. Some yards of store lots, comprising breeding ewes, lambs, and wethers, wet with a dragging demand, two-tooth ewes, openwoolled, making 325, sound-mouths (guaranteed), close-woolled, 31s 3d, 32s 9d, openWoolied ground-mouth ewes 20s 6d, thin fresh-mouth ewes 10s, mixed-sexed lambs 16s 6d, bare old ewes (not guaranteed) 18s 4d, four and six tooth crossbred wethers 31s. Tho quality of an average yarding of fat v cattle was, for the most part, indifferent. Best beef met with attention, and sales were made at up to 48s per 1001 b, other quality unchanged. _ A big yarding of 350 store cattle comprised all classes. The market was dull, and passings were freely made. Sales were made on a 10b per head lower level than last sale all round. Bovers about maintained the lower market values noted a sale or two past. The few dairy oows penned met with a brisk demand at unchanged values. Fat pigs maintained last sale's rates, say, up to Bgd per lb; small sorts were not sought after, and the demand was quiet. ADDINGTON YARDiS. There was a large yarding of fat sheep ' at Addington, and market values were easier. Fat lambs were forward in fair numbers, tho quality being satisfactory. Prices ranged from 25s to 325, light 23s to 24s 6d. Another large yarding of store sheep was submitted to a big attendance. Tho best of all local sheep sold comparatively well. North Island consignments were weaker, and met with but small support at late rates, this applying to all foreign sheep. A line of some hundreds of crossbrocf sixtooth ewes made 40s, and somo 150 halfbred two-tooth ewes 425, store lambs (wethers) 15s to 22s 6d, mixed sexes to 245. wethers 26s to 30s. Tho entry of fat cattle was a largo one, with a good proportion of steer beef. Opening quietly at Inst sale's values, the market eased and firmed up ere the close. Beef made- 44s to 46s for steer, and to 44s for , cow per 1001 b. The store cattle forward Comprised all sorts, and tho demand was op a par with last sale's values. Good sorts 6{rdairy cows have keon inquiry, best making round about £lB. BALCLUTHA AND CLINTON. The fact of the Clutha stock sale being iield on an "off" day probably accounted

for an indifferent sale from the vendor's point of view. Instead of being held on Good Friday, the usual day, the yarding Was offered on the previous Monday. About 6000 sheep were penned, but fully half the i sheep were passed. No outside buyers were present, and all classes of stock suffered. Some two-tooth ewes made 34s 9d, and a line of open-woolled wethers (two and fourtooths) 3Qs 9d, good lambs were sold at 21s to 22s 6d, old owes 17s to 235, soundmouths 30s 6d. Besides the holidays, possibly the fact that the rape is practically finished and the turnips not ripe enough yet for feeding off tended to ' depress the market. At Clinton on Thursday about 12,000 sheep were yarded, including drafts from stations. Although prices realised were unexciting, it was a good sale, and despite dragging at times, transactions were effected. A line of ewes (Cairn), guaranteed mouths, made 28s sd, and another station lot 29a 3d, the Cairn lambs (mixed sexes) 18s 4d, a yard of four, six, and eight tooth ewes made 36s lid, young crossbred wethers 30s 6d, two-tooth ewes 29s to 34 s 6d, cull store lambs 12s to 16a.

NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Values of sheep in the North Island, although steady for best grades, evince considerable fluctuation in lower qualities. In the South Auckland province beef has a wide range, anywhere from 42s to 52s per 1001 b, calves £2 10s to £3 15s, yearling steers £6 10s to £7, store cows £8 to £lO. In the Wairarapa there is apparently some easement in values, wethers 25s to 325, woolly lambs 15s "to 20s, shorn 7s 6d, to Us, four and five-year-old ewes 16s to 245, mixed weaners £3, year-and-a-half steers £6 5s to £7, two-year-olds £9, two to three year _ olds £lO 10s. In the WanganuiFeilding area, bush fives have checked transactions to a considerable extent. Considerable stock, both sheep and cattle, have been lost. In Poverty Bay four and six tooth store wethers, in fair-sized lines, made to. 28s 6d, forward wethers 29s 3d, twotooths 23s lOd, yearling steers to £B, good Shorthorn crosses £8 to £9, "cows with calves £lO. In the Manawatu feed is going off, and prices wore easier, small two-tooth wethers 23s to 245. culls 13s 6d, medium lambs 13s 6d to 15s, good weaner steers £<i 10s. year-and-a-half £8 15s. two to two and a-half steers £lO to £l2, store cows £8 to £9. In the Wellington area twotooth wethers 25s to 275, four-year-old ewes 20s to 275. yearling steers £5, year-and-a-half to £B. two-and-a-half £9 to £lO. In Taranaki values are steady: extra weaners £5. ordinary £3 10s. two-year-olds to £9, a-half to £B, two-and-a-half £9 to £lO. In Hawke's Bav prices are back a bit: yearling £7 10s, two-year-olds £lO 10s, cows and calves £lO 12s 6d, good springing cows £l2 15s, to £ls. SHEEP-DIPPING IN THE COMMONWEALTH. No doubt it will have been noted by farmers and pastoralists in New Zealand that proclamations have been issued by the Stock Department of South Australia for the compulsory dipping of sheep. It may come as a surprise to- many, perhaps, to learn that- this necessary measure with us should meet with considerable opposition by many sheep-growers in the Commonwealth. According to an exchange an influential deputation, representative of the larger pastoral interests in South Australia, was introduced to the Minister of Agriculture recently. _ The Minister, in reply, said he agreed with the justice of the case which had been presented. It was unnecessary to put people to the inconvenience and expense of dipping sheep that were clean. As a matter of fact, in a measure, tho stock-owners were required by the proclamation to do something which was almost impossible, in view of the totally inadequate supplies of dipping < materials. In tho circumstances it certainly was absurd to uso the dip for clean sheep. He was glad that the speakers • had endorsed the determination of tho Government to insist upon the dipping of infested sheep, because only by tho adoption of that course could the owners of clean flocks bo protected. It scorned to him, however, that the proclamation needed some revision. As had been emphasised, it would bo a waste of time and money, and a distinct inconvenience, to have to dip sheep that were clean. Tho farmers, and not the pastoralists, were the principal danger in respect to the distribution of lice, largely of the favourable conditions for the breeding of the parasites, and the lack of- facilities for effectively dipping their sheep. The time had come when it would be necessary, perhaps, to provide such facilities in towns which wore surrounded by farms carrying small flocks. Pie intended to go into that matter with the Chief Inspector of Stock (Mr Williams), and see what could be done. In conclusion Mr Blundell said: "Meanwhile, I shall issue instructions that clean sheep are not to bo dipped, and the owners are not. to bo penalised for not dipping them. The men with dirty sheep, however, must rigidly observe the law."

THE SEASON AND POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. Throughout New South Wales the rural outlook is good (says the Pastoral Review). There is plenty of feed and water, generally sneaking, and although grasshoppers and sheep worms aro causing a lot of trouble to pastures and stock, there is every reason to be satisfied with the prospects for the future. In Victoria, likewise, good rains have given pastures a green shoot, and abundant winter feed should bo assured,

while farmers have been enabled to make an early start with their ploughing and cultivating. Tasmania has experienced a hot, dry month, which has been bad for agricultural operations; but pastures are looking well, and with early autumn rains there should be ample feed for the winter. The northern part of Queensland is experiencing an exceptionally wet season, and both on the coast and inland a dry spell would be welcomed. Coming to the Central Division, there have been some big totals on the coast, although in the west the falls were light. In the middle west the rain was well up to the average for the month. The south-west had a dry month but there is plenty of feed there; the trouble is that in other parts of the State the excessive moisture tends to make the pastures sour. South Australia has an abundant suppjy of dry feed, although it is not as nutritious as it looks, as in some districts stock are not doing too well on it. Grass seed, as in other portions of the continent, is very, bad, and heavy losses are reported, although, as is shown in an article in this issue, these losses can be avoided. Magnificent rains have fallen over the pastoral area* of .Western Australia with the exception of the coastal country from Carnarvon southwards, and all the stock routes are now open. Bush fires, which were feared almost everywhere, have, except in a fow isolated cases, done but little harm; but the resultant rank growth of grass has in many cases left its mark on the sheep. This, in turn, will react on the growth of wool, the staple as a. whole having received a check, which must be apparent when the 1918 clip comes up before the appraisers—that is, presuming the scheme continues, and it is at tho moment difficult to see any chance of a free market. During the past month appraisements have followed each other in the various centres almost automatically, and in such well-ordered sequence that one is apt to overlook the conditions under which the present scheme sprung into being. Should, however, such a state of forgetfulness be reached, a glance round the various brokers, as also the Government stores, would soon bring home the position, as they will be found full of wool, which the absence of ■shipping is holding up. Freight for wool has been mainly conspicuous by its absence during the month, and it is stated that foodstuffs must take precedence of all else for at least two months; but that does not interfere with appraisements, which still proceed. The wheat harvest is at last practically all in, and the principal work on f arms_ in the wheat belt now consists of fallowing and carting grain to the railways. It is very difficult to say just how the area put under the plough this season will compare with last. The general opinion is that there will be a fair decrease, and it looks as though the falling-off would be most marked in New. South Wales. Reports received from a large number of grain-grow-ing centres in that State are to the effect that farmers are going in more and more for sheep, and giving up cultivation. No doubt the unsatisfactory management of the wheat pool largely accounts for the movement. However, if tho Federal Government carries out its expressed intention of fixing the wholesale price of meat for local consumption at export rates, those who bought sheep lately will more than likely find themselves in serious financial difficulties. At the moment even stores are above export level, and mixed farming seems to be the safest course to follow. To give .up cultivation and utilise valuable land, for stock only would certainly bo unwise.

THE INDIAN WHEAT YIELD. The Department of Statistics of India has issued its first forecast of the Indian wheat crop. The figures covering the report generally represent the area sown up to the end of January. Owing to the lateness of the season duo to heavy rain in September, and October, sowings continued in some places at up to that date. Tho total area sown is estimated at .33,912,000 acres, as against 31,383,000 acres in the. first forecast of Inst year, or an increase of 8 per cent. Tho estimate last year, however, was made on sowings to the beginning of December. As compared with the final figures for tho preoeding season, there is an increase of 3 per cent., and the estimate is the highest on record. The condition of the crop is reported to be good, owing to the copious monsoon of 1917; but the Christmas rains (always important for the wheat crops of Northern India) are urgently required in parts of the central provinces. The sowing season was very favourable, although excessive rain somewhat impeded sowing operations in almost all provinces.