STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3593, 23 January 1923, Page 11

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sale*, fturnsldo, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays Walareka Kailway Juao* tion, Tuesdays. Wallacetowu, Tuesdays. Fortnightly. Biversdalc, Friday*. Ashburton, Tuesdays. Heriot, Thursdays. Wintou, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton. Thursdays. Balclutha, Fridays. Bore, Tuesdays. Monthly. Falmerston, 4th Thursday. Minton, 4th Tuesday.

Monthly (continued). Duutrooo, 2nd Wednooday. Woodlands, 3rd Friday Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thornbury, Ist Friday. Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday. Otautau, 2nd Friday. Riversdale, 3rd Friday. Waik_ka, last Friday. Clydevale, last Tuesday. Periodically as Advertised. Lumsdcn, Mossbum, Orepuki, Mataura, Waikcuaiti, Hirerton, Ngapari, ami otaga Central Sales

OTAGO. Rather improved weather conditions prevailed last week, although by no means Otago’s best summer sample. Still haymaking makes some headway, jpore particularly in the Central, where the weather has been fine. Blight has appeared in places among potato crops, but so far not much damage is reported. At Ovvaka on Thursday some 200 head of cattle were offered for sale, and a few sheep. There was a good sale, three and four-year-old bullocks made £5 10s to £7 19s, two-year-olds from £4 10s, and mixed yearlings £1 9s to £2 3s, yearling steers to £2 18s, store wethers 24s 6d, wearier pigs 10s to £1 6s. At Milton there was a keen demand for sheep, two and four-tooth wethers made 255, ewes (fair mouths) with lambs 24s 5d all counted, cattle sold on a parity with near at hand markets. BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat sheep at Burnside totalled 1776 as against 2129 the previous week, the quality ranging from fair to good. The demand was very fair, and the fall in prices experienced when the last two races at the previous sale were offered was recovered, values being much on a parity with those of last week, shorn wethers on the hoof making to 6id per lb. Ewes were somewhat irregular in values, but generally sold well. The entry of fat lambs (129), compared with 336 the previous week, were not sufficient for the ordinary demands of butchers, and prices from the commencement of the sale were some shillings in advance of last sale’s rates. Exporters were necessarily onlookers. An increase of fully 3s 6d a head may be chronicled, lamb making up to iufd per lb, or at per head 25s to 335. The yarding of fat cattle (303), as against 196 on the 10th inst, comprised a number of average bullocks, intermixed with fair sorts of heifers and cows. This large entry met with a good demand in the circumstances, and a decline of 15s to 20s a head on last week’s rates cannot be deemed excessive. Beef sold up to 27s 6d per IGOlb. The top price paid for bullocks was £l3 10s, and for heifers £8 10s. The entry of store cattle was small and of indifferent quality, the demand being unchanged. A large yarding of fat pigs met with an easier demand, baconers realising around 6d and porkers to 7d per lb. ADDINGTON YARDS. The yarding of fat sheep at Addington was small, no sheep outside the province being forward. The quality was good. Owing to the limited entcy, values improved to the extent of 2s to 3s per head on last sale’s rates, the demand holding until the end. Freezing buyers were only able to secure a few lots; wethers realising up to 7d ner lb. The entry of fat lambs (6160). compared with 3430 a week ago, met with a brisk demand, and values were firm at last week’s rates, lamb making up to 10 l-8d per lb. Oine consignment from West Melton (235 in the line) made 32s Id to 35s 6d. The yarding of store sheep was large, mostly lambs of indifferent quality. These sold well, however, also breeding ewes. A nice line of 223 six and eight-tooth ewes made 375, and other lines around 30s, cull lambs 13s 6d to 16s 9d. Although a good number of fat cattle (405 as against 353 the previous week) were yarded, including a number of cows and unfinished sorts. There was a very fair sale. The high prices of lamb and mutton tended to help the demand for beef. The sale Was brisk and last week’s rates were secured, prime handy-weight steers making 30s 6d to 33s per 1001 b. The best lot (three of them) made from £l6 to £l6 10s. The yarding of store cattle was small and of little merit, but such as they were, met with a better demand than usual. Best dairy cows sold well, but medium sorts were neglected. Bacon pigs improved, but porkers were in over-supply, bacon sorts making to 6d and porkers to 7d per lb. NORTH ISLAND STOCK VALUES. The Farmers’ Co-operative. Ltd., Hamilton, Waikato, report that beef is “looming up” with export values nominally 22s for ox and 16s 6d for cow-beef. Mutton is firm, while lamb of fine quality is snapped up at 9d per lb. Store cattle have improved in value, all grades of steers selling freely. Breeding ewes are in keen demand, also rape lambs, while wethers are dear and scarce. Three to four-year-old store bullocks realise £5 10.= to £6 ss, two-year-olds £3 5s to £4 ss, yearling steers £2 10s to £3 10s, forward wethers 26s to 30s, rape lambs 18s 6d to 20s, shorn lambs 14s 6d to 17s 6d. Practically no information has come forward from the North Island in respect to stock values since the holidays. Wool is selling well, and feed is plentiful, but is not of too fattening a nature in so far as lambs are concerned. Hay making is in full swing and winter feed should be assured. The recent scare in respect to the spread rf cattle tick has spurred up graziers in clean areas to watch their borders. In Poverty Bay fhe A. and P. Show held the interest of farmers who pleasured in the inspection of some fine stock. In Taranaki, cheese buyers have been busy, but most, of the factories scout the offered 9d per lb f.0.b., and will consign. In Taranaki most of the hay is secured. Ten Lincoln rams and five ewes were recently bought for the Argentine from Mr R. B. Hamilton, of Manutahi, at

a. satisfactory figure. In the WanganuiFielding areas grass is abundant, and milk supplies are good for the time of the year. The weather has been of a mixed nature, intense heat and rain showers. The stock are looking well, but lambs arx not fattening up too well. One of tne freezing works has closed for the time being. In the Wairarapa the growth of vegetation is wonderful, lucerne having been cut for the second time this season. As to prices, they are quite enough, but even lOd per lb lamb .will not make a mob draft out first qualities as owners expect. In Hawke’s Bay shearing is about through for the season despite mixed weather. The rook pest is a serious trouble, one dairyman being of the opinion that either he and his confreres must change their means cf livelihood or exterminate the rooks. Newly sown seed seems to draw rooks like a magnet attracts steel. Help from the local A. and P. was requested—a chatter which the committee will keep steadily in view. STOCK NOTES. Stock maintain with ease the values ruling early in the month, and until the freezing works in Otago . have made a start, and so leng as the feed is ample on farm lands, little business will be done. Fewer cattle are being sent in to the stock yards for sale—not so much on account of beef values hardening, but farmers want their rough feed eaten. The high prices being paid for fat lambs and sheep is no doubt helping the beef demand; but do the beef providers (the graziers) get all there is in the beef business? No. If butchers would sell their mutton at its cost to them, plus a profit, we should soon see beef improving in value. The Kakariki freezing works (beyond Feilding) have been closed down because of insufficient fat stock coming forward. The lambs are reported to be in a backward condition, and, owing to unfavourable weather conditions in the Rangitikei, Wanganui, and Taranaki districts shearing has not been completed, and this is one of the reasons for the slow movement of stock to the freezing works. Cows have been milking quite a while now, and the supplies to factories are easing up, but are still well in advance of last season. At the Birmingham fat stock show, held on the 30th November at Birmingham. England, Sir Richard Cooper’s two-year-old crossbred Blue Bill won the championship and also the Elkington and Thorley trophies. Major Morrison’s heifer (Aberdeen Angus) taking the reserve. The prize for the heaviest beast at the show went to a four-year-old roan, which weighed 23cwt 3qr 81b. Cow’s 86 gallons per week ! Not in Ne w Zealand though. Mr E. Furness’s British Friesian cow Dunninald Daphne, which on 13th November broke (says an English Exchange) the record for milk prpduction in 24 hours, has now broken the British milk yield record for seven days, her production being 869 Jib, which is 59ilb higher than the previous record, made by the 3000gallon cow Brookside Colantha. For the week 12th to 18th November Dunninald Daphne gave the following quantities of milk per day:—l24Jlb. 12911 b, 129|1b, 115Jlb, 23ilb, 1211 b, 1261 b. An official of the local Milk Recording Society was present at the milking on Tuesday, when the cow gave in one day more milk than any other animal in the country has yielded in a similar period. On Sabbath. Monday, and Tuesday the cow was milked four times daily, and three times daily on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The change from four to three milkings is reflected in the figures for the fourth day, and uie fact that the cow was in season on the Friday did not affect the yield so much as might have been expected. At the sale of Sir Charles Allan’s dairy Shorthorns at Mill Hill, Middlesex, in November, cows made up to 230gns and bulls to 42flgns, and 51 lots of pedigree cattle averaged over £B6. The annual report of the Agricultural and Stock Department of Tasmania for 1921-22 has been issued. It is pointed out that on the north coast there are 500,000 acres of good dairying land; but only 50,000 milch cows graze in this area, and there is ample room for three times the number. The tribunal which is to consider the methods of agriculture in the overseas Dominions and throughout the Empire with the view of improving pioduction in the United Kingdom comprises Sir William Asldev, vice-principal of the University of Birmingham, who w r as a member of the Royal Commission on Agriculture; Professor William Adams (Oxford), and Professor D. H Macgregor (Manchester), with Mr C. S. Orwin, director of the Institute for Research in Agricultural Economics, as assessor. NEW ZEALAND FRIESIANS. THE “ BAINFIELD ” ANNUAL SALE. The “Bainfield” Friesians keep putting up records, the yield of 6936.71 b ot milk containing 267.43 butter-fat in 84 days, by Mr \V. W. Dickie’s (Mataura) Bainfield 27, being the record for a Dominion heifer for that period. She is by Bainfield Dutchman ex Oakwood Daisy Belle, and was bought at Mr W. W. Hunt’s second annual sale. Several other Bainfield-bred heifers purchased at previous sales are also doing remarkably well. Three of these heifers. Bainfield 22, Bainfield Vanity, and Bainfield 28, now on test, have produced respectively 581.331 b of fat in 321 days (still on test), 535.331 b of fat in 365 days, and 439.761 b of fat in 297 days. In the show-ring Bainfield stock has been very successful, as in addition -to the many successes gained by the home herd. South Island Championships have been won by Bainfield stock in other hands. On a previous occasion a Bainfield-bred bull was first and reserve champion at- Auckland, and Bainfield stock and their progeny figured successfully this year at Melbourne Royal Show, Auckland, Hamilton (reserve championship), Dunedin (championship), Invercargill (championship), Christchurch, Thames (championship), etc. The high-priced bull sold at last year’s sale, Bainfield Netherland King Pontiac, which is a combination of the Posch and Pietertje—Netherland blood, had an undefeated career this season. He was first both at Hamilton and Auckland, and first and champion at Thames. King Pontiac is already, therefore, justifying the high price paid for him as a calf, the record auction price of 510 gs. His dam headed the mature cows for New Zealand in September with a production of 88.791 b of fat, and for October she has recorded 102.371 b, and should go close to threo figures for November. She is just a five-year-old, and this is her initial test. King Pontiao is by Rosevale King Sylvia. This bull's stock had a run of successes at the recent Southland Metropolitan Show. Altogether 34 head of Friesians are to be sold at this year’s Bain-

field sale on Friday, 16th Februarv next. Most of these are heifers by Rosevaie King Sylvia, and all of these will be bred to sons of Westmere Princess Pietertje. There are 22 bulls. The majority of these are sired by Rosevaie King Sylvia, while a number are out of his daughters by Prince Pietertje of Bainfield. The records of the dams of these two bulls average 8611 b of butter-fat, so that no similar opportunity to secure stock bred from great butter-fat producers has yet occurred. One of the young bulls to be offered has an average butter-fat backing from his four nearest dams of 8181 b of butter-fgt—a record for Australasia Everything put up at this sale is offered without reserve, and no private selling is practised. Mr Hunt is offering some of his very best heifers and the whole of his young bulls, together With flock and stud one-shear Romney rams. Catalogues are now ready, and can be secured from the auctioneers, Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. (Ltd.). IRRIGATION IN CENTRAL OTAGO. The wonderful effects of irrigaton on crops in Central Otago are well illustrated in this issue of the Otago \\ itness. Last autumn Mr H. L. Paterson, of Cloudy Peak, Liiidis Valley, Central Otago, sowed an area of some 18 acres in Garton oats li bushels to the acre. The lie of the land was such that three acres on the top side could not be irrigated from the water race. All the crop grew well enough, and in October, when about six inches high, was watered, with the exception of the area on the top side, outside the reach of water as mentioned above. The ground reserved a thorough soaking down to the sub-sou, the water being turned on for about two hours. This was the only irrigation attempted. Whereas the untreated portion of the crop subsequently came along languidly enough with but one or two oat stalks from each plant, the irrigated portion sailed away in great style, each plant throwing up several stalks. The contrast in the results are clearly shown in our illustrations. With water the Central, will talk through its cereal, leguminous, and fruit crops in no uncertain manner. There seems no reason to doubt- that on the area served by the Government’s new Ardgour water race (commanding some 2000 irrigable acres) will prove notably successful, judging from the initial fruits sent forward from the Lindis Valley. The fact that one acre of crop irrigated returned four to five times as much an acre not irrigated should convince the most sceptical that water is the first essential requirement of Central Otago. The others will follow in due course. DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION. Mr John I. Fox, secretary of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, stares (says The Dominion) that in a few days’ time over 120 branches of the Dairy Farmers’ Union will be asked to convene special meetings cf their members to discuss important points affecting not only the organisation, but also the whole future of the dairy and bacon industries. “The points to be discussed,” said Mr Fox, “are: (1) Organisation—the method of organising the national policy, and (2) the establishment of a United Farmers’ Association of New Zealand.” Matters to be considered, he continued, were : Dairy control, whether by legislative action or by mutual consent of a committee consisting of producers, bankers, merchants, and shippers.

The Moratorium Act, which expires in 1924. and how this will affect a large body of dary farmers. The question of a national scheme of herd-testing, whether by legislation, thus making it compulsory, or Dy voluntary effort. The elimination of useless cows, which are detrimental to production, whether elimination is to be bv legislative enactment or by voluntary action. Bacon industry, whether this is to he controlled by the Meat Board or by a joint board of bacon curers or dairy farmers. ‘‘Once the branches have discussed these matters,” concluded Mr Fox, “a national conference of representatives will be held immediately to decide these important questions.” In conclusion Mr Fox said: “Our executive feels very strongly on these matters, and is satisfied that, through sound organisition, our production can be doubled and the Dominion recover from its heavy financial obligations.”