STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays Addington, Wed ll esdays Waiareka Railway Juik tion, Tuesdays Walla-oetown, Tuesdays Fortnightly. lUversdale, Friday Ashburton, Tuesdays Heriot, Thursdays Winton, Thursdays Wvndham, Thursdays Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Monthly. Palmerston, 4th Tliurs day Winton, 4tli Tuesday

Monthly (continued). Duntroon, Cud Wednesday Woodlands, 3rd Friday Milton, 2nd Tuesday Balfour, 3rd Thursday Thovnbury, Ist Friday Iluntroon, 2nd Wednesday Otautau, 2nd Friday Riversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday Clvdevale, last Tuesday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Mataura, Wui Icouaiti, iliver- | ton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO. Early, in the week and towards the end of last week, the weather turned cold, and a capital rain was experienced in most places in Otago. Snow fell inland, and generally there is an antqmnal feeling about. Un fortunately, the' weather alone is not our immediate concern. There is the waterfront trouble, and the fact that exporters are only buying from “hand- to mouth.” It is a regular mix-up. BURNSIDE MARKET. Following upon the previous week’s large entry of fat sheep at Burnside, and the relative inactivity of export buyers, the yarding proved ample for requirements. The quality was not good, and heavy prime sheep were rather scarce. Best sheep improved on last sale’s prices by about Is 6d a head, with other sorts much the same. Exporters secured a few lots, but were only at times able to buy at their limits. There was a fairly big entry of fat lambs, but a number of them were very plain and of indifferent quality. Exporters bid well for all tillable sorts at round about 9d per lb all sunk, and the ranp in value per bead was wide —viz., 20s to 31s 3d. j Fat cattle were forward in very fair j numbers, but the quality for the most part j was light and medium, few choice bullocks ; being penned. Some well-finished heifers 1 were included in a rather big entry. There was a good sale until well on at the pro- I vious week’s prices, but values eased up ! considerably, and herald the advent of cx- ' porters, who secured a few lots. Beef made ‘ well up to 47s 6d per 1001 b in the early , stages, arid declined £1 15s a head at the ; close, enabling exporters to operate up to j 42s 6d per 1001 b. About 200 cattle were yarded in the store section, fully 80 of them. | being, medium steers two and a-half to ' three arid a-lialf years old, the balance . medium cows and heifers and young sorts. 1 There was a poor demand, and prices came further back. A couple of yards of Ayrshire cross fair-conditioned tvvo-and-a-half-year-old steers made £6. a pen of thin wellbred four-year-old bullocks made £lO. a yard of Shorthorn cross steers (year and j a-half old, in good order) made £4 7s 6<l. ! A pen if Friesian steers, same age, but only ! in fair condition, realised £3, and generally 1 there was little life in the demand. A few ! dairy cows sold from £l4 to £l9, but not many were yarded. Owing to a small entry of fat pigs, prices lifted considerably, but small sorts were rather cheaper. ADDINGTON YARDS. Another big entry of fat sheep at Addington was offered again this week, but prices were on the down grade, and although the quality was not up to the usual standard I the decline of 3s. per head on the previous j week’s prices was most marked, exporters ! apparently operating at reduced limits. In j the fat lamb section, too, values came back, '

and compared with last sale's rates lambs were easier by nearly Is 6d a head. The quality of a fair entry w'as about the average. The entry of store sheep was large, chiefly lambs, consignments being forward from the Chathams and Southland, as well as from the West Coast. Values on the whole were in sympathy with prices of fats, and the demand was weaker than was the case a week ago. A fair representative entry of fat cattle met with a dull demand, and values were with difficulty maintained. A small entry of store cattle elicited slack attention, and prices were not notably changed. Dairy cotvs sold to £25 ss, but few good sorts were penned Owing to the very moderate entries- of fat and store pigs, the demand in both sections was bettet, and indeed was the otlly stock section in which much animation was displayed. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. In the North Island, business in store stock is dull. At the Westfield market, in the Auckland province, beef sold to 52s per lOOlbs, forward wethers 19s to 27s 6d, small forward lambs 11s to 15s; and rape sorts 17s to 20s. In Poverty Bay, although nothing much is doing at auction sales, the tone is rather better, and private treaty has resulted in business at times. In the Wairapa, ram fairs have had the attention of farmers, and prices are lower than last year. In Taranaki, no change can be reported in respect to stock. In Hawke’s Bay, dry weather is affecting the slight demand in store cattle, but, sheep were in better request, while the various freezing works are in full swing. CLUTHA STOCK SALES. Some 3000 sheep were varded at Balclutha. but the demand was dull indeed. No one seemed to want sheep. However the bulk of them changed hands at price.? which cause one “furiously to think.” Paddock ewes 4. 6 and 8 tooth were passed at 14s 7d, forward wethers made 245, store wethers 16s 6d. fat and forward raue lambs sold at 20s 3d, others from 17s 9d to 18s 3d. and good sorts of store lambs 10s 6d. and culls and small lambs at 4s. 6s and o'd ewes witli lambs 4s lid all counted. Fats were also down I CLINTON STOCK SALE. At Clinton, about 2000 sheep were penned. Prices wer no worse, but if anything better’ than the Clutha. and praotically all were sold; a line of 1000 paddock lambs made for the wethers 14s ard the ewe lambs lbs. Good race lambs 18s 6d. fair rape lambs 15? to 16s Bd. mixed sexes 13s to 15?. and medium two tooth wethers at 16s to 18s 9d. j STOCK NOTES. The fact of export buyers reducing their prices tor "fats,” instead of the customary slight appreciation in values as time rolls on, is having a depressing effect on store stock values, and the trouble unfortunately is not confined to Otago. There are various factors all tending to “bear’’ stock values. For instance, the prices of hides, pelts, etc., are enough to demoralise anyone, while the idea of our lamb being juggled from America to the London market is enough to give one nightmare. “Six hundred carcases of New Zealand lamb from America, mainly owned by Swift and Armour, were placed on the Smithfield market this week.” So reads a cable from our High Commissioner of 23rd ult. The Americans surely must have run out of mint. Dairying must be looking up. Vho would have credited that 32 Friesian bull calves could have been sold at auction at. an average of 44gs in Otago—Southland? Yet this is what the Bainfield Friesian annual surplus bull calves realised, the three heifers sold making _66|gs. Hats off to the breeders I And I think, too, that the buyers are to be congratulated on thengood investments —a tribute to the value of herd-testing and an awakening to the importance of ancestry in a milking herd. The dispersal sale of the Murgha merino stud (in the estate of the late A. J. Audri, Murgha, New South Wales) on February 3 was a notable affair. A sum of £57,588 4s 3d 'was paid for 8574 sheep, an all round average of £6 I4s 4d per head. The top price of 760 gs was given |or a rising four-year-old ram, while yearling stud rams made 25gs to 115 gs each. At a recent meeting of the Brentwood Agricultural Bureau, Minlaton, Australia, \ eterinary Surgeon Murray Jones dis- | coursed on the disease which had killed I several horses in the district. It was known j as “forage poisoning.” It was a worldwide disease, having recently caused the loss of 20,000 horses in America. In its acute form the animal would contract it and die in 24 hours. It was caused by the animal eating musty hay or chaff. Some ; horses had more resisting power than others. The symptoms were paralysis of the hindquarters, leading up to paralysis of the throat. At a council meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England a letter from ' the High Commissioner for New Zealand was received and considered. The sugges-

tion was made that New Zealand should send stud stock to England for allow and sale. Particulars as to quarantine res triotions and conditions of entry were requested. It was resolved that the importation of live stock would be detrimental to English live stock, and that the movement be opposed. The Highland Society, which had also been approached, was informed of this decision. I QUEENS OF THE MILKY WAY. The eleventh 2000-gallon cow to be developed in this country (says a Home paper) is Colton Secret 3rd, that has given 2053 fallo ns in 272 days. She is the property of Ir G. llolt-Thomaa, of North Dean, Hughenden, Bucks. As she is still yielding over five gallons daily, her chances of exceeding the highest British yield—namely, that of Eske Hetty, 2413 gallons in 365 days—are being closely watched. She requires an additional 360 gallons, and has 93 days in which to yield thorn. She already holds the daily milk production record for this country with an output of lias another big yield in progress in his North Dean herd, Blaekinore Ena 2nd having given to date 1105 gallons in 189 days, 'the twelfth 2000-gallon cow is Mr J. 11. Bean’s Buckingham Bounty, whose figures are 2018 gallons in 359 days. She has twice previously exceeded the 1500gallon yield. Mr J. H. Bean’s Chaddealey herd, near Kidderminster, also contains Hedges Moss Rose, the only cow in the country with two 2000-gallon yields to her credit, and Helford Sunbeam, whose work to date shows 1713 gallons in 335 days. Mr Bean has another phenomenon in C'haddesden Alary-, that may reach the 2000gallon standard with her second calf, her figures to date being 1280 gallons in 202 days. The thirteenth 2000-gallon cow, which, like all her predecessors, is a British Friesian, is Mr William Holland’s Monkton Bangle, that has gven 2025 gallons in 329 days. Her previous yearly production was 1333 gallons. She is by Soutliili Vincent that has bred such heavy milking stock in Mr H. T. Willett’s herd, from which Mr Holland took Monkton Bar.glc to his herd at Wrexham. A Guernsey cow, Countess Prue, is hailed as world’s champion for the breed by Hoard’s Dairyman. On November 29, 4t Riverdale Farm, Massachusetts, she completed a 365-dav lactation period, during which she produced 18,627)b milk, contain ing 11031 b butter-fat. Her sire, Bell has 16 daughters, whose 20 records average 12,6281 b milk, containing 6421 b fat. Countess Prue has just beat»n Murne Cowan’s record BAINFIELD STUD STOCK SALES. MR W. D. HUNT’S FRIESIANS AND ROMNEYS. At Mr W. D. Hunt’s sale of surplus stock on the 23id February buyers were present or were represented from all over the- country, but the majority naturally belonged to Southland. Bidding was keen, especially for females, am! the males of tho Netherlaiic! strain, crossed with the Poach strain, realised high prices. Romney stud rams brought high prices. Altogether 44 cattle were offered, comprising 32 bulls and 12 females. The sheep totalled 245, consisting- of 15 one-shear stud rams, and tha remainder of 230 one-shear flock rams. No lots were passed in. Mr D. T. Shand and Air William Kirkland (Taieri) were among the principal buyers, and two Australian operators were present. The top prioe fot the sale was pa:d by Air R. Lades (Eden? dale), who gave 230 gs for a heifer, bred by the vendor, and sired by Rose vale King Sylvia. Mr Shand paid llOgs for a bull calf, Paul Pontiac of Baipfield. In the same section Mr R. Melvill4 (Alasterton) gave lOOgs for Bainfield Netheriand. Prices for stud rams ranged from sgs to 96g«, the top price being given by Air Donald Macdonald, Edendale, for a Penrose sired animal. The stud rams averaged close upon 20gs and the flock rams 4igs. Taken all through it was a most heartening sale, and great credit is due Mr W. D, Hunt and his manager (Mr Brash), the former for his optimistic enterprise and the latter for the general ap-j-en ranee of the good-looking herd and flock. The sale was conducted by Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co. Some details in respect to prices paid and the destinations of the Friesians sold ate given below:STUD CATTLE Females. — Bainfield No. 8, 5-year-old; sire Bainfield Prince 539; clam, Bainfield Duchess 587 — D. T. Shand, Wylie’s Crossing, 46 guineas. Bainfield No. .18-, 4-year-old, Bainfieldl Prince 539 —Bainfield Rose 586 — W. Kirkland, Fast Taieri, GOgs. Baintield No. 21, 3-year-old, by Bainfield Prince—Bainfield Queen 1151 —D. T. Shand, 81 .8 Bainfield No. 22, 3-year-old, by Oakwood Count 1248 —Oakwood Fairy 2262 —T. R> Faults, Edendale, 230 gs. Oakwood Polly, 6-year-old, by Friesland Colantlia Lad 385 —Oakwood Nancy 786 — Donald Macdonald, Edendale, 50gs.

Bain field No. 14, 4-year-old, by Bain field Prince —Bainfield Duchess 587—W. Kirkland, SOgs. * Oak-wood Gowan, 7-year-old, by Rozine’s Butter Boy 386—Oakwood Daisy 785—T. Major, Mataura, 69ga. Bainfield No. 32, 3-year-old, by Zuyder Mel of Riversdale 210—Oakwood Pansy fe—A. E. Pablenburg, 61gs. BaluQcM No. 15, 4-year-old by Oakwood Bjniland King 65&-—Oakwood Gowan 1303 — V. '£. Dickie, Mbtaura, 60gs. RatnAe.Vd Sylvia Pansy, 10 months old, by TTn—tu'ii XJng Sylvia—Oakwood Daisy Bell fafit *ff J. iScGregor, Mount Linton, 46gs. Bainfield Sylvia Girl, 4 months old, by Bnesvale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 14, MBS —H. Stewart, Lochiel, 62gs. The 12 averaged 77Jgs, with a ton price Of 230ga Bull Calves. — Bainfield King of Wairuna, 12 months old, 1»y Roeevalo King Sylvia—Laurel of Wairona, 805 —D. Dolan, Woodlands, 47gs. Bainfield King Rose, 12 months old, by Rosova! a King Sylvia—Bainfield! Rose 586 —W. J. McGregor, 45gs. Bainfisld King of Friesland, 12 months aid, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Empress of Priesland 2677 —D. Tither, Edendale, 27gs. Bainfield King of “Woodlands (twin), 12 jnonthfl old, by Rosevale King Sylvia— Countess of Leith 669—Eadie and Leith, Morton Mains, 25gs. Bainfield King of Leith (twin), 12 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Countess of Leith—-T. Scully, Mahal Bush, 42gs. Bainfield King Lad, 12 months old, by Bainfield Prince —Bainfield No. 18, 2597 — A- H. Mackrell, Invercargill, 20gs. Paul Pontiac cf Bainfield, 1 year and 9 months old—G. Westmere Woodcrest Ponnao, 1401—Princess Paul Pietertje 460—D. T. Shand, llOge. Bainfield Netherland Pontiac, 19 months Old. by Westmere Woodcrest Pontiac—Westmere Netherland Pauline 1059 —R. Melville, Masterton, lOOgs. Bainfield! Netherland King, 3 months old, ty Rosevale King Sylvia— Westmere Netherland Pauline — F. A. Price, llOge. Bainfield King Del, 12 monthhs old, by J&osevale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 16, 1696—A. H. Copland, Weston, Oamaru, 76gs. Bainfield King Posch (twin), 12 months old, bv Roaevale King Sylvia—Bainfield 31, 8286—T. Flinn, Browns, 26gs. Bainfield King Dutchman (twin). 12 months ojd, by Rosevale King Sylvia— Bainfield 31—Alex, Biggar, Waikavna 20vs. Bainfield Van Domino, 11 months old, by Boaovale King Sylvia—Princess Van Domino 2867 —Wm. Aitken, Scott's Gap, 26gs. Bainfield King Cole, 4 months old, by

Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 10— David Caldwell, South Wyndham, 28gs. Bainfield Clover King, 4 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Clover 2nd of Wairuna, 804—H. Stewart, Lochiel, 33gs. Bainfield Model Delhurst, 4 months old, by Bainfield Model, 1132 —Bainfield No. 2, 2049—J, E. Wylie, Pukerau, 36gs. Bainfield Leuwarden King, 4 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Longbeaeh "-Lady Leuwarden Ideal 682—D. McLeod, Edendale, 31gs. Bainfield Oakwood King, 10 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield 36, 3291—H. Fraser, Seaward Downs, 57gs. Bainfield Model Domino, 9 months old, by Bainfield Model—Dominos Pietertje Lass Dempster, Edendale, 32gs. Bainfield King Gander, 9 monthhs old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield! No. 17, 2596 —J. T. McGlashan, 23gs. Bainfield King John, 8 months old, by Rosedale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 8, 2054—James Solomon, Port Chalmers, 22s?s. Bainfield King of Hearts 5 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield Queen, 1151—R, H. Dickie, Tuturau, 76gs. Bainfield King William, 6 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 21, 3276 —R. Dodd, Charlton, 60gs. Bainfield King Duke, 6 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 20, 2599—Mrs Udy and Sons, Wyndham, 36gs. Bainfield Delhurst King, 8 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield Delhurst 1149—E, Tohill, Otago Central, 35gs Bainfield King Arthur, 8 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Oakwood Betty 2830 —Blair Bros., Otara, 57gs. Bainfield Nancy’s Pride, 6 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield Nancy 849 —Charles McGearty, Wallacetown. 29gs Bainfield Model King, 6 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Oakwood Polly 2264 —D. Brash, East Road, 27gs. Bainfield King Alexander, 3 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield No, 26," 3281 —Chns. McKenzie, Ryal Bush, 34g«. Bainfield King of Longbeaeh, 3 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Longbeaeh No. 10. 295—D. Simpson, Dunedin, 16gs. Bainfield King of Holland, 4 months old, by Rosevale King Sylvia—Bainfield No. 19>’ 2598 —A. J. Townley, Brydone, 50gs. 'lTie 32 bull-calves averaged 44gs, with a top price of llOgs. Three heifer-calves were sold and averaged 66$g8, an Australian buyer securing one of them for 92gs. CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. (Lyttelton Times, February 25.) Business generally in the grain and pro-

duce market continues very quiet, merchants being unanimously of the opinion that the present is the worst season ever experienced in the trade. The readjustment of values, the large carry-over by merchants from last season, and the financial stringency have ail tended to n ake the outlook very gloomy from the grower’s point of view. The position as regards oats is particularly bad, and there appears to be little prospect of im provement for some considerable time. Unfortunately for growers the other provinces have all produced! heavy crops, consequently there is not likely to be any inquiry outside Canterbury for some time. Merchants’ ideas of. values range from Is 9d to 2s 3d per bushel at country stations, but practically no business is offering at this figure. For chaff £3 5s a ton at country stations is being offered. There is still practically no movement in the seeds market, quotations in most cases being nominal. The potato market is weak, the quotation being £4 at country stations. The following are probable prices for new season’s produce, to be paid to farmers at country stations, free of commission, sacks extra, except where otherwise stated: Milling Wheat.—According to Government prices: Tuscan, 7s 3d, f.0.b.; Hunters, 7s 6d; Pearl, 7s 9d (subject to adjustment). Oats.—Gartens, nominal. Chaff.— £3 to £3 10s. Perennial Ryegrass.—3s 6d to 4s 3d. Italian Ryegrass.—3s 6d. Cocksfoot. —7d to Bd. Barley.— 7s. Potatoes.—£4. Onions. —£4 10s to £5. Bran.—According to Government price, £7 15s per ton, f.0.b., main ports. Pollard.—According to Government price, £7 15s per ton, f.0.b., main ports. Local prices: Bran, £8 ss; pollard, £lO 6s. Oatmeal.—2s’s, £25; 7’s, £2B. Flour.—Government price, £l6 10s.