STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 19

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Wsskly Stack Salat. Monthly (contlnuid). Bura.ide, WedneM.j., Duiltro(m WeoM * Addington, Wednesdays. a _ Walareka Railway Juno- «_ Uou, Tuesday!. Woodlands, 3rd W. - J nesaay. Fortnightly. Hilton, 2nd Tuesday. Ashburton, Tuesdays, Thombury, Ist Friday. Heriot, Thursdays. Otaufcau. 2nd Wednta* Thursdays. *®y* ffyndhatn, Thursday*. Riversdale, 3rd Friday, Clinton, Thursdays. Waikaka, last Friday. Balolutha, Fridays. Uydsvalt, last Friday More, Tuesdays. Ninthly Periodically as Edendalo. Ist Monday. Advertiaad. Palmerston, 4tb Thurs- latnsden. Mossburn, day. Orepukj, Waimahaka, Winton, 4l» Tuesday. Waikoaottl. River* Mataura, Ist 'JTiursday. ton, Ngapara, and Tokanui, 4th Monday*. Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO. After several days of pleasant weather the week-end in Otago saw rain, with suow on the higher ranges in the Central, but with no great change in temperature, and it is at present satisfying to all, except those who are late with their harvesting. At both Balclutha and Clinton stock sales the sheep entries were on the small sideband prices were easier, store lambs being back Is per head. The yarding at the Clutha totalled some 4000, chiefly medium to old ewes, which were dull of sale. At Clinton about 2500 sheep were penned, two-tooth ewes making 40s, six and eight-tooths 28s to 30s, failing to 20s, old 12s to 15s, ewe lambs 27s 6d, medium rape sorts 22s 3d, poor wethers lia to 20s. BURNSIDE MARKET. Another good entry of fat sheep at Burnside was submitted to the usual buyers. The quality for the most part was good, heavy sheep being evident, while the proportion of fair to prime ewes was not small. A “ sticky ” sale ensued, later sales being the worst of a series which was marked in the arly stages by a decline of Is to 2s per head on prime heavy wethers, with ewes unchanged. All classes eased ere the close of tne sale, butchers' wether mutton making around 51d per lb. Few light prime wethers were penned. Fat sheep comprised 3066 (3500 last week). The fat lambs totalled 1274 (600 last week). Some very nice pennings of heavy lambs were offered, and sold well at up to 32s 3d and at recent rates, but unfinished aorta were included, the best of them making 20a 3d to* 23a 6d. Lamb

made up to 9£d for best light prime quality. Some 2G6 fat rattle (350 last week) were yarded, their quality in many instances being good. Best prime cattle made up to 42s per 1001 b, or about 15s per head rise on the previous week’s prices. Tfte store cattle entered were not a very prepossessing lot, being mostly medium cows and oddments. The few medium three-year-old steers penned made to £8 ss, other classes being rather cheaper than a week ago. About 160 fat pigs sold at slightly lower rates than at the previous sale, baconers making to B£d, and porkers (unchanged) to 94d per lb. Store sorts unchanged. NORTH ISLAND STORE STOCK VALUES. Prices generally in the North Island for store stock show little change except where more or less drought conditions have been experienced, and here it is the medium grades which suffer. In the Auckland province, at Westfield market, beef is unchanged at up to 30s per 1001 b for choice quality, forward steers £6 to £7 15s, fair wethers 21s to 25s 6d. In the Wairarapa extra forward bullocks made £7 15s to £9, fair three-and-a-half-year-old station steers £5 10s to £6 3s, extra year-and-a-half steers £4 5s to £4 19s, good weaner steers £2 2s. In the Wanganui - Feilding areas two-tooth wethers made 20s 9d to 235, culls 15s 6d, woolly wether lambs 13s to 16s 3d, good forward three-year-old steers to £7 ss. In the Wellington province two and a-half year old steers made £4 to £5 ss, 'year-and-a-half £2 10s to £3 ss, two and fourtooth wethers 19s to 245, medium lambs 9s 6d, year and a-half station steers £2 3s to £2 10s, three-year-olds £5 5s to £6 6a. In Hawke’s Bay good two-tooth wethers made 17s 6d to 18s 3d, medium 15s, very fair lambs Us to 15s, fair four and five-year-old breeding ewes 17s to 18s. Generally prices w’ere low and buyers scarce, and many lots were not sold, while cattle feed is at a premium. STOCK NOTES. The excellent present and future prospects of stock feed in Otago are reflected in the values realised for store sheep, cattle, and breeding ewes in the country generally. Although fat sheep prices are inclined to be “ sticky," and in favour of buyers in respect at least to local sales, graziers seem loth to keep off the market. Certainly wool prospects are not so bad, but there is not much margin between prices for stores and fats at present. With breeding ewes it is different, as in

ordinary circumstances one may anticipate a lamb in addition to the wool. Fat cattle have been coming in to the Burnside metropolitan market in very fair numbers of late, while the quality in many cases is satisfactory, and values very level. In consequence well-grown, well-bred steers, both young and mature, have attention, and there seems good reason to expect a paucity of this class in the not-distant future. The entire herd of 64 Middle White pigs belonging to Messrs Aplin and Barrett, of Somerset, England, realised an average of £SO. The boar Rockbeare Gunner, a three year-old, made top price, 150gns. At the Hereford Herd Book Society’s show and sale of Herefords 125 bulls made the satisfactory average of £42 10s a piece. The tcyi price of 250gns was obtained for one of the King’s consignment. At the sale of Mr W. J. Chynoweth's Jersey herd at Hamilton on the 21st ult. 50 cows averaged £6B and 18 heifers £SO 10s. The highest price was 280gns for the heifer Otterburn Noble Queen. The highest-priced cow made 250gns, this being paid for Marshlands Stylish Princess. Two bulls made respectively 175gns and 200gns. The council of the Royal Agricultural Society at a meeting held last week, decided that the next Royal Show should ba held at Auckland on November 16, 17, and 18, provided the Auckland City Council giants a half-holiday for People’s Day. Failing this, the third Royal Show is to be held in Palmerston North on the usual dates of the Manawatu A. and P. Society. The shorthorn bull Millhills Regalia, sold at Perth, Scotland, in 1924 for 2200 guineas, is to go to Ireland. He is by Cupbearer of Collynie, and his dam was M. Rothes Queen 11. Four of his bull progeny sold for an average of £409 10s, and his prize group of three at Perth in February averaged £sll. Mr J. Johnston, Millantae, Scotland, whose cow M. Mayflower was champion at the London Dairy Show, has sold her bull calf, by Grange Budget, to a breeder at Costa Rica, Central America, for a high price. It is said that the purchase was made by cable on the appearance of the cow in an illustrated journal. Of 415 cattle taken to Perth from Broome by the motor ship Centaur 125 have died from tick fever (states the Australasian). Ninety-six deaths occurred before unloading. The Minister of Agriculture of West Australia said that a suggestion had been made some time ago for united action in Queensland, New South Wales, and Western Australia in conjunction with the Federal Ministry in the Northern Territory, to combat the pest, but the question had been deferred until the next conference of State Ministers of Agriculture in Brisbane. At that conference it is hoped a plan would he devised by which concerted action would be taken to eradicate tick. A recent mortality resulting in the deaths of nine pigs in Taranaki, investigated by the live stock division, and found due to excess of salt entering the feed, points (says the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture) to the necessity of warning pig-breeders of the extreme susceptibility of the pig to the action of salt. The pigs in question were whey-fed. A specimen of the whey was analysed by the department's chemist and found to contain salt to the extent of 2.560 z per gallon. The symptoms shown by pigs affected by ingestion of excess of salt come on suddenly, and indicate disturbance of the nervous system. The animals show loss of co-ordination in movement, staggering about, and frequently falling over on the side and struggling. There is also apparent blindness. Eventually complete loss of power occurs in the hind legs, followed by death. Post mortem examination reveals inflammation of the lining membrance of the stomach and intestines. Treatment of affected pigs is practically hopeless. In prevention of the trouble care must be taken to exclude from the swill anything which is likely to contain salt in excessive quantity. ROYAL OF ENGLAND SHOW. The Royal of England Agricultural Society’s Show will be held this year at Reading, opening on July 6 (says the Agricultural Weekly). Senor Carlos L. Pereyra Iraola has been appointed to judge the Hereford classes in that exhibition. This gentleman is a son of Dr Leonardo Pereyra Iraola, the prominent Argentine cattle breeder, and is considered one of the best judges of the Hereford breed in that country. STUD MERINOS AND BORDERS. A small but important shipment of ten stud merino ewes and one stud ram is being made by Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Wellington, to a little-known French possession in the Pacific, viz., Rapa Island, about 900 miles from Papeete (says an exchange.) Very few sheep are at present on the island, but it is thought that its climatic conditions and class of native grasses should prove eminently suitable for the breeding of merinos. The shipment is going forward by the Tahiti to Papeete, and hence by auxiliary schooner to Rapa. The sheep were secured from the well-known breeder, Mr G. Rudd, of Benopai Station, Blenheim, and are described as splendid types of the strong combing merino breed. A valuable consignment of stud stock was sent forward by the Manuka recently to the order of a Victorian studmaster by Mr T. O’Connor, of Underwood, and comprised 100 Border Leicester stud ram lambs from the flocks of Mr H. Ruddenklau. of Waimntc, South Canterbury, and Mr W. G. Lindsay, of Drummond, Southland. CATTLE DEVELOPMENTS. Lecturing upon the development of breeding in beef cattle, Dr S. F. Finlay, B.V.Sc., at the opening of the Sydney Royal Agricultural Show made some pertinent remarks, which, although made to Australian cattle breeders, should appeal also to New Zealanders who have followed the tendency of the times for smaller joints. The doctor recently visited America, Europe, and England, and wo# engaged by the society to endeavour to stimulate interest in the breeding of better cattle, etc. In these columns, from time to time, it has been

pointed out that the day of the ungainly big bullock of uncertain age has petered out, and that graziers in their owu interests would do well to note which wav the wind was blowing, and trim their sails accordingly. During the course of his remarks, the doctor said that the state of the cattle industry in Australia was a serious matter to all concerned. At present the production of cattle in this country was far in excess of the local demand, and, therefore, breeding to a great extent had been dictated by export considerations. To his mind the points that must be considered, and, if possible rectified, were: —(1) Our animals were too large and coarse; (2) Refrigeration was not entirely suitable for meat transportation; and (3) The lack of control of export, rough dressing of beef, dirty carcases, and insufficient care in the preparation for home or other markets. The Argentine specialised in these matters. and shipped their beef chilled, and could deliver it in Great Britain, Europe, or Northern America—all great meateating countries—in a much shorter period than could Australia. The lecturer wention to say that there were hopes that ail export control Act might shortly be introduced into the Commonwealth, which would not only benefit the consumer, but the breeder as well. It was predicted that the price of beef cattle would reach its peak within the next eight years, and then probably come down considerabily owing to overproduction by the great beef-growing countries of the world; therefore, Australian cattle-breeders should plan their future operations accordingly. The day of the big joint at table had gone. Too much money was spent today on luxuries, and, therefore, the housewife or flat-dweller only ordered the smallest joint, without fat, necessary for one meal. This held good in America, Europe, and Great Britain, and also to a growing extent here in Australia, ancl no economist ever expected anything in the future but these small cuts of meat. The animals being produced in Australia were not in many instances suitable for the markets of the world to-day. It would be difficult to radically change the feed for cattle in this country, but what breeders should aim at was the small, neat, plump animals that would come to maturity at between two or three years of age. The doctor pointed out that colour meant a great deal in breeding. White cattle, it had been found, were not so productive in a large number of cases as others, and the best coloured cattle for Australia were probably those of the deep-red type. He suggested that the Australian Meat Council should undertake experimental crossing of the ordinary Shorthorn with the Indian zebu, for breeding in Queensland and other tropical parts of the Commonwealth, as the zebu was impervious to the ordinary flics and buffalo flies so troublesome to cattle in tropical parts of the world. Even an eighth of zebu blood afforded a considerable amount of resistance to tick. This was a most important question, as the future of beef production lay in the tropics, particularly South America. Central Africa, Rhodesia, Indo-China, Abyssinia, and the big islands north of Australia. FARM DAIRY INSTRUCTION. In the April number of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture the system of dairy instruction is explained by the dairy division. The growing popularity of the farm dairy instruction system is well demonstrated by the fact that 38 of these instructors are now operating in various parts of the Dominion. The number of dairy farms under their supervision is over 30,000, producing approximately 60 per eent.*of the butter-fat made into butter and cheese. Wherever farm dairy instructors have been operating for some .time a very decided improvement in the quality of the milk or cream supply has been noticeable. The farmers are quick to recognise the benefits of the advice and assistance given by these officers, and repeatedly, when trouble with the supply arises, send for the instructor in order to obtain his help in locating the cause of the difficulty. In the past the work of farm dairy instruction has been undertaken by the ordinary instructional staff of the dairy division, but during the busy season when this work is most effective the instructors’ time is very fully occupied in connection with the factories, etc. Each year, however, a number of dairies have been visited, and assistance and instruction given in the better care of the milk or cream. The conditions found on many of the farms visited have brought home very forcibly the urgent need of more constant supervision, which can only be obtained by the appointment of an officer who is able to devote the whole of his time to this work. The appointment of a farm dairy instructor entails no very heavy expense to the dairy company or companies concerned. We estimate that one officer can undertake this work in connection with from 500 to 700 farms. A eoramon practice is for a number of dairy companies to combine in order that the requisite number of farms may be available. In districts where the factories are situated fairly close to each other this grouping system can be worked very satisfactorily. * The salary usually paid to larm dairy instructors is £320 per annum, and where 500 or more farms are under the officer’s supervision the Department of Agriculture has assisted the dairy companies to the extent of providing half the salary, or £l6O per year. Where the number of farms falls below 500 the department has provided a proportionate subsidy. For example, if the instructor were serving only 250 farms the department’s contribution W’ould be £BO. ( In addition to their proportion of the salary the dairy companies have to find all the instructor’s travelling and locomotion expenses. We estimate these at about £2OO per year, and this amount added to that of the officer’s salary of £320 gives a total annual expenditure of £520. Deducting the departmental quota of £l6O, the net cost of a farm dairy instructor’s services to each dairy company or group of dairy companies having 500 or more suppliers would be £360 per year. This must be regarded as a remarkably Bmall expenditure per milk or cream sup-

plier in proportioi to the services rendered.

Where a number of factories are grouped together the proportion of each dairy company’s contribution to the total expenses is usually worked out on the basis of the amount of butter-fat Blipplied to eacli company. Farm dairy instructors are appointed by the Department of Agriculture, so that they have official standing. The department pays the officer’s salary in full, the dairy company or group of companies undertaking to repay to the department each month their due proportion. The companies find directly all expenses of travelling and locomotion. A few companies employing farm dairy instructors have found it convenient to arrange with the officer to provide his own motor car and travelling expenses for a lump sum, say, around £2OO per annum. Under this system the companies know exactly what the annual expenditure will be. It is generally conceded, however, that the best plan in the long run is for the companies to provide the motor car and expenses. In the event of any dairy company or group of companies considering the adoption of this service and desiring advice arrangements will be gladly made for an officer of the dairy division to attend any meeting and give full information or other assistance in furthering the movement.