STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 9

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays Addington, Wednesdays Waiareka It ail way June tion, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Rivers dale, Friday Ashburton, Tuesdays Heriot, Thursdays W inton, Thursdays Wyndham, Thursdays Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gere, Tuesdays Monthly. Palmerston, 4th Thursday Winton, 4th Tuesday

Monthly (continued). Duutroon, 2nd Wednesday Woodlands, 3rd Friday Milton, 2nd Tuesday Balfour, 3rd Thursday Thorn bury, Ist Friday Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday Otautau, 2nd Friday Biversdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday dv'VvaU'. last Tuesday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Mataura, Waikouaiti, Riverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO. Tile past week recalls the saying that “as the days lengthen, the cold strengthens,” but withal, it is capital 'Otago weather, permitting farm work to proceed satisfactorily. Inland some snow has fallen on the highlands, but so far an open winter has been experienced. It comes as a relief to many to learn that the Summer Show at Dunedin will be held at Tahuna Park in November. There will bo a sale of bulls on the ground—rei miniscent of earlier times. | The date of the Otago A. and P. Horse ! Show has been arranged. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside was a- large one, the quality being wide, and for the most part of medium to very fair ewes and light-weight wethers, with a sprinkling of prime heavy sheep. Thera was a good sale at rates very similar to tho previous week’s quotations, wether mutton m iking round 4d per lb and ewe per lb. Fat lambs were in good supply, the quality ranging from light to very fair sorts, the number of overweights not being very prominent. Exporters bid up well, and clearances were effected on a parity with recent best rates, lamb making up to 7d per lb. There was but a moderate entry of fat cattle, the lack of prime steers being noticeable, and the proportion of heifer and cow beef being large, but of good quality. There was a brisk sale at rates denoting a smart advance of £1 10s to £1 15s per head, beef making round 45s per 1001 b, with heifer and cow also firming up. The entry of store cattle tallied some hundred head, mostly odd sorts, with the exception of 35 steers. Forward animals met with a good demand, but backward animals lacking condition were cheaper. Forward three-year-oid Shorthorn cross steers sold to £9 6s, do two-and-a-half-year-olds £7 3s, and the second pen £6; thin good-coloured steers (two and a-half | years) £5 10s, and tho second pen £3 ss; I ordinary year-and-a-half-old steers £1 Bs, j and vealers to £1 10s. Dairy cows of moderate quality sold to £l7. The yarding | of tat pigs was fairly large, and sales I were a bit easier but good. A fairly large 1 entry of small sorts made slightly less money than a week ago.

ADDINGTON YARDS. Another fairly large yarding ot tat sheep were offered at Addington, the bidding for which was irregular, and sales were for the most part made at a decline of 2s a head compared with the previous week’s rates. The top price for wethers was 31s and for ewes 24 s Id. About a similar number of fat lambs as last week were penned, and' sold under very fair competition of exporters, prices being on a parity w ith the previous week’s rates. The yarding of fat cattle was a large one, over 340 head being forward, the quality covering a wide range. The best of the entry made last sale’s rates, but secondclass beef .and cow and medium heifer declined £1 10s to £3 a head. The entry of store cattle was fairly large, and met with rather a better demand than was the case a week ago, but there was no quotable change in values. Dairy cattle were easier, the quality though was but medium. A small entry of fat pigs realised slightly lower rates than last week, with a better demand ruling for a fairly good entry of small and store sorts. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. There is not much demand for store stock in tho North Island, and values of sheep are practically unchanged, while cattle are dull of sale. In the Auckland province at the Westfield market beef is quoted at up to 40s per 1001 b, forward wethers 16s to ISs 6d, hoggets 10s to 15s, store wethers 12s, store hoggets 9s, year-and-a-half-old sters £2 5s to £3 ss. two-year-olds £4 ss, and good two-and-a-half-year-olds £6 10s. In Poverty Bay fats sell well, but other stock are quiet, except ewes, which have inquiry, twe-tooth ewes making 16s 6d, four-year-old and five-year-old ewes (fair sorts) 13s 6d. In Taranaki hoggets sold at 7s to 9s, forward wethers 13s, and cattle generally were easier than a week ago, although pedigree .Jersey cattle sold well enough. In the Wairarapa the winter is very mild,' and the grass is making headway. Two-tooth wethers brought 9s, forward 13s, lambs 5s to Ss, culls from 2s 9d, in-lamb ewes 7s to 14s, empty ewes 11s, and springing cows £8 8s to £ll. In Hawke’s Bay there is generally a better tone, although there is not much change in prices. Hoggets made from 7s to 11s, two-tooth ewes (in lamb) 8s 3d, four-year-olds to 15s 6d, polled Angus bullocks £4 to £5 ss, heifers £5 10s to £9, polled Angus heifers (year and a-half) £3, and cows in calf (no guarantee) £4 to £6. STOCK NOTES Values of store stock in Otago have not depreciated since our last report. It is true that backward young cattle are hard to move, but mature cattle with some condition meet with a ready sale at recent best. Ewes are selling well when offered at tho various markets, and have improved on last month’s prices. Young ewes in lamb have realised 18s 6d, sound mouths 12s 3d to 15s, good, but failing, 10s; old sorts as low aa ss, forward wethers to 20s, light and Packward from 15s. Forward bullocks make from £7 10s to £8 10s, mixed two-year-old steers and heifers, fair sorts changed hands at £4 to £5 12s 6d, factory-timed culvers £5 5s to £7 10s. Fat sheep are about the same as a week ago, also fat lambs, while beef has appreciated fully 20s a head. A danger the writer foresees —it may be only a mirage—is that owners of ample winter feed may be tempted to buy dry sheep at rates not warranted by prices of “fats” overseas. It seems a. sounder proposition to “bank” on breeding animals—ewes and dairy cows. It was decided at the monthly meetingof the Otago A. and P. Society to hold a bull sale on the second day of the Summer Show, December, at Tahuna Park. Only bulls which have been entered in the various classes scheduled in the catalogue will be auctioned. This sale will give graziers and dairy folk an opportunity of supplying their requirements. It rests with breeders to send their bulls along, and provides a grand opportunity for breeders to offer dairymen bulls out of lOOOgal or 2000 gal dams, as the case may be, and by bulls* ex dams of merit, etc. The sale will commence 9.30 a.m. Ist December, and is open only to animals entered in the various classes provided by the committee. The sale of pedigree Jersey cattle conducted by Newton King (Ltd.), under the New Plymouth branch of the Jersey Breeders’ Association, the other day, was a good one, considering the stringency of the money market. In all 74 lots were disposed of, realising approximately 4300g5. In heifer classes bidding was particularly brisk, and some good prices were realised, one line of 15 submitted by Mr John Halo, of New Plymouth, averaging 112,jgs. The highest price was realised by Silver Buttercup, a fine-conditioned two-year-old by Grannie’s Knig'ht—Princess of Silvermine, who was purchased by 11. Sutton and Co., of Longbush,-Carterton, for 251 gs. Other of Grannie’s Knight's produce to fetch three figures were: —Treasure’s Patch, out of Treasure’s Beauty, 155 gs, to 11. Sutton end Co., who also secured Holly Oak’s Beauty, out of Holly Banks Pretty*, for 137 gs, and Holly Oak’s Annie, out of Anscorine, 114 gs,

Dr Pickeriil, of Dunedin, secured among others Holly Oak’s llose, out of Rose Royal, 151 gs; Holly Oak’s Rudy out of Lady Supe-l'i-oi, 139 gs; Holly Oak's Tiny, out of Treasure’s Dot, 109 gs; Plymouth Rose, out of Rose’s Glance, 85gs. Bidding was fair for cows, the highest price realised being 85gs, but several lots failed to reach the reserve. There was little or no demand for bulls, the sale being much too early for them, so they were well distributed, going to Feilriing, Hunterville, Takapau, Carterton, Onehunga, and Dunedin, as well as to every part of Taranaki. At the dispersal sale of Mr Cazalet’s Jersey's in Kent in April last the cow Fairlawno Ilussy realised iosgs, and the herd of 39 averaged £ll3 17s, being one of the highest on record for the breed. The importance of guarding the dairyherd may be gathered from the following clipping from an agricultural journal: “At. a meeting of the Northamptonshire Agricultural Committee at Northampton on Saturday week the Diseases of Animals Sub-committee reported that they had con sidered the regulations of the local authority under the Epizootic Abortive Order of 1920, at present in force, prohibiting the sale, through a markc-t or elsewhere, of a cow which, to the vendor's knowledge, had within three months previously aborted, without written notice of such fact having first, been given to the purchaser, were an insufficient protection against the spread of the disease. A case had been brought to the notice of the committee in which it was stated that an owner of cows which had aborted had grazed them on the roadside within a radius of some 10 miies, and it was contended that the disease had spread throughout a number of herds. The sub-committee had brought the case to the notice of the Ministry of Agriculture, and had asked the Ministry to grant' to tire local authority power to make regulations requiring the isolation of cows which had aborted until they were free from infection. The report was adopted. It is reported iliat Carnation King Sylvia, the Friesian bull for which the Carnation Stock Farm paid A. C. Hardy, of Canada, 106,000d0l at the National Friesian sale, is dead at. the ape of three and a-half years (insured for 50,000dol). Carnation King Sylvia has left 91 calves, of which 49 are retained on the farm, the others being sold into 14 States and two foreign countries. The committee of the Ilav Pastoral and Agricultural Association is making an effort to get together an exhibition of sheep, of a non-competitivo character, for educational purposes, and to give district graziers an opportunity of comparing types. It is felt that in a purely pastoral district, containing some of the best merino sheep in the world, the showing of sheep should not be allowed to lapse. Clydesdales are by far in the majority for heavy horse breeding in Ireland. The English Department of Agriculture has issued its list of lioens-d stallions for 1921. Clydesdales number 13', while Shires number 20. Shires are chiefly to be found in County Cork; the Clydesdales are everywhere. At the annual bull shovv a- ! sale at Lincoln, England, in April Shot fits sold well, the 376 averaging £65 9s, with a top price of 400 gs for Weybridge Pendley Chancellor. Nella Jay of Pencord, a Guernsey heifer, liaa just made a record of 16,3261 b milk, containing 8111 b buter-fat. She is a heifer, and now holds the record for the breed. She was bred at the Pencoyd Farm, Pennsylvania. At a meeting of the Victorian branch of t.ho Friesian Cattle Club of Australia on June 7 the branch was officially formed. To obtain funds for the club it has been decided to import from New Zealand some well-bred Friesians to he sold at Melbourne Royal Show, the profits to go to the club. Mr Tweedle donated £2O to the club. Messrs Flack and Sewell, in the name of the branch, donated £2O as a special prize for the youths’ judging competition at the Royal >Show. A Friesian bull calf has also been donated for competition amongst students of Dookio College for an essay on the influences of Friesians on dairying. WOOL PRICES. Messrs Dalgety and Co. have just received cable advice from London giving results of last wool sale there, which they have converted as under, giving last London sale prices and the B.N.Z. June cable for comparative purposes:

WOOL, VALUES EASED ON DUNEDIN' SALE OF 20th JUNE, 1921. Fairly typical lots taken as examples, but free from special faults such as seed, sand, moits, etc., therefore rather abov« the average of the offering. Fleeces. Clean cost in Dunedin Yield saleroom,

ciuito Tip to super; B, average; C, not up to average; D, inferior. COMMON WEALTH ITEMS. Sir Sidney Kidman stated in Sydney that "the pastoral and grazing industry ot Australia is undoubtedly passing through ono of its worst periods of depression. The unexpected fall in prices, combined with tho effects of drought, have caused a drop ini tho value of stock and station properties of, in many cases, 50 per cent. ; hut notwithstanding this, I believe that the future of the industry is bright. Rain has fallen practically all over the Commonwealth, and feed and water are more plentiful than they have been for 30 years. The present depression is but a passing phase, and I think that within six months or so conditions will be normal. The country is understocked, and producers will be faced wi th. some little difficulty in restocking, but the recuperative powers of Australia are wonderful, and with two good seasons the industry will bo more prosperous than it ever has been.” It must he over 30 years since Tasmania experienced a dry spell similar to the one just ended (says the Australasian). After six dry months soaking rains have fallen, ranging from over lin in the south to 6in in the north-eastern corner. It is satisfactory to know that every part of the Commonwealth has now snared in the rain. It is too late to benefit autumn feed in Tasmania, where falls of snow have already been experienced. Any early-sown cropa have now germinated nicely, but most of tho cropping has yet to be done, and the ground after the rain is in nice condition for ploughing. On the mainland tho weather keeps genial, and growth is maintained. The rains have hindered cropping operations somewhat, but with a fine day or two work will be pushed on with vigour, and a large area should bo sown.

Quality. 00 Co C5 03 o A B A B Grade. © *3 <i r 1 Oa to to cm “1 —3 ~,l to C5 rf* 33 Yield. CO O *>» 00 K*-t*-ic*-u** <J Ol 05 Average of . actual prices, London, June. Less 8 3 3 3 CO CO CO w A charges. Ci CT< CO »*■ Eauals f.o.b., KH ■ N.Z. M Equals clean M0K»«*+« £#-*££ r' scoured, Lo.b., N.Z. -3 C: ft. J une. C O pj Bank N.Z. Cable. »*- £

48/50 A 70 12 3 9 13 48/50 B 66 10 3 7 11 50/56 A 64 Hi 34 11 17 10 to n 50/56 B 60 124 34 9 15 134 to 144 56/58 A 62 154 34 12 194 56/58 B 58 124 34 9 155 60/64 A 46 157 34 12 26 Hi to 19 60/64 B 42 13 34 94 23 16 to 17

Quality. per excluding Grade. Price. cent. charges. d. d. 60/Cl A A Hi 50 25 A 10i 15 23 B B 9 42 211 B 8 40 20 e 73 88 20 56/58 A A 12* GO 20 A 10V 58 18 B B 9| 56 17 B 51 151 C GJ 50 13 50/56 A A 10i Cl 16i A 92 61 151 B B 9 64 141 B 81 62 14 C 7 60 12 ■18/50 A A 9i 73 13 A 8i 70 121 B B 8 68 12 B 7 06 11 C 6 00 10 16/18 A A oil A 7J 74 10 B B 7 72 91 B 6 70 81 0 OJ 68 8 11/16 A A nil B B 75 81 B 5i 74 7 G 4i 74 61 — Pieces. —■ 60/61 A nil B 51 36 151 50/58 .. A 6i 58 11 B 5 56 9 16/50 A 51 CO HI B 11 56 8 — Be Hies. — 60/G1 A nil B 11 30 15 50/58 A 51 52 10 B 41 50 9 16/50 .. A 41 GO 8 B 4 58 7 A A, I2xlra super ; A, super; B B, not