STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays Addington, Wednesdays Waiareka Hail way Junction, Tuesdays Wallacetown, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Biversdale, Friday Ashburton, Tuesdays Heriot, Thursdays * A'inton, Thursdays Wyndham, Thursdays Clinton, Thursdays Balclutha, Fridays Gore, Tuesdays Monthly. Palmerston, 4th Thursday Winton, 4th Tuesday

Monthly (continued). Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday Woodlands, 3rd Friday Milton, 2nd Tuesday Ballour, 3rd Thursday Thovnbury, Ist Friday Duntroon, 2nd W edner day Qtautau, 2nd Friday llivcrsdale, 3rd Friday Waikaka, last Friday Olvdevale. last Tuesday Periodically as Advertised. I.umsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, klataura, Waikouaiti, Biverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO. Standard Otago weather ruled last week — sunny days and cool at night time, only rather more so ajvay back from coastal lands. More rain is required, as the grass is not getting away owing to inadequate rains. titili there is a vast improvement on conditions of a fortnight ago. Glorious lambing weather prevails, and there should be a big crop on farm lands of Otago. The writer has not heard of any forward buying of lambs. The grass grub on the Taieri threatens ko make havoc of a good many acres of pasture should rains in plenty not make their appearance soon. Clydesdales are selling freely, big heavy geldings making round £4O and well-bred mares to £55. BURNSIDE MARKET. There was an entry of 2645 fat sheep at Burnside, an increase of some 500 compared with last week, the quality ranging from fair to good. Included in the yarding were about 100 fat hoggets. The demand was much on a parity with tho rates of the previous week, light wethers being, if anything, rather dearer. The pick of the fat hoggets again sold well. Wether mutton realised to 3jd per lb, and ewe round 33d, very few of the latter being forward. The 10 spring lambs sold readily, rather better than last week’s values ruling, per lb. The yarding of fat cattle comprised 274, as against 214 the previous week, the bulk of them being railed from the south. The quality was good for the most part, all weights being represented. The sale opened indifferently on unfinished cattle, and passings were freely made. This served to steady the market for a space, but a weakened demand held to the finish, sales generally boing down fully 12s 6d a head, beef making round 37s 6d and at few times 40s per 1001 b. Some 170 store cattle, comprising all sorts, met with a poor demand. Big Shorthorn cross bullocks, four years old, in forward condition, made £lO 18s; two pens, three years old, well-bred forward steers, £5 8s to £6 10s; a pen forward three-year-old Hereford steers £7 10s, two pens two-and-a-half-year-old fair sorts steers £4 ss, medium two-and-a-half-year-old steers £4, dairy type of steers (two and a-half years old) £2 10s, yearling heifers (dairy) 25 s, yearling steers (dairy) 21s, fair empty heifers £4 ss. Fat pigs were down 10s a head, but small sorts sold freely at last week’s high values. ADDINGTON YARDS. The yarding of fat sheep at Addington was -on the small side, and prices advanced Is to 3s a head compared with those of the previous week. Sales were readily made owing largely to the numbers penned being on the short side. Well over 100 spring lambs excited a keen demand, although some of the pennings were on the small size, lamb making lid to 12d per lb. Store sheep were not forward in any great quantity, but morg than sufficed tho demand. The entry comprised chiefly hoggets and ewes, the former moving off better than has been the case for some time, other sorts unchanged. Theie was not a big entry o-f fat cattle, and a good deal of plain material was on evidence, a line of 50 from W anganui showing signs of travel. Best quality animals sold at an advance of 20s to 23s a head on last week’s rates, but unfinished sorts showed no change. A moderate entry of store cattle realised rates ruling a week ago. Dairy cattle of any merit moved off readily enough, but indifferent sorts were slow of sale. Fat pigs, both porkers and baron sorts, maintained rates of the previous week, while, despite a big entry of store pigs, prices were fully equal to rates of the previous week. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. Quite enough stock arc being marketed in the various districts in the North Island for the very general weak demand manifested at auction sales. In the Auek’and province, at Westfield market, beef sold up to 34a per 100 b, but many excellent cattle were much under this rate, unfinished steers made from £5 to £7. fresh three-year-old steers, made £5, unfinished wethers 12s 6d to 16s 6d. In Poverty Bay fat sheep at the Matavhero yards were not wanted while store sheep hardly maintained recent rates. In the Wairarapa hoggets made 11s to 12s 3d, small from ss. mixed young wethers 11s to 14s 6d, springing heifers £3 £l4 15s dairy cows £8 to £ls. Tn the Wangnoui-Feildinrr areas stock practicaVy remains at. home, no one wanting to buv in the meantime, although yearling heifers have attention. In Taranaki :eu-ii the same position exists, with grass making good headway. Tn Hawke's Pay mixed two and four-tooth wethers realised 12s to 14s fid, mixed hoggets 7s to 10s, Jersey yearling heifers £4 5s to PA 15s, ordinary round £3. milkers £l2 to £ls, springers to £ls. unbroken draughts £8 to £25, broken to £43. STOCK NOTES. Stock are doing well in Otago, the rains having helped the pasture to some effect, although a somewhat low temperature at night retards very free growth. Prices of store stock cannot be said to have improved on last week’s values, and with values of fats “wobb'ing” it is out of all reason to expect any appreciation. Eat hoggets are moving off readily enough, owing to the ftouth Otago Freezing Works handling thorn for an export buyer. It is found to be rather a problem to secure wethers which will kill out under the weight (561 b). which commands most money per lb. but nevertheless sheep o>-e being slaughtered at the rate of some 700 a day. which, providing supplies keen up to the mark for ten da vs or so, will servo to shift a considerable number, and help local market

The first shorn sheep of the season were sold at Burnside last week, a small penning of wethers making 18s 6d, sheep, which if sold in the wool, would hate realised somewhere about 23s per head. Quite recently two Polled Shorthorn hellers and a bull arrived in the Dominion per City of Lincoln lor Mr D. ri. Wrignt, of Winslow, Canterbury, well-known as a Clydesdale breeder. The heifers are in calf, and come trom the United States, and should form a fine nucleus of a herd, me animals are at present undergoing quarantine. At the annual meeting of the Farmers’ Co-operative Association at Gore the general manager, Mr A. Simpson, mentioned (says the Wyndham Herald) that the association had consigned a number of carcases on behalf of clients, and that these had realised about 10s for lamb more than if they had been sold to any of the meat companies. Mr G. P. Johnston also said that he had urged a number of farmers to ship, and he was pleased to say that word had been received that the lamb had brought 12-jd. This figure, Mr Simpson added, would mean, allowing for extras such as the wool and the pelt, that Mr Johnston would get a figure a little higher than the clients of the association which had shipped a good many thousand carcases during the year. Two records for high jumping were established at the Albury Sfhow last month. A. Judd's Sundown cleared 7ft 9iin in tho open high jump, and Miss Emily Roach, on Musician, cleared 7ft ljin, thus beating her own record of 7ft iin at the last Newcastle show. Some members of the Victorian branch of the Friesian Cattle Club have imported 10 heifers, which they propose to sell during show weak, the profits to be devoted to the funds of the club. The heifers are by a son of the champion cow Sylvia Burkevje Posch, out of cows carrying tho blood of King Segis Wild Rose Homestead, combined with that of the famous Longbeach cattle. The danger of introducing cattle ticks into the Dominion per paspalum seed from Queensland or from the North Coast district of New South Wales, at present comprising the New South Wales tick infestation area, is having attention. Ilithertfi the position has been met by an arrangement with tho New South Wales Government officials whereby all Queensland seed .was effectively fumigated before being sent on to New Zealand from Sydney. A second fumigation was given by the Department of Agriculture after the seed reached here, in order to make doubly certain. The Department of Agriculture is of opinion, however, that there is a risk of consignments being sent by sea from Brisbane to Sydnev, and transhipped in Sydney Harbour to a vessel bound for New Zealand, the fumigation process consequently not being carried out in Australia. The department, not being satisfied that one fumigation only would ensure absolute safety in the case of seed from infected districts, has had regulations gazetted prohibiting the importation into the Dominion of grass seed for sowing from Queensland or from the New South Wales tick infestation quarantine area. HORSE PARADES. The horse parade at Addington, Canterbury, last month was sparsely attended, but the stallions shown were of pleasing quality. Mr Thomas Logan, of Gore, judged. The placings were as follows: Draught stallion foaled prior to June 50, 1918 (first prize £6, second £3) —J. I). Wills’s (Tai Tapu) Scotland Hero (imp.), bay, by Revelanta, dam Bessie Dun, 1 and champion; James Patrick’s (Outrarn) High Honour, bay, by King of Honour, dam White Silk, 2; E. E. Jenkins’s (Dunsandei) Bold Record, roan, by Royal Record, dam Bonnie Jean, 3. Also paraded : Wyllie’s (Scfton) Baron Thrcave (imp.), Peter Shearer’s (Wheatstone) Fabricate, W. J. Taylor’s (Ashburton) First Admiral, D. G. Wright's (Windermere) Everlasting Footprint. Challenge Cup (value £25, offered by Mr John Grigg) for the best draught stallion on the ground entered for competition. The cup to be won three times, not necessarily in succession, before becoming the property of the winner. The cup not to be won more than twice with the same horse. All horses to be bona fide property of the exhibitor —J. 1). Wills’s Scotland Hero, champion. Draught stallion, foaled since June 30, 1918 (first prize £5, second £2) — J. D. Wyllie’s (Sefton) Bold Buchlyvie, bay, by Buchlyvie’ 9 Favourite, dam Queen of the Hills, 1: E. E. Jenkins’s (Dun-sa-ndel) Premier Yet. dark brown, by Premier Pride dam Bonnie Jean, 2: P. Shearer’s (Wheatstone) Fabricator, black, by Du mi re Fabric, darn Melton Bell, 3. Also paraded : James Rugg’s (Courtenay) Everlasting Print. Draught colt, foaled since Juno 30, 1919 (first prize £3, second £2) —.Tames Patrick’s (Outrarn) black colt, by Baron Bold, dam Twilight, 1. After the parade an auction was held, five horses being offered, but in no case was a sale effected. The highest bid was 140 gs, offered for Mr Peter Shearer's Fabricate. Bids for the other horses (Russell Bold, Scotland's Crest, Taieri Baron, and Baron Mellon) ranged from 35gs to 69gs. Ashburton. —The annual horse parade under the auspices of the Ashburton A. and P. Association was held on the 27th ult., the iijdgcs being Messrs J. D. Wylie and R. W. Rainey. The following awards were made : —Draught stallion, foaled prior to July 1, 1918—D. G. Wright’s Everlasting Footprint 1, P. Shearer’s Fabricate 2, W. J. Tailor’s First Admiral r Ji c. Draught stallion, foaled since .July 1, 1918 —E. E. Jenkins’s Premier Yet 1, P Shearer’s Fabricator 2. Draught stallion, foaled since July 1, 1919 —Davidson and Sheehan’s Glen Fabric 1, W. J. Doak’s colt 2. Windermere Cup, for best Clydesdale stallion —D. G. Wright’s Everlasting Footprint 1. E. E. Jenkins’s Premier Yet reserve. The following also competed: E. I fall's Scottish Fashion, W. J. Taylor’s First Admiral. W. J. Doak’s Fabric’s Heir, P. Shearer’s Fabricator. THE MEAT TRADE. Some extracts from a letter received by a Palmerston North firm from their London agents, and which appeared in the Dominion of the 22nd ult. are of general interest. ft will be noted that: the old trouble of small consignments being liable to “hammering” is touched upon: “We are pleased to be able to advise that Government: lambs are now disposed of, and that the market is absorbing all the lamb that is being discharged from the vessels, so that the stores are fairlv clear of this class of meat.. Unfortunately there is room for much improvement in the discharge of the vessels. “Mutton is not finding such a speedy sale, and stocks are accumulating, particularly heavy weights. Government stocks are substantial, added to which the condition of

the meat is unsatisfactory, leaving large allowances for damage and general weaning of the market. River Plate 1 ethers are plentiful, and are selling at Sd per lb, this restricting the demand for ewes. “Every effort is being made to improve tho working of the vessels, and a promise has been made of an improvement, which is already noticeable. This is the result of a conference between the Incorporated Society of Meat Exporters, storekeepers, and shipowners. It is extremely difficult to get the meat sorted to the various submarks, which are more numerous than ever, and it is sincerely hoped that small farmers’ lots will be pooled under one mark, and that freezing companies generally will assist the work at this end in discouraging the separate marking for each client. “Canadian chilled beef arrived on this market yesterday, and found a ready sale at lOd for hinds and 5d for fores. The frozen article is very much out of favour, and inferior descriptions, such as bull and cow beef is only saleable at prices that can. scarcely cover charges. WAITAKI FARMERS’ FREEZING COMPANY. A meeting of those interested in the Waitaki Farmers’ Freezing Company was held on the 26th ult. at Ngapara, there being a numerous attendance. The purpose of tlie meeting was to ascertain the feeling of shareholders regarding the future of tho company (says an Exchange), whether it would be wise to advocate immediate liquidation or the holding in abeyance of the company’s activities for twelve months or more until such time as the money market improves. The following motion was unanimously carried—“ That the directors of the Waitaki Farmers’ Freezing Co. have not kept faith with the shareholders of North Otago in taking a ballot on the question of erectinn- the works at Studholme in view of the fact that it was plainly indicated by Mr Corrigan and his fellow directors during tho canvass for shares, that the site would be between Glenavy and Morven. freeing that the bulk of the shares are held on this side ot the river, we desire to see Oamaru Harbour and town derive their share of the benefits accruing from such works. We trust that this meeting will be the forerunner of other simitar protests throughout the district of North Otago, culminating in the calling of a public meeting in Oamaru to rectify tho present most unsatisfactory position. A GOOD CLYDESDALE. Mr Wm. Brown, M.R.C.V.S., lecturer on veterinary hygiene in the University of Aberdeen, in the course of a lecture 011 Clydesdales in July last, described the characteristics of the breed. With a good' type of animal in the ring (reports tho Scottish Farmer), the lecturer said, Clydesdales were bred to draw loads, and it was essential that draught horses should be built on proper lines. The best class t>f gelding should stand from 16 to 17 hands, and the depth of body should equal length of leg. The body of the draught horse must be properly balanced. The legs must be muscular, and their position was all-important. They should be set plumb in below the body—not stuck in at the corners like those of a Berkshire pig. What is wanted is a short back —the shorter the body the more powerful the animal. The power of a horse lies in the hind quarters entirely, and good hind legs are essential, with a nice long quarter and well-made hock. In judging Clydesdales one should look for the breed characteristics —the head, the neck, and the hair on body, especially the mane and legs. A female with short curly hair does not make a good breeder. Take tho head in comparison with size, proportion to height and weight. A small head denotes small growth. Other essential features of a good horse are width between the eyes—room for brain development—wide nostrils and muzzle, eyes large and bold. Large eyes denote docility. The neck is important; it should be \v;ell developed, nicely arched, and medium in length. The shoulder should have a nice moderate slope. If sloping well back, you have a nice-stepping animal, though not the most powerful. A more upright shoulder denotes power. The withers should be fairly high, with not too"much depression behind. The weakest part of the back lies in the loin, and the back requires plenty of muscle there to strengthen it. The back should gently sln,pe to the tail ; drooping towards the tail and sides usually indicates weakness. 1 he hind quarters should be wide, and the barrel of trunk deep, with the ribs well sprung, giving as much room as possible for lungs and stomach. Great attention should be paid to the feet and legs, as these are the parts most liable to give trouble with horses in the cities or on hard roads. The Clydesdale type had altered somewhat during the last 20 years. The older type—and a very good horse he was—had longer thighs and forearms, with knees and hocks well down. Today we have a type wiih slightly longer cannon bones —a type which Clydesdale breeders have gradually developed, mainly for show purposes. This diminishes power, but gives a clean stepping animal. A fair length of forearm and cannon bone is important. The knee should be big. fairly wide and square across, with no backward inclination as in the Davnlcy breed. The cannon bone set too far out is a common cause of in or out toe. It should bo clean—no more than skin and bone—and set plumb under the knee. As an indication of quality all over, there should be as much hair as possible in the feather —soft, straight, and silkv. The pastern may be too short, or too long. It acts as a spring* or cushion to absorb concussion. The slope of the pastern should be about an angle of 45 degrees. The should have plenty room to grow from a large, round, open coronet, nicely spread, with moderate slope of wall, heels wide apart, and nicely-developed frog. Tho frog is Nature’s provision for giving a good foothold as well as for removing concussion. A horse should never be shod too high or too low ; the frog should alwavs bear a proportion of the weight. The stifle should be tight. The principal point is the hock, and should be- fairly wide. A long pastern is more objectionab'e in the hind leg than in the fore, and is often a cause of straight hind leg. The walk of the animal is all-important. Action should be partllel to the body—not too far thown out and not too close. In walking, too, the animal should turn up the soles of the feet. WHITE CLOVER ON THE TAIERI PLAIN. White clover grows more, or 1-ss naturally on the Taieri Plain (says R. B. Tennant, Instructor in Agriculture, in a note in a recent Journal), there being no need for the farmers there to include the seed in their grass mixtures. The persistence of

this clover is really remakable, and in many cases long-established ryegrass pastures contain an abundance of white clover which appears to be more or less permanent. This may be accounted for by a certain amount of natural selection taking place, the shorter-lived strains disappearing during the first few years of the pasture’s existence. An examination of individual plants appears to show in some cases propagation from vegetative stools, but in the majority of eases the growth of clover from season to season is kept going by natural reseeding. Several inquiries have recently been received by the writer for information In qgnnection with “wild white clover,” on ac?ofint of tho various favourable reports which have from time to time appeared in connection with this plant. There can ho no doubt that the white clover growing in the long-established ryegrass paddocks of the Taieri Plain is practically the same as the European wild white clover, and in view of the fact that the price of the imported seed ranges from £1 10s to £2 P er lb one certainly cannot recommend such seed when strains having similar characteristics may be procured locally at a much cheaper rate.