STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 13

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Sarofcide, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays ffaiareka Hail way J motion, Tuesday*. Fortnlghtly. filvcradale, Friday* Wallacetown, Tuesday*. Ashturtoo, Tuesday*. Herlot, Thursdays. Wintoa, Thursday«. Wyndham, Thursday*. Clinton, Thursday*. Baiclutha, Friday*. Sore, Tuesday*. Monthly. Edendule, Ist Monday, t'almereton, 4th Thursday. Wintoa, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday fokanui, 4th Monday.

Mnnthly (continued!. buutroon, 3a& Wedn«* day. Woodland*, 3rd Wed nesday. Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thorabury, Ist Friday. Dnntroon, 2nd Wedne# day. Otautau, 2nd Wedne*day. Hiversdale, 3rd Friday. Waikuka, last Frida*. Olydevale, last Tuesday. Periodically a* Advertised. l.utußdcn, Moss!,urn Orepuki, Waimuhaka, Walkcoaitl, Riverton, Ngaparri, and l'rage Central Sale*

OTAGO. The weather has for the most part been mild, but some parts of the district have experienced a foretaste of winter. Rain showers and mild weather have improved the pastures. BURNSIDE MARKET. There was an exceptionally large yarding of fat cattle at Burnside on Wednesday, the entry totalling 379 head, as compared with 320 at the previous sale. On the whole, the quality was decidedly good. The number of extra prime bullocks forward was greater than usual, and a large portion of the entry consisted of prime steers and heifers from Central Otago and Southland. Owing to the large entry, prices were somewhat easier. Extra heavy bullocks realised 33s per 1001 b, lig'ht bullocks 32s 6d, prime heifers 255, and cows and light heifers from 18s 6d to 20s. There was again a large entry of store cattle, the yarding numbering about 360 bead, as compared with about 350 last week. The entry was made up chiefly of medium-weight cows and heifers, with nothing of outstanding quality. The demand w'as not very keen, and prices generally showed a decline from the rates realised a w’eek previously. Best cows fetched up to £6, steers to £7, and aged cows from £1 to £2 30s. There were about 40 dairy cows forward —a slight inc!ease on (he nur/iber offered last week. The entry included several animals of good quality, for which competition was fairly keen. Best cows realised up to £lO 10s, heifers from £8 to £9, and aged cows from £3 to £4. The entry of fat sheen was not quite, equal to that of last week, totalling 2755, as compared with 2889 at the previous sale. There were several pens of well-finished wethers and a large proportion of ewes. Anything suitable for export was in good demand, and for these sorts prices were firm at last week’s rates, but heavy-weights were a shade easier. Extra heavy wethers realised from 6j<Lto 6Jd per lb. prime light wethers 7d, extra prime ewes sd, and aged ewes 4ci to 4gd. x There were about 959 fat lambs forward —an increase of about 250 as compared with last week’s entrv. The quality was better than usual. Export buvers and butchers competed keenly for all suitable lines, and as a result prices showed an advance of several shillings per head on last week’s rates. Prime lambs brought from, lOd to 10jd per lb, and medium cfuality 91,<1. There was a medium yarding of pigs, all classes of’ which were represented. Competition was good, and prime sorts showed an advance of about 5s per head. t NORTH OTAGO SHOW. The prize-winners for sheep at the show last week were:—Three Down Crossbred Wethers (weight and quality to be considered) —A. Gardiner 1 and 2, J. M. Smith, ;jun. 3. Three Longwool Crossbred Wethers (weight and quality to ho considered) —A. Gardiner 1 and 2, L. Soilness 3. Three Longwool Crossbred One-shear Sheep (weight, quality, and wool to be

considered) —A. Gardiner 1 and 3, J. M. •Smith, jun. 2. Three Down Crossbred One-shear Sheep (weight, quality, and wool to be considered) —A. Gardiner 1 and 2, George Simpson 3. Three Sheep Most Suitable for Frozen Meat Trade; not to exceed' 1301 b live weight (value of wool and mutton to be taken into consideration) —George Simpson 1, A. Gardiner 2 and 3. Three Corriedale Wethers, any weight (bred by exhibitor) —N. Hayes 1 and 2. Three Longwool Crossbred Lambs, any weight—,j. hf. Smith, jun. 1, 2, and 3. Tnree Down Cross Lambs, any weight— A. Gardiner 1, J. M. Smith, jun. 2, L. Soulless 3. Three Down Crossbred Lambs, not to exceed 781 b live weight—J. M. Smith, jun. 1, A. Gardiner 2 NOT ES. Another 2009-gallon dairy Shorthorn is Sowerby Doris, the property of Mr T. Stuart, New Hall, Sowerby, near Garstang, which has given 2.o,(X)7jib of milk in 297 days since calving in May last. this cow was second last year in the Dairy Shorthorn Association’s record, when she gave 19,0661 b of milk. The monthly sale was held at Balfour yards on Thursday. The yarding comprised about 700 sheep, and a good sale resulted, everything being cleared under the hammer. Fat wethers realised 32s 6d to 34s 3d. and a very fine pen of prime la,mbs made 355. Store wethers realised 27s 7d, and young breeding ewes up to 35s 9d. The Hen. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, in opening the North Otago Show, said he had opened the first North Otago Winter Show and was glad to open the second. He referred to the importance of North Otago, and 'congratulated North Otago on the improved price of wool. This should carry on next voar. It was owing to the fine wools of North Otago that these good prices were due. The importation of fine pedigree sheep would later be reflected in the flocks. _ ~ Yestev’s Limited had 3000 cattle on the road recently from Northern Territory for Queensland markets. All the bores along the stock route from Newcastle to Anthony s Lagoon were reported out of commission, ana no water was available at the bores for travelling stock. Large numbers of cattle were also moving towards Wyndham Meat Works, totalling probably 15,0 W. Several thousand head of stock were moving south to Adelaide from northern areas, and serious mortality occurred m several mobs passing between -Wycliffe and layior s Crossing. , „ . The committee of the North Otago A. and P Association made a wise step (says the Oamaru Mail) when they included a class for the Corriedale sheep m their schedule. This breed of sheep is now known all the world over as New Zealand s dual-purpose sheep. *lhe exhibits at the show, bred by Air N. Hayes, bear out the claim that they are sheep of dual purpose—they had splendid carcases and wool ol 30 s quality. They are not only dual-purpose sheep (that is, providing wool and meat at the same time), but have a characteristic which no other imported breed has namely, adaptability. They thrive equally well in the high country of the Lpper \\ aitala as in the paddocks of the coast of Canterbury and North Otago. For rearing a highgrade fat lamb (when crossed with the Leicester) the Corriedale ewe lias no equal, at the same time giving a splendid fleece of high-quality wool. . An American contributor raises the question of the soundness of tlie commonly accepted view of so-called contagious aborlion in cows. Ho argues along the lines that nutrition is the deciding factor, and that abortion is generally due to lack ot essential mineral constituents in the ration. Certainly mineral matter plays a greater, part in animal nutrition and well-being than was recogaiised until comparatively lecent years. Suitable nutrition means health and constitution, and these in turn mean greater resistance to disease, and while one may not follow him all uio way, it must be recognised that there are possibilities in the theory. There is a disposition to look upon grassland farming as an easy matter for I he amateur, and hardly to be classed as requiring any skill or initiative. An article in the current issue of the Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture by Dr Ruston and Air Cheveley, who describe investigations into the cost of grazing on Yorkshire farms, would dispel this fallacy. It shows that there is just as much skill in the management of pasture land as of arable—indeed, from some points of view it might be said that there is more; failure with arable land is at once patent in the crop. W ith a pasture such failure is not, so obvious. “ Drink milk and grow tall ” is stated to be the new slogan in Japan. The Government, convinced that greater consumption of milk and dairy products will add to the strength and stature of its people, is said to be arranging large importations of dairy cattle from the United States of America and Canada. Before Sheriff Baillie, at Jedburgh, England, James Henry Mauchlen, farmer, Blakelaw, Kelso, and William Moir, farmer, Thornhill, Stirling, pleaded guilty of a contravention of “ The Animals Anaesthetic Act, 1919.” The charge was that at Blakelaw they dishorned nino stirks, each of which was over one month old, without having first administered an anaesthetic. Ail agent said Moir accepted the sole responsibility. He was an expert in dishorning cattle, and had done thousands in the ordinary way, and he did Mauchlen’s stirks because he was in the neighbourhood. For the last four years Moir’s son had been doing the work, and, in consequence, the father was not acquainted with the act in question, as he would otherwise have been. He understood, too, that the officer of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society had expressed himself satisfied that Mauchlen’s stirks were operated upon in a skilful way, that bleeding stopped within 10 minutes, and that the" cattle were feeding withm 15 minutes. The sheriff snic! the practice inferred to in the charge must be stopped, and he lined Mauchlen £2 5s and Moir £4 10s. Mr H. D Connacher, manager of Vestey’s meat works at Darwin, has received inquiries from all over Australia asking when the meat works will reopen. He has issued a circular stating that ihe matter is not under liis control, the first step being for the Government lo provide efficient rail and wharf facilities, without which the meat works or any other industry was impossible. “ There has been,” he continues, “ too much talk but no deeds, and unless something is done in the immediate future it will be too late to open the works in 1925. It would to foolish to re-

open until adequato facilities for economical working are provided. The people of Australia surely do not realise that the prolonged delay in putting the Northern Territory on a businesslike basis is breaking physically and financially the few inhabitants now left. If the meat industry is kept going the money it will pour at nually into this country will attract people to test our sheep, cotton, peanuts, and other industries. No Genie of the Lamp will help solve the problem. We must do it with brain and brawn. In the meantime the country is steadily slipping back, and (here is not much farther for it to slip.” CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. Some excitement was caused early in the week in the oat market by a report that it was intended by the Government to remove the duty on imported oats, which would permit Canadians to come in at 3s 8d per. bushel. The fact that the rumour lias subsided during the past two days, indicates that the report was kite-flyer. Transactions in the local market have quietened during the week, and some sales have been made at ss, f.0.b., s.i., for prompt delivery, and up to 5s 3d for June delivery. It is understood that there lias been some difficulty in the shipping arrangements of the Canadians, and the arrival of most of the consignments will be delayed until early in August. This report, however, n:av be inspired. In the meantime there is no sign of an increase in local supplies. Chat! is firm, and a fair quantity has been going from the Ashburton district to the llunedin market, it being more profitable than the Auckland market The Kaitan gat a is taking a shipment to Auckland, the first this season, from Lyttelton. Quotations are £6, at country stations. Potatoes took a spurt during the week, and up to £5 IC3, on trucks, was paid, but the flutter did not last. To-day’s local quotations to farmers arc £5 ss. The W’ingatui left to-day with supplies for Auckland. Ryegrass has firmed up during the week, and sales of ‘27-281b seed improved by 3d per bushel, the f.0.b., s.i. price being 83 _3d. Peas showed temporary improvement, but are again quiet, up to 6s 2d to farmers being the quotation. The Wuiko Haiti is taking a shipment of linseed to Melbourne.