STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stork Sale«Burnsldo, Wedueac Ashburton, Tuesda, Addington, Wednesday., Watareba Railway Junction. Tuesday* Wallacctown, Tuesdays Heriot, Thursdays Fortnightly. Clinton. Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Bore, Tuesday* Oamaru, Tuesdays ' Wallacctown,. Tuesdays Monthly. Palmerston, Ist Monday Wlnton, Ist Thursday Duntrocu, 2nd Friday

Monthly (continued). Woodlands, 2nd Thursday Wyndham, last Thursday Ual/our, 3rd Thursday Thornbury, Ist Friday Duntroon A Otautau, 2nd Friday Rlveradato, 3rd Friday Waikaka. last Friday Clyderale, last Thursday / Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, lioss'nurn, Orepuki, Matnura, Waikoualtl. ton, Ngapara; and Otago Central Sales.

jsujuijtugu, -juu rnuuy \ uiago vcuu« OTAGO. Another fine week, with the exception of Wednesday, when a most useful rain was experienced in Otago. Harvesting for the . time being was somewhat curtailed,_ but the root crops will have benefited considerably. The prospects of adequate feeding during tiie coming months are meagre, the weather having been unduly cold, and there is a comparative dearth of autumn growth on the farms. In consequence farmers are not buyers of stock—indeed, for the most 'part are keen quitters of anything on four legs over and above what they are: able to comfortably winter. This on top of the prevailing conditions in connection with exporters’ inability to buy with their usual vim, owing to inadequate clearances at the various works, has depressed fat and store stock business. As anticipated, growers of Tuscan variety of wheat find themselves in a dilemma. Ashburton growers have appointed a deputation to wait on the Minister to ask the Government 'to take over the wheat at' the fixed price agreed upon, and provide for storage. Certainly something should be dome on the lines suggested in fairness to ■ thos. who- have grain waiting delivery in the paddocks. Steps have been taken, it is understood, to assure that cattle consigned from the North Island to these parts must be dipped, in view of the prevalence of the cattle tick in some areas of the North Island. Judging from a recent cablegram from Loudon, Dominion growers may surely, be deemed fortunate in disposing of next year’s wool clip as formerly. Fine’ wools made 2i to 5 per cent, higher, while coarser sorts sold at par, compared with the fixed prices in force. Although not always seeing eye to "eye with the Dunedin. Returned Soldiers’ Association, yet in their protest against the proposed big expenditure on decorations in peace celebrations the writer is with them all the way. Better give the money away than drape the Town Hall, etc. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside was large, and the quality) only fair. A lair proportion comprised ewes of varying grades. -Best sheep sold at last sale’s rates, but plain sorts were very dull of sale, and lower rates had to be accepted to clear lots, prices being back fully Is 6d a head. Some 000 store sheep, mostly small, fine-woolled ewes of doubtiul age, made from 3s 6d to 16s 6d, those bringing more than the price of their skin making round 8s a head. Rams of a sort sold at 12s to 15s. The fat lambs were only of fair quality, but for the most part they were taken by exporters under pressure, the fact of the works having heavy supplies on hand and the storage demand always a threatening factor, depressing the usual active demand at this season for fats. The quality of the large yarding of fat cattle was excellent, but there was an oversupply. A number of lots were passed, and, oven so, the trade secured their supplies at very reasonable rates. Beef made from 42s to 46s 6d per 1001 b. A comparatively small yarding of store cattle .(about 100) were yarded. Sales were difficult to effect at even the previous week’s rates. Young cows of fair breeding, vealer at foot, made £3 12s to £4 15a, and the calf from £2 10s to £3 10s apiece. Some very fair three-year-old steers made £9 to £lO 10s, animals easily making a couple of pounds a head more a short time ago. Bigs sold #ell at rather under last sale’s prices, best baconers selling close up to lOd per lb, with porkers much the same. The store pens were practically empty, but no one appeared dismayed. ADDINGTON YARDS. The entry of fat sheep at Addington was large, and comprised of ewes for the most part, and of only fair quality'. Prime lots sold well at up to late rates, but medium and unfinished sorts were easier. Exporters were not too active. A very fair yarding of medium fat lambs elicited moderate competition, and prices for the 5500 odd lambs were on a parity with the previous sale’s rates. The yarding of store sheep was somewhat smaller than last week, and rather better quality. Northern sheep were included in the entry. Best stores in the early part of the sale maintained the previous week’s rates, but secondary sorts and North Island were difficult to sell, and made Is a head under last sale’s prices, A big yarding of good-quality fat cattle in the absence of export buying made still lower prices, and owners with none too Snob feed at home perforced sold. The U was well over £1 a head on last week’s rates. The store cattle section was not too bright, although there was ample choice. A line of 60 three and a-half-year-old to four-year-old forward steers from th'e Kaikouras were sold after the auction sale at £ll 12s 6d. Best dairy cows sold at £l3 to £l7. Both classes of pigs sold freely, weaners being rather better than of late, while fats were very firm at late rates. BALCLUTHA AND CLINTON STOCK SALES. The stock sales at the Clutha and Clinton were put through during the week. They woro most disheartening to all engaged, as prices were lower by'ls to Is 6d a head on those ruling a fortnight ago. At Balclutha some 5000 to 6000 sheep were yarded. Owing to the lack of feed vendors were Ered to meet the market prices. About the entry comprised ewes, some 1500 i, and the balance wethers. There but few “fats.” Cull Romney stud

two-tooth ewes made 30s; good ordinary Romney cross ewes (two-tooths), 20s 3d to 21s 6d; good sorts of four and six-tooth ewes, 23s lOd to 25s 6d: good soundmouths, 166 to 18s ; failing-mouth ewes, lis to 3s; boilers from 2s; extra good forward lambs, IPs; good mixed sex lambs, 13s sd; medium lambs, 9s; culls, 5s 3d; good four and six-tooth wethers, 22s 8d; others, 20s; medium mixed two and four-tooth wethers, 17s 6d ; moderate two-tooths, 16s; small, 12s. Few cattle were yarded, and sold on a parity with Burnside rates. At Clinton much the same sort of demand waa experienced as at Balclutha, lambs being cheaper than at the previous sale by Is to 2s a head, ewes even a shade lower. Some 3000 sheep were entered, chiefly ewes. Good four-tooth crossbred ewes made 225; two-tooths, 23s (the top »price); sound-mouths, 20s 6d, and the second yard of this line, 16s to 20s 6d; failing (same line), 17s; broken (same line), 10s; ordinary lots of failing, 2s to 7s. The demand for lambs was depressing, as fats could not bo killed. Some wether lambs were passed at 8s 9d; mixed sexes sold at 7s 6d; culls, 4s to 6s 6d. Some fat and forward crossbred wethers were passed at 355: NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Stock values in the North Island are still waning, a)nd apparently the inordinate values which sheep attained in the South Island has to some extent the experience of northerners. Beef sells at up to 51s per 1001 b; wethers, 20s to 30s; fate to 40s. In Poverty Bay two-tooth wethers, 15s "to 21s fd; ewes from 9s to 275; two-year-old steers, £8 15s; three and four-year-old'steers to £l4. In the Manawatu district twotooth wethers, 18s to 245; mixed two-tooths, 18s to 20s; year and a-half steers, £4 to £5; two-year-olds to £9; extra quality a pound or two more per head; yearling heifers,; £2 15s to £4. In the Wairarana district, two-tooth wethers, 21s to 245; year and a-half steers, £5 to £6j store cows, £4 5s to £6 10s; young dairy heifers, £6 to £9. In the Wanganui-Feilding districts, two-tooths, 16s to 21s 6d; fair two-tooth ewes, 235; four-tooth wethers to 28s 6d; weaners, 25s to 455; yearlings, £5; heifers, £5. In the Taranaki district, weaners steers, £2 to £3; two-tooth wethers, 22s to 255; lambs, 9s to 15s. In the Hawke's Bay district, two and four-tooth wethers, 23s to 255; young ewes, 169 to 20s; year and a-half steers, £5 ss; extra good to £8 ■lO s: dairy cows, £6 6s to £11; two and a-half-year-old steers, £lO 10s; three-year-olds, £ll 10s; lambs, 7s to 103. STOCK NOTES. No improvement in prices of stock has taken place since our last report. There seems indeed no apparent likelihood of any improvement ere ( winter sets in. Feed is in short supply everywhere for the time of the year. Space at the works, too, .is scarce, and, generally speaking, the only section at all pleased at values comprise the trade. ... At the Candlemas horse show and sale at the Agricultural Hall, Cockermouth, trade was extraordinarily brisk, and 36 seasoned horses in a class for cart geldings made an average of £lO9 Bs. Messrs Jame Craig (Ltd.) held a sale of army horses recently, when 66 were exposed. With a large attendance of customers from a wide area a most satisfactory trade was got, heavy-weight draughts making from £SO to £3O; light-weight draughts from £4O to £75; saddle and harness horses from £2O to £46. ' - . • Messrs Macdonald, Fraser, and Co. (Ltd.) held in February their sale of work horses and mares, Clydesdale colts and fillies, harness horses, cobs, and ponies. The show was the largest for some months, the number catalogued comprising 373 horses of all classes, including an exceptionally good lot of heavy horses suitable for carting and farm work. An active demand was ■ experienced, practically every horse beingT sold as it passed through the ring. Work horses from four to seven years old made up to £2OO, £IBO, and others from £l2O to £176; seven years old and upwards sold as high as £9O, and from £4O to £65 geldings, rising three years old, to £134, and from £B7 to £130; driving horses to £o6, and from £25. to £43; cobs to £4B; ponies to £42. At Addington last week Messrs Pyne and .Co. sold the following studs:—Shropshires— Ten eight-tooth ewes, 2igs, to. R. Parry (Salisbury, Timaru); 10 eight-tooth ewes, 2gs, to T. B. Howson (Sedgemere); 10 eighttooth ewes, 2gs, to I. Andrew (Ellesmere); nine eight-tooth ewes, 2gs, to W. Anderson (Woodgrove); 12 six-tooth ewes, 3gs, to R. Parry • (Salisbury); 12 four-tooth ewes, Hgs, to S. Cox (Lyndhurst); 12 four-tooth ewes, Ugs, to W. J. Reid (Bennett's Junction); 16 two-tooth ewes, 3gs, to Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln); 10 two-tooth ewes, 2igs, to Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln); two two-tooth rams, 23gs t to G. M'Adam (Balcairn); five two-tooth rams, 2gs, to O. Stewart (Chertsey); 5 two-tooth rams, 2gs, to A. Nicholls (Belfast); five twotooth rams, lfes, to J. Bruce (Seafield); five twotooth rams, If gs, to J. Bruoe (Seafield); 6 two-tooth rams, If gs, to J. Bruce (Seafield), Suffolks: Eight two-tooth ewes, 2gs, to L. Matson (Brookdale); six two, four, and sixtooth ewes, lg, to S. Gibb (Christenurch). PEDIGREE SHORTHORNS AT HOME. At Birmingham in February of this year the demand for Shorthorns was phenomenal. An Argentine buyer set the pace, paying 3000 gs for the bull Kilsant Wanderer. Earl Manners's Pierrepont Golden Prince was secured by a Home breeder at 4200g5. Two other bulls made 1000 gs, and a bull was bought for Australia, also several at round 620 gs a head for Denmark. The foregoing bulls comprised animals exceeding 21 months. In class for bulls born December, 1917, and. January, 1918, 4200 gs was paid for Windsor Knight. Mr Duthie paid 17O0gs for the pick of the February class. Two other young bulls made lOOOgs each. Denmark again secured some high-class lots, due to the altered conditions brought about by the war. At Penrith, however, a new Shorthorn record was put up, 4750 gs being paid for Mr J. W. Barnes's Gartley Lancer by M. Marshall for Buenos Aires, who also secured other excellent representatives of British Shorthorn bulls for the Argentine. The youngest bull at the Penrith_ sales was considered a " gem," and realised 770 gs. FREE BEEF IN AMERICA. The following is extracted from a trade circular issued by the American Live Stock and Loan Company. It serves to show how producer* fear the dumping _ of South American meat into their territory, and incidentally how the Moat Trust outside tho States may afFect homo producers:—"Down in South America and over in Australia fhey can produco beef for less than we in tho United States There are many good cattlo in ther>o countries, and with the ad-

vent of the big packers from America production has been stimulated, especially in Argentina. Under the present tariff the beef from these countries will go into the United States free and be sold beside ours. Freights are comparatively low, and as soon as iho abnormal demand for ships subsides these freight rates will probably be lower, for keeen competition will naturally follow the advent of the new vessels buiiT but not needed for war purposes. It is a beautiful theory of some of those who make the law* chat this free beof will reduce the prici* of living, and hence is a benefit. The facts are that the business in South America is controlled by the same companies that control our own markets, and that about the only real effect the arrival of Argentine beef has in this country is to lower the price of our live cattle, and not the price of dressed meat. The Chicago packers may have built large abattoirs in South America, and in some cases tney have established separate and distinct"" companies for their operations. We who are producers have many things in common with thn packers, who are distributors, but when it comes to this question of imported beef the line is sharply drawn, and if th«» cattlo producers and feeders hope to remain :n the business on anything like a profitable basis, something must be done- immediately in Congress to establish a proper protective tariff on this meat, so as to at least equalise the difference in the cost of production in Argentina or Brazil and in th« United States. This does not mean that wo exclude th<» stock cattle of Mexico or discriminate against our neighbour, Canada, for conditions in those countries are' not unlike our own, an* we need the Mexico cattle to restock our ranges denuded of live stock by recent droughts. Beware of this free meat business. Why, a short time ago Government transports brought a lot of beef from China to our Pacific coast to feed our American soldiers. In the meantime the California stockmen were shipping their fat cattle 2000 miles to Missouri River markets for slaughter... Such things during war times can be endured, but during peace there must be none of it."