STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sale*. Monthly (continued*. Burnside, Wednea. \\ oodlands, 2ml Thiirs* Ashburton. Tnesdaj day Addington, Wedncso-j- >Vyndham, last ThnreWalareka Railway .luno day tlon, Tuesdays IJulfour, 3rd Thursday Wallacetown. Tuesdays Thornbury, Ist Friday Hcriot, Thursdays Uuatroon & Otautau. 2nd Friday Fortnightly. Riversdalo, 3rd Friday mintnn fpi, iraSavi Walkaka, last Friday I >-“" Bore, Tuesdays y Oamaru, Tuesdays Periodically as AdvarWallacctowu, Tuesdays tlsed. , Lumsden, Moasbutn, Monthly. Orepuki, Mataura, Palmerston, Ist Monday Waikoualtl, Hi»erM'iuton, Ist Thursday ton, Ngapara, and Duntrocn, 2nd Friday Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO.

A capital drying week throughout Otago ,was experienced, heartening farmers carrying rather many head of stock considerably, and enabling late cereal crops to be handled with fair expedition. Thrashing has made good progress despite overmuch wind, yields being generally satisfactory. Potatoes for the most part are of good quality and yielding fairly well. We are glad to state that a branch of the Farmers' Union has been formed in North Otago. So many matters affecting farmers are handled and disposed of bj the powers that be, without a full realisation by all interested, that their welfare may be jeopardised, that it seems to us the height of folly not to pull together and ''articulate" in good time. Although the embargo on the export of hides has been partially released, no relaxation, says the Minister of Agriculture, in respect to the export of potatoes can be recommended till later in the season, when ! supplies may be ample enough to justify shipping any surplus. Graziers wi]J be interested in learmng that a private Bill has been read a second time in the House of Commons compelling the use of an anaesthetic in operating on animals, including docking of tails. There ■will, of course, be amendments. Mr Macpherson, Fields Instructor in Canterbury, must have been pleased at the large and interested audience which attended his lecture on lucerne last week. We really want him down here to organise and launch the Saskatchewan scheme in the interests of Otago, and Central in particular. It is a noteworthy fact that lucerne hay has been quoted recently in New South Wales at up to £l2 a ton. BURNSIDE MARKET. There was a' large yarding of fat sheep at Burnside, but the quality was very mixed, and comparatively few trucks of prime heavy sheep were forward. Values were on a par with last sale's low rates, poor quality indeed being- somewhat lower. Exporters, owing to the works handling but limited consignments, due to various reasons, were but languid bidders. Store sheep were fairly numerous, but dull of sale, open-woolled lambs selling from 6s lOd t«l2s 6d, fat lambs made ratas similar to the previous week, graziers securing some few unfinished lots in the neighbourhood of 12s 6d a head for really well-clad lambs. The yarding of fat cattle was a large one, but a mixed and uneven lot, but with some very useful beef. The demand was at no time brisk, and several pennings were passed at auction, and others sold privately. Cattle generally were down about 10s to 20s a head, steer beef thus ranging round 44s 6d per 1001 b, cow and heifer 4s per 1001 b less. There was a big entry of store cattle, well over 300 head/ a third of them good sorts in forward condition. No improvement in prices was evident, and passings were freely made. Good yearlings sold to £3 15s, two-year-olds £B, dry cows round £6. Fat pigs sold well at close up to last sale prices, porkers being very firm. Only a few stores were penned, arid these sold well ALDINGTON YARDS. There was a very large entry of fat sheep at Aldington, the quality being rather mixed. The demand was irregular, opening well, and was fairly steady at the previous sale's rates, but falling, away Is to 2s a head ere the close. About 2000 fat lambs were yarded of very fair quality. The dem .nd Was good, and prices were better by Is a head than was the case last week. There was a small entry of store sheep, including a number of travelled lineß. Although there was a lack of sparkle about the demand, there was some improvement, and best grades of sheep at least recorded some advance; and in this connection wethers rather than ewes were favoured owing to them being of better quality. Lambs were firmej, but few were forward. A good lot of wefher lambs from Waipara Downs made 17s Id. There was an entry of 427 fat cattle of varied quality. There was a fair demand at opening, on a level with last sale's prices, but this fell away. Exporters secured a few lots, but were not keen buyers, and beef generally cost the trade less than usual. The yarding of store cattle was a big one, and of fair quality. The demand was dull, and most of the young sorts were passed in. The demand for good dairy cows was satisfactory, but few of this sort were penned; best animals sold at £l7 10s to £lB 15s. The demand for fat piss was maintained, but the few stores penned were slow of sale. Weaners sold well. "> CENTRAL OTAGO SALES. The final series of stock sales in Central Otago was brought to a close during the week. The attendances were good throughout this series, and the demand for best grades of sheep to hold over was better than was the case at the' previous fixtures. Holders of back-country wore bidding, and generally there was evidence of confidence in future prospects and a feeling that prices have touched ""bottom. Romney Leicester rams were hard to sell _at 3gs to At Middlemarch the yarding of sheep was small and the quality indifferent. Some 800 sheen were entered, comprised for the most par. 1 -, of old ewes, which made from 4s to 9s, sound-mouths to 15s, two and four tooth wethers to 20s 6d. At Oturehura there was an entry of 3000 sheep, a mixed lot; wether Inmbs sold to 13s. fair mixed-sex lambs 9s 9d, two-tooth ewes 22s 3d. a line of six and eight tooth ewes were passed at 21s. two-tooth wethers 21s. old ewes from 3s 4d to 15s. - At Waipiata there was a yarding of fully 5000 sheen, and here the demand was fully as' pood ns the best of the other centres: small wether lambs marie- from 6s to 9s 3d, very fair lambs 9s to 13s, small ewe lambs 9s 7d, two-tooth wethers to 235. old and broken 4s to ss, fat wethers to 33s 3d.

COUNTRY STOCK SALES. At Palmerston about 2500 sheep were yarded, chiefly ewes and lambs. There was a slightly-improved demand, and all were sold. Sound-mouth ewes were rather better than at the previous sale, making from 16s tb 18s 2d; failing-mouths 8s to 12s. bd, very small two-tooth ewes made, from lbs to 17s 3d, the latter being travelled lots; boilers, 3s 6d to 6s, according to value ot skins; forward mixed sex lambs, 16s; lair to good, 8s to 12s 3d. .. At Clinton there was but a small yarding of 800, chiefly wethers and lambs. The demand was a shade better than a fortnight ago. Fair wethers, 20s Mi medium two-tooth wethers, 18s; fat ana torWard lambs, 17s 6d: good mixed sexes, lis 6d; fair, 6s 6d; culls, 2s 6d; boilers, 3s od to 5s 9d. At the Olutha some 700 sheep were offered. The small yarding helped no doubt, but there was an evident tone, it slight, of a better demand than was the case at the previous sale. Sound-mouth ewes not guaranteed, open wools, made 10s 8d; some two-tooth ewes were passed m at 235; medium two-tooth wethers made 16s to 17s; mixed sex lambs of good quality, lis 3d; fair mixed lambs, 8s Id. The few cattle offered (about 20). made lato rates. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. The fact that business in stock in the North Island is only fair, and in some districts at a standstill, is clear evidence that prices are still waning. It will have been noted that in this and similar reports we do no quote prices of fate. This is solely on account of beef, mutton, and lamb are taken at schedule rates by the Imperial Government, and quotes, therefore, are of local interest, they generally being round about scheduled prices. When prices go to abnormal lengths the fact is stated. In the Auckland province steer beef makes up to 50s and heifer and cow to 45s per 1001 b; store cows, £4 to £6: dairy cows £lO to £l4; lambs to 13s 6d; smaller, 4s to 9s. In Poverty Bay two-tooth wethers made from 15s to 24s 6d; yearling steers, good crosses, £3 ss; two-year-old, good crosses £5 to £6 6s. In Taranaki wethers sold from 24s to 275; lambs, 7s to 9s 9d; dairy heifers from £8 to £lO 10s. In the Wairarapa district the markets are indifferently supplied, and the demand as dull as ever, and sales with difficulty effected at lower rates. In the Wanganui-Feilding areas stock are not changing hands with any freedom, while cold, frosty nights are frequent, with ill-effects on growth. In the Hawke s Bay district no report is forward in respect to stock markets, sure indications that there is nothing doing. Word is to hand that recent rains have improved prospects of feed.

SOME HEREFORD PRICES. A most successful sale of Herefords was held at Feilding, on account of Mr O. A. J. Levett, of Ratanui, Kiwitea, by Messrs Levin and Co. (Ltd.), when they disposed of the whole of this well-known herd. There was a large attendance from all parts of the Dominion, and the bidding was animated throughout the sale. President Wilson, the champion imported bull; was knocked down after a spirited due lbetween Mr Hazlett, of Dunedin, and Mr F. Moore, of Kai Iwi, the, latter staying longer, and expressing himself as thoroughly satisfied with his purchase. The price (2220g5) is an Austraalsian record, and very great satisfaction was freely expressed that so great a sire is to remain in the Dominion. , Persimmon, a recently imported bull ot great promise, was much admired, and after spirited competition was knocked down at £lOlB 10s to Mr Hugh Campbell, of Hawke's Bay. A bull calf, by President Wilson ex Bella 78th, was purchased by Mr A. S. Holms, of Invercargill, at 280 gs. The whole herd of 205 bulls, cows, heifers, and calves aycraged just on £7O per head. North' Island breeders secured practically all of the lots, but southern men—viz., Messrs A. S. Holmes, of Waimahaka, Southland; L. Hazlett, Otago; W. Laidlaw, Otago; J. King, Southland; and T. Maisfield, Aakroa, all secured some fine animals. THE MEAT TRUST AGAIN. The American Live Stock and Loan Company, which owns several large cattle companies in the United States, feels or anticipates the "squeeze." Read the following extract from their trade circular: — " Down in South America and over in Australia they can produce beef for less than wo in the United States. There are many good cattle in these countries, and With the advent 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 the abnormal demand for ships subsides these freight rates will probably be lower, for keen competition will naturally follow the advent of the new vessels built but not needed for war purposes. It is a beautiful theory of some of those who make the laws that this free beef will reduce the price 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 have built large abattoirs in South America, and in some cases they have established separate and distinct companies for their operations. We, Who are producers, have many things in common with the packers who are distributors, but when it comes to this question of imported beef the lino is sharply drawn, and if the cattle-producers and feeders hope to remain in 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 the United States. This does not moan that we should ex-ch-id'i the stock cattle of Mexico or discriminate against our neighbour, Canada, for conditions in those countries are not unlike our own, and we need the Mexicc 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 ot 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 bo endured, but during peace there must be none. of it."

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. The harvest in the South Otago district was* unusually late this season, a large number of fields of oats being still in the stook, ■while several paddocks are still uncut. The recent rain had the effect of discolouring the crops that were in the stook, but where the grain has been harvested in good condition an excellent sample has been obtained. It is estimated that the average yield will be about 45 bushels to the acre. A comparatively small area was sown in wheat during the past season. The tur- | nip crops on the hilly land are much below the average, and as grass pastures have already been in many instances eaten bare, the farmers are faced with a problem in providing winter feed for their stock. It is anticipated that good oaten chaff will roach a fairly high figure on account of the quantity of discoloured straw in the south. The potato yields are considerably below the average, but the quality is good. Cur Marton correspondent states that some important remarks were made at the annual meeting of the local branch of the Fanners' j Union by the chairman (Mr Stuart). Ho j said he considered that the New Zealand j Union had been neglectful regarding the j land laws of this country. Hugo areas of good land were held by a few individuals, who put it to no practical use. That class of farmer was causing as much discontent as the soap box orators. These men were evading their fair share of taxation, and to allow such conditions to continue was a serious loss to the country. Why should any man be allowed thousands of acres to play with, while the men who served on the various battlefields were given only, say, 60 acres of second class . land to make a home? He did not grudge a man land if he was employing labour and putting it to a good productive use, but the large holdings should not be allowed to exist any longer. In referring to the question of the farmers entering the political arena he contended that the farmers should unite with the busings* men in keeping out the " rotter," who had no interest in the worker, but was only looking for a soft easy job. The following remit will be forwarded to the conference : . " That the Farmers' Union should make every endeavour to organise the farming . community so that the farmers can act as a strong force in the coming election and so help to keep :• undesirable candidates from being elected.''' Thrashing operations m the Palmerston district have been much hindered lately by the exceptionally windy weather. The crop yield generally is very satisfactory, one paddock of wheat thrashing out (our correspondent is told) at about 90 bushels per acre. Good yields .of potatoes also aro reported in several quarters, but turnips are, for the greater part, a failure. | A Press Association message from Palmeri ston North states that a letter has been received by the Farmers' Union from the Minister of Agriculture stating that the embargo on the export of hides has been partially released. Regarding potatoes, the Minister stated that a census taken throughout the dominion showed that there did not appear- a likelihood of there being sufficient potatoes this year to allow of any export from New Zealand. Last year, although a considerable quantity, was imported, from Australia, the shortage towards the end of the season became acute, and until the digging for this season is completed he was unable to recommend the Cabinet to allow the export of potatoes. The matter would j be reconsidered at a later date. I An excellent performance was put up by a mother, assisted by two daughters and a little son about 13 years of age in the Puerua district recently. The husband was absent assisting .^a neighbour to finish his stacking, leaving the balance of his own crop to be stacked on his return. Realising that delay was dangerous, especi- | ally when the unsettled state of the weather I was talt3n into consideration, his wife de- ' cided to eliminate the risk by completing the balance of the harvesting work on the farm. One daughter took charge of a dray, the little boy " manned" a sledge, another daughter did the forking and the mother the stacking, with the result that two excellently built stacks had been completed by the evening A first consignment of cattle, comprising 300 head, left the Royal Albert Docks for Antwerp. They were the gift of the Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee to assist the farmers in the devastated regions of Belgium, in restocking their holdings, and are to be distributed by the Belgian Ministry of Agriculture. In the near future there will be a further consignment of cattle as ; well as of pigs. A sensation has been created in the hackney world (writes a Yorkshire correspondent), by the announcement that Mrs James Putman, Haydon Hill House, Aylesbury, has offered Mr W. S. Miller of Balmamio Castle, Bridge of Earn, £SOOO for his beautiful hackney mare Park Carnation. It is understood that the offer was not accepted. This figure equals anything that has ever been offered for a hackney in England. It will be recalled that £SOOO was •paid for Dan-egelt, whilst Mr F. W. Buttle, of Kirkburn, Yorks, refused £4OOO for his many times London champion Rosador, : which died a few years ago. It may also be recalled that Mrs Putman, a- few years I ago, sold Park Carnation to Mr Miller. ! It is reported that a meeting of London I butchers passed a resolution of protest against Manchurian, South African, and Brazilian boof being allocated to the metropolis, while the authorities are sending Australian and New Zealand beef to the Cer- , manic Powers. However, an official denial is given to the statement that Australian and Now Zealand meat is being sent to Germany. Owing to repeated congestions of stock at Newmarket, on and after June 2, 1919. whenever more than 400 trucks for sheep and lambs are ordered for this centre, it is the intention to hold two sheep sales in [ the week. The shareholders of the Taranaki ; Farmers' Meat Company have decided to ! increase the capita? of the company from I £IOO 000 to £150.000. _ i Mr Mallock. Veterinary Inspector to the | Westmorland County Council, has diagnosed ! as influenza an illness which has affected ; several flocks in the county and caused j many deaths. Never before in his 30 years' ! experience of ailments among sheep has

he mot with such an illnes3. When attacked the sheep become dull and listless, and liavo a slight cough and a high temperature. Later the cough grows worse, and breathing becomes more difficult until the victim coliapses from heart failure. Mr E. B. Harrison, of Waihao Downs, from a 20-acre paddock, thrashed 1372 bushels of oats to the acre.

Potato digging is now general throughout the Waiau (says tho Tuatapero Guardian). Growers report the yield as being good and free from blight. Mr John Horrell, To Tua, is at present turning up a fine crop which is reckoned to run in tho vicinity of 15 tons to the acre.

An outlet for Nelson hops is looked for in Australia this season, as tho domestic crop is far below local brewing requirements. Tho temporary importation of hops from overseas is now permitted by tho commonwealth Government to the extent of 35 per cent, of the quantity used by each brewer during the year ended Juno 30 last. A very large business has been dono in " futures" in the oat market this season (observes the Otautau Standard). Considerably over 100,000 sacks of oats wero shuffled around before April 1, and fortunes are reported as having been made before a single grain had been thrashed into tho bags. Sevoral grain speculators are reported to be viewing the position very seriously in contemplation of the miscarrying of their deals.