THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 13

THE NORTH ISLAND.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Generally speaking there has been no cause for complain! as regards the weather during the past week. In most parts working conditions on the farm have not been much interfered with. In wet weather and a strong south-easterly wind were experienced over the week-end, but the boisterous conditions did not prevail for any length of time. The cutting of chaff in the Rangitikei district proceeded rapidlv all last week, bul a couple of uayi during which heavy showers of rain fell prevented further deliveries being made. The market has sagged somewhat owing to the large quantity of Australasian “dump” chaff purchased for arrival in Auckland during July and August. At the same time everything points to higher prices ruling for chart a, little later on. It is stated that 10CO tons of compressed hay is being supplied to Australia. There is ' according to report, a considerable quantity of ulterior cbaff on the market, but it is difficult to secure buyers for the class of stuff meantime, and in view of the uncertainty of the markets merchants are not prepared to put same into stock. PRODUCE CONTROL. Quite a number of factories in the Taranaki province have been most emphatic in their denunciation of the Dairy Export Control Bill, and several proposals have been put forward to meet the position. At a meeting of the Ngaere Co-op. Dairy Co. a motion to support the efforts of the Dairy Control to secure the putting into operation of the Dairy Control Bill was rejected, and the following motion was carried: “That this meeting favours, in lieu of the proposed Dairy Export Control Board, the reconstruction of the National Dairy Association, giving it wider powers of contracting for shipping and freights, at the same time prohibiting its powers of indenting.” Meetings of the. Te Popo dairy factory and Royal Oak Dairy 00. also decided to oppose the proposed control of produoe. In connection with the matter a strong oppositionist is Mr J. R. Rowlands, chairman of directors of the iVlangorei Dairy Co. SACRIFICE OF GOOD BEEF. Advocates for the dehorning of cattlo are finding that they are being well supported

in their claims for action being taken , owing to so much good beef being damaged in the course of transit to the freezing ■works and abattoirs. A rather interesting article on the question appeared in the Dominion a few days ago. It appears that a reporter happened to be present at a large slaughter-house recently when a consignment cf bullocks arrived, and he was amazed to see the serious damago which had been done by the horns of the animals on the rail journey. Out of a consignment of 120 bullocks, which had arrived by rail, no fewer than 30 had their hindquarters badly gored, while over 20 had been ripped ! about over the forequarters. If what was seen could be taken as a guide., the amount of beef which is rejected each year must be astonishing. The pressman was informed by the manager of the works that thousands of pounds’ worth of good meat bad to be thrown away annually through damago caused in this way. Sometimes Jt

was the hindquarter and sometimes the forequarter which had to be condemned, but very rarely did cattle arrive at the works without a number of “casualties” being included in the mob. Buyers, he said, were aware that allowance had to be made for this wastage, and they included this in the prices they gave for cattle on the farm. It would thus be seen, ho said, that the loss to New Zealand cattlemen each year was very serious. With a view to ascertaining if any steps were being taken to stop this wastage, Colonel A. R. Young, Director of the Rive Stock Division of the Agricultural Department, was interviewed. “For some time past,” said Colonel Young, “the Live Stock Division has been making extensive inquiries from abattoirs and freezing works regarding the amount of damage done to cattle from tho time they leave tho farm till the meat is dressed. Sufficient evidence has boom collected to prove that the

losses sustained from bruising in cattle alone run into thousands of pounds annually.” This, proceeded the Director , of the Live Stock Division, was a loss which with reasonable care could be saved. The primary cause of bruising in transit by rail, be explained, was the placing of horned and dehorned animals in the same truck, and the placing of male and female animals in the same compartments. Were this carefully guarded against, a vast improvement would immediately take place, and the Dominion would be saved many thousands of pounds sterling each year. The division had gone carefully into the question from a cruelty to animals point of view, and he had no hesitation in saying that the amount of cruelty now inflicted on other animals, let aione the danger to human life, was 10 times greater than if every animal was to be dehorned to-merrow. The Live Stock Division now

urged that every adult animal should be dehorned, and that the growth of horns in. calves should Lie prevented. It is quite clear that if cattle-growers only realised the enormous amount of good meat which is at present being lost through damage by horned cattle they would take speedy steps to save the serious wastage. PEDIGREE JERSEYS. Some big money in the aggregate has been paid for stud stock in 'laranaki durmg the past week or two, and quite a number of promising heifers, particularly Jerseys, have been purchased by dairymen iu other parts of the Dominion. An interesting sale last week was that of Mr I h can as Linn, the vvi 11-tnown Jersey bleeder of Mangatoki. the whole herd of 00 ‘‘pad was put under «ihe hammer, and a splendid sale resulted in all the stock being cleared at good prices. Twenty nine cows averaged 74gns, seven tv,o-ycar-o!d

heifers 76gns and seven bulls 34jgns, the gross total for the 56 lots being 3494gn« or an avenge of 62£gns. The top price realised was lor the cow Cream of 0.K.. 350gns having been paid for this line milk producer oy Mr G. H. Bell, of Oakura. at couple more sales of pedigree Jersey cattle were held at Tikorangi on account of Mr L. X. Faull and Mr J. H. Allen, there was a good attendance of buyers, and the entire catalogue of 51 lots*was disposed of under tiie hammer. Brices, however, were not on a par with those obtained at the sale of Mr Linn. I he cattle came into the ling in good fettle, but in several instances were only sound in threequarters, while two or three lots were a so empty, with ihe natural result that pri< es suffered thereby. All tilings considered, the sale was a successful one, Mr Baud's catalogue averaging about 42igns, and Mr Allen’s about Aijgns. The highest price leahsed was 122gns for a cow. AUCKLAND WINTER SHOW. Ihe Auckland Winter Show, which is to be held next month, has attracted big entries, particularly in the dairy section, butter and cheese exhibits numbering 247 against 64 last year. For root and field, produce tITM-e are 110 entries, compared with 68 in 1522, while there is also a substantial increase in the fruit classes. A special section reserved for district courts will be occupied by Onehunga, Whangarei, Rotorua, and Raglan. EXPORT OF PIGS. V hen speaking at the annual meeting of the Manawatu Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, Mr O. P. Lynch, president, expressed the opinion that there was a tremendous opening to the export of pigs from New Zealand. During the slump period the dairy farmer carried the country on its back There was nothing doing with meat and wool then, and lie was absolutely certain that the pig was coming along to play a big part in the country’s export trade. SCIENCE ON COWS A htm Mr T. W. Lonsdale managed the Moumahaki State Farm he was a great believer m the Ayrshire breed of cattle, and by bringing science to bear in breeding the teat question was exploited. Other breeders also got to work, and the result has been that the small teat trouble has been apparently overcome, and the work of milking is not nearly so difficult. This naturai’y has improved the progress of the breed in question, and advices go t-o show that Ayrshire cattle ere becoming more popular, judging by tho increase of breeders. It is claimed that for hardiness and for production of butter-fat the Ayrshire has lew equals. WORLD'S BUTTER RECORD. A message from Morrinsville states that the Waharoa Butter Factory has completed its returns for the past year. These show an output of 2723 tons, which is claimed to be a New Zealand record. The plant is now being thoroughly overhauled, aiid a new churn is to be installed in preparation for the coming season, which is expected to be n vvn-t/oiilnrlv busy one. DEVELOPMENT - OF' IDLE LANDS. There are many thousands of acres of idle lands in the North Island which, if developed, would add greatly to the exports of the Dominion. This matter was considered by the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers’ Union, and a remit by the executive urged that where blocks of land are being held for the encouragement of immigration and close settlement they should be exempt from land tax during such limited time as an approved annual amount of capital is being expended for do velopment. Several speakers suggested that the remit was encouraging land speculation, -applying to objections, Mr Alf E. Harding said there were many people in England prepared to invest large sums in New Zealand for development. They did not desire large profits and were prepared to accept low rates of interest. He could have recently obtained £3.006,000 for development in North Auckland. The people who offered the money would also have found immigrants to settle on the land. The scheme could not be carried out owing to the existing restrictions and taxation. The blocks would have to be held in large areas until developed and the graduated tax would be an inlolerable burden. The land would only be held in large blocks until developed when the freehold would be granted to the settlers. The remit was carried. VALUE OF HERD TESTING. The Kaitieke Herd-testing Association has been operating in the Taumarunui district, Main Trunk, for three seasons, and some interesting figures regarding the increase in production are available. The figures of two herds are given as examples-, and are of particular interest. They are as follow. Herd No. 1. —Season 1920-21 : Twentyfour cows milked; days in milk. 180; 133.871 b fat per cow. Season 1921-22: Twenty-four cows milked: days in milk, 197: 132.411 b fat per cow. Season 1822-23. Eighteen cows milked; days in milk, 227; 196.381 b fat per cow. No culling was done in this herd until after the second season’s testing, when six cows were disposed of. By culling out the six lowest producers and thereby milking a lesser number the production was increased by 48.3 per cent., or 631 b fat per cow. A noticeable feature is that the herd of 18 cows produced 3571 b more butter-fat than did the herd of 24 cows. Herd No. 2. —Season 1921-22. Sixteen cows tested: days in milk, 221; 179.151 b per cow; culled seven cows and 10 other cows bought. Season 1922-23: Nineteen cows tested; days in milk, 221; 179.151 b fat per cow. Increase in production per cow, 86.9 per cent., or 831 b fat per cow. In this case better wintering of the stock played a prominent part in the increase, but at the same time the culling of the cows largely responsible for bringing the average down to such a low standard as

95.0 j has been the chief feature in ti.e success. DAIRY PRODUCE CONTROL BILL. THE FINANCIAL ASPECT. STRATFORD, June 15 A gathering of directors representing 49 dairy factories met at Stratford to-day, to furttier discuss the Dairy Produce Control Bill, Mr A. Morton presiding. Mr W. Grounds, Dairy Council chairman, fully explained the measure, much discussion following-, chief criticism being directed at the lack of detail of the finance for the scheme. It was finally resolved on the voices—“ That this meeting is satisfied that the information laid before it is not adequate to warrant the granting of the powers asked for in the Bill.” It was also resolved that in any agreement for an improved shipping service, New Plymouth must be included in the main port list, in view of Taranaki's large export of dairy produce.