STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3765, 11 May 1926, Page 19

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

—ZS WMkly Gttck Sales. Monthly (continued). Burnside, Wednesdays. Ountram, 2nd Wedneel Addington, Wednesdays. a a - Walareka Bailway Juno- , tlf _ tion, Tuesday.. ’ ** Milton, 2nd Tuesday. llTeredale, Fridays, m. * Wallaoetowu, Tuesu.ys. ®* ,four ’ 3rd Thnrß<U J* Aahbunon, Tuesdays. Thornbury, Ist Friday, * Heriot, Thursdays. Otautau. 2nd WednaoWinton, Thursdays. Wyndhtm, Thursday*. Riversdale, 3rd Friday. Clinton, Thursdays. VPtikaka, last Friday. Balolutha, Fridays. Ciydovalt, last Friday Gore, Tuesdays. Ninthly. '"'a.TJuL “ Edendale, Ist Mcndsy. Mv.rtl.id, Palmerston, 4tb 'fburs- Mtnsden, Mossburn, day. Orepuki. Waimahaka, Winton, 4ta Tuesday. Waikouotti. BiverMataura, Ist lliursday. ton. Ngapara, and Tokanul, 4bh Monday. Otago Central Salon. OTAGO. Seasonable weather was experienced last week in Otago, with such wind as there was of a temperature of snow on the mountains in the Central. Still there is ample rough feed about, with stock in good condition COUNTRY SALES. Values generally at the various stock sales in Otago were slightly easier than earlier in the month. At Palmerston some 1500 sheep and a few cattle were yarded. Good two-tooth wethers made 23s fid, fat 25s fid to 26s fid, wether lambs lfis 3d to 17s Id, fullmouth and failing ewes 10s to 225, medium two-tooth wethers 19s 4d, ond mixed wethers 27s 3d. Station three-year-old to

four-year-old steers sold at £9 5s to £ll Is, good year-aud-a-half steers £4 5s to £5 16s, and weaner calves £3. Some 11,000 sheep were'penned at the sales in Central Otago, prices being easier by Is to 2s. At Oturehua about 1500 sheep were yarded, station two-tooth ewes making 27s 9d and the two-tooth wethers 20s 9d, ordinary 19s to 225, forward wether lambs 18s 6d to 20s 7d, medium lfis, cull ewe lambs 17s 3d to 17s 9d, medium 20s 3d, mixed sexes 18s to 21s, good ewes (not guaranteed) 21s 3d, full and failing 6s to 18s fid, and sound mouths 18s 9d to 24s 9d. v At Waipiata about 8000 sheep were forward. Station sound-mouth ewes made lfis 7d, 19s fid, 22s 9d, up to 29s Id, wethers 18s 9d to 21s 3d, mixed lambs 19s Id to 20s fid, good two-tooth ewes 27s 3d to 32s 9d, forward wethers 24s fid, ewe lambs 245, 20s, 27s 3d, and wether lambs 19s. At Middlemaroh prices were much on a par with those at other centres. At Balclutha an entry of some 2500 sheep and 450 good sorts of cattle met with capital competition. Two-tooth wethers made 27s Id, forward lambs 23s Id to 238 7d, mixed 20s, small 13s 2d to 14s 9d, ewes (not guaranteed) 22s sd, station six and eight-tooth ewes 24s fid, full and failing mouths 13s 2d to 13s 7d, mixed wethers 21s, and good sorts up to 30c. The cattle were a feature of the Clutha sale, forwar.l well-bred three to four-year-old bullocks making £l2 5s to £l4 11s, three-year-olds £9 5s to £lO os, two-and-a-half*year-olds £5 lfis to £7, extra £8 to £8 10s, speyed cows to £7, speyed heifers £4 5s to £7 15s, station cows £3 7s fid, and their calves to £2 Is.

BURNSIDE MARKET. An entry of 2597 fat sheep at Burnside (3066 the previous week) proved too nrany for the demand, and prices again eased. The quality was for the most very fair to prime, although many pennings of ewes were lacking in finish. Exporters were more or less inactive, except for light half-bred wethers (24s 3d to 265) and light-medium ewes (lfis to 18s 6d). Heavy wethers made last sale’s lowest rates to easier, while ewes generally were 2s lower than at the previous sale, and in places prices “sagged" badly. Graziers secured some reasonable pennings of big crossbred wethers at around 325. Butchers’ wethers may be quoted as making up to 3d per lb, and freezing wethers to 6d per lb. Some 500 fat lambs of fair to prime heavy quality were cleared up at 9Jd per lb for medium weights. About 500 fine close-woolled station wethers jn thin to medium condition made 8s to 15s. The yarding of 353 fat cattle was of a mixed description. Some very choice bullocks from the south were listed, but cows and heifers ranging from fair to prime quality were in large proportion. The early sales were the best of the series, and generally beef was cheaper by 15s to 20s per head, cows easing possibly more than this amount. Prime ox beef realised up to 40s per 1001 b. Some 300 store cattle, chiefly good sorts of cows, were yarded. About a dozen well-conditioned mediui two-and-a-half-year-old steers were also included. The latter made from £6 5s to £8 under slowbidding. Best cows sold fairly well, but plain cattle were easier. An entry of 110 fat pigs and 35 stores made last sale’s rates, with good bidding for the latter class. Porkers made to 9Adj and baconers to c \i per lb. x- STOCK NOTES. There is a quietness in the demand for store stock at present in Otago, which is natural enough despite the wealth of rough feed everywhere and the capital outlook for good root crops. Jt is wintry, while export buying of mutton and lamb seems to have slowed down. Anyway, values of fat sheep have been receding at Burnside metropolitan market for some weeks now. There is the strike at Home, too —a matter which has the reverse of a stimulating effect on the markets, no matter whether here or abroad. Country sales also feel the lack of enterprise, with the result that medium stock is not moving off as readily as usual. A South American exchange reports that sheep farmers in the Falkland Islands have decided to boij down the bulk of their surplus sheep this year. Only about 10.000 will be sent to Patagonia for freezing. One of the worst seasons for many years is being experienced by graziers at Ararat (states a Victorian weekly). Hand feeding has been the practice for months, and one pastoralist alone has used 700 bags of oats for this purpose. It is feared that the percentage of lambs will be small in most cases. A Brisbane message says that owing to the drought in the Winton district ewes just off the shears sold as low as Is fid each, while a selector at Longreach gave away 800 unshorn weaners, which were too weak to travel to an agistment, for which transportation cost Is a head. Mr Andrew Spence, Commieston. Montrose. the well-known British Friesian breeder, has for the third year in succession won the British Friesian Cattle Society’s Qup for highest milk records (says an exchange). Although the average this year is 34gal short of last year’s record, still Mr Spence’s average of 1385.5 gallons is a credit to himself as well as to this famous breed. The average butterfat percentage for the Commieston herd was 3.65. "7 In the flock of Dorset Horns belonging to Mr Lumbard. Morcambelake. West Dorset, three ewes have had triplets at their first lambing; one ewe had four lambs. six had triplets, and with four exceptions the remaining ewes had twin lambs. In all, 36 ewes had a total of 76 lambs. , At the annual meeting of the South Down Sheep Society at Brighton, England, the annual report stated that orders have been placed for between 200 and 300 liead, to be shipped to New Zealand «m----mediatly the embargo is lifted. It was agreed that the levy on all sales shall be 2d in the £, in order to allow the Advertising Committee more finances for a wider progaganda. In the course of a lecture delivered before the British Cold Storage Association in March, Dr T. Moran, a refrigeration expert, is reported to have said frozen beef was being gradually pushed out of the English market by the chilled article. He thought that unless a better refrigerated product could be sent the future of the Australian beef trade with Britain was gloomy. It needed an improvement which could be achieved either by prolonging the life of the chilled carcase, or discovering some freezing or thawing process which would leave the muscle substance unaltered, and obtain the total elimination of “drip.” One of the largest sheep sales ever conducted in southern New South Wales was held at Wagga the other day. when 53,015 sheep were yarded. Bidding opened quietly owing to buyers expecting a fall in price on account of the large offerine6 but later on good prices were the rule. The demand for good quality merino and comeback sheep were steady, the top prices reaching 38s. The bidding for store sheep was from 3s to 2s lower than at the previous sale. The value of the sheep which changed hands was estimated to be £75,000. Live cattle fnm the Argentine are now being sent to Zeebrugge, where they are slaughtered and the meat rushed across to London, where it is sold within 24 hours after slaughter. It is stated that it looks as fresh and is quite as good as the home killed beef, and practically realises the same price as the English article. The superintendent of the Southfield meat market, referring to the project on the occasion of the first shipment that arrived in London, said: “It is a remarkable feat of enterprise. The fresh Argentine meat can now arrive in London more quickly than Scotch meat out of Aberdeen. It is in excellent condition—as good, at least, as Scotch beef. From 60 to 100 beasts are now being slaughtered daily in Zeebrugge, and being sent by train-ferry to England. They cannot be shipped alive to England,

of course, as this is forbidden by the Ministry of A. rieulture." CLYDESDALES IN SCOTLAND. A buyer of Clydesdale horses from Australia, and another from New Zealand, both say they have been disappointed with the stock ill Scotland (reports an English journal). The New Zealand farmer writes that he would like to take a Clydesdale stallion back with him, but that it is the one biggest surprise he had since coming here to find how few good coloured, weighty draught colts are for sale. He asserts that there has been too much in-breeding and developing of tine bones, silky hair, etc., with the result that in far too many cases something like a “ vanner " has been produced, and not a heavy draught horse. The Australian pastoralist from Victoria is equally emphatic, and has almost decided to give up the idea of taking the Clydesdale breed. He says he is favourably impressed with the Shires which he saw in England. Thpy had most of the desirable points of a typical draught horce, and although he was at first bent on taking Clydesdales, lie is now going back to have a further survey of the English breed, holding that they are more suited for the production of a heavy draught type than the modern Clydesdale. These opinions are worthy of consideration. EXPORT OF STUD STOCK. By the Tahiti, which left Wellington early in the month, Messrs Murray, Roberts, and Co. shipped for San Francisco a valuable consignment of Romney sheep, comprising two stud rams and 10 stud ewes. These sheep were carefully selected from the Hawke’s P .y and Wairarapa districts, and are extremely forward for one-shear animals. There has been a fair amount of inquiry from the Pacific Coast for this class of dual-purpose sheep, and this is interpreted as indicating that American breeders are anxious to improve their flocks by selecting the best animals that can be procured. By the s.s. Marama, which sailed from Wellington last Friday week, Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. (Limited) shipped seven head of Friesian cattle to breeders in New South Wales and Tasmania. Five of these were heifers speda”y selected for Mr John Brown, of Newcastle, who has now imported from Dominion herds some 15 head of particularly well-bred and outstanding types, including quite a number of champions and prize-winners. is a daughter of the Empire Champion producer, Alcartra Clothilde Pietje, a cow which produced in the one season 11451 b butter-fat. The present shipment of heifers combine the blood of the three great sires, Dominion Domino Mercedes (champion at the.recent Stratford Show), Dominion Big Patch (full brother to the first royal champion bull), and Dominion Kruger de Kol {champion bull at the 1919 Manawatu Show). A daughter of Dominion Domino Mercedes was a first prize winner for Mr Brown at the recent Sydney Royal Show. All five heifers were bred in the Glen Iris stud of Mr R. R. Pearson, Manawatu. The other two head were to Tasmania. It is many years since New Zealand cattle have been despatched to that island, but the breeders there, being of the opinion that a new infusion of blood- was required, forwarded a commission to the Dominion to have selected two of the best young animals that could be found in the country. The choice of a bull fell on Mr T. E. Eades's Plantation Laddie de Kol. This bull was first at Dunedin, Gore, and Wyndham Shows as a yearling, and also won the special prize at the Gore Show for the best type of dairy bull of any breed. At the Southland Show Ins dam won first in her class, his grand-dam was returned as champion, and his sire, Bainfield Laddie de Kol, was awarded his twelfth championship. His dam Maid of Waverley secured third place in the New Zealand Derby last year, and in the January tests was returned at the head of the list for the Dominion with a production of 851 b butter-fat. Accompanying this fine young bull is the rising two-year-old heifer Glen Iris Dolly Gray. A 1 though she has not been shown, this heiter is considered one of the best types in the Dominion, and should make a name tor herself as a producer. Her dam Olen Iris Maori Girl is full sister to Heather Lady, which produced 20,33 /lb milk in the season, and was last year exported to the Argentine. The sire of the heifer is the noted bull Dominion Big Patch. THE SEASON IN AUSTRALIA. The splendid rains recorded in New South Wales during the s.cond half ot March came just at the right time for the agricultural industry (says lne I astorial Review). Poetically the whole of the wheat belt and the coastal maize areas received a thorough soaking, mm three to four inches being recorded in most districts. In parts of t’ central west the falls were even heavier, and floods occurred, though the damage caused was not great on the whole, and is generally outweighed by the all-round benefit attendant on good autumn rains. Not the least of the latter is that the promotion of weed germination will allow a clean seed bed being obtained. Where possible farmers are lightlv working fallows, with the dual object of destroying foreign growth and conserving moisture. The other States did not share in the March rains to the same extent as New South Wales. Victoria was best off, the country lying east of the line joining Mildura to Melbourne receiving fair to adequate falls. Ginnslaml and the northeastern and northern districts got a good soaking for the most part, but in no ease a surplus of moisture. W T est of the beforementioned line the falls r»etered out. the mean for the Wiminera being under quarter of an inch, and for the western district but little more. Early April however witnessed good falls in the north of Victoria, including much of the previously dry Mallee country. The falls in the south Wimmera and Western Districts were lighter, and that area still waits a subsoil rain. The latter remark also applies to. the main agricultural areas of South Australia. The wheat belt of Western Australia reported good falls the end of March.

South Queensland has received scattered storms, which, while welcome, have not yet been general enough to assure a satisfactory sowing season. Reports from North Queensland indicate a splendid maize yield on the Atherton tablelands. Following on the improved seasonal outlook in Victoria and New South Wales, stock values have appreciated sharply. An advance of as much as 10s a head occurred with fat sheep immediately after the break, and though thev have since dropped hack somewhat the markets are linn. What is more to the point, there is every indication of them remaining steady for some months, at all events. With sufficient feed in sight graziers will Im* tempted to hold sheep until after shearing, and as stocks of cattle in the country are by no means heavy there is not likely to be any pressure to sell there either. At the beginning of April good crossbred wethers were fetching from 35s to 395, . and tat ewes from 20k to 325, lambs from / 27s to 325, and handy-weight bullocks from £l6 to £l9 a head in the Sydney and Melbourne yards. With average quality light to medium weight wether mutton costing up to uud over 6d, aged ewes over sd, and freezer jambs from 7sd to 8} per lb bare meat, it is hardly surprising that exporters should be to all intents and purposes out of the market. Some may be treating a few head of sheep at the public abattoir in Sydney, but that would only be to fill contracts or for ships’ stores. Elsewhere there is no killing being done for the overseas trade, and unless a wonderful improvement should occur in London values, none is likely until the spring lambs become available. So far as London is concerned, the market there remains depressed, and offers little encouragement to holders of car- . cases in Australia to ship. No doubt it is on this account that only 24,207 carcases of mutton and '57,262 carcases of lamb were cleared for Great Britain during March, when the holdings in cold store approximated nearly 100.000 sheep and 175,000 lambs. April clearances are not expected to be any heavier. It is quite possible a good deal of the present holdings will be put into consumption locally. Owing to the incidence of the Easter holidays there is less to report of the month’s doings in wool than usual, but at least it is satisfactory, and that is all to the good. Competition has been strong, insistent, and generally widespread in a quiet ami solid way, which, after all, is better than spasmodic periods of excitement. All sections have been well in, although France luis drawn in her horns somewhat, but on the other hand America has done more, the one balancing the other, and the result quite satisfactory. Renewed American competition has been welcome, but even so it is not on the lines one would expect from a country so well placed as she is. and it is difficult to find a reason for such, although it is probably more a combination of reasons than any outstanding factor. A pleasing feature has been the support of local mills, which has been very pronounced, and while it is too much to expect that we can become an exporting nation of manufactured wool, we at least should be able to supply the wants of our own population, which, with the highest standard of living in the world, is a factor. Prices on the whole show but little change as compared with last month, the disinclination of the trade to let itself go on the best wools being stiff in evidence, and it apparently has to ne accepted as part and parcel of the industry to-day. One cannot help dwelling on it. as it seems so contrary to all sound methods, blit apparently labour and overhead costs are so set to-day that the only saving to be effected is in the cost of the rawmaterial, which one would think, however, could be better done by more and better machinery and closer organisation. Be that as it may, the prices being paid for skirtings' of all descriptions are from the grower's point of view, anyhow, quite out of proportion to fleece values. RAGWORT MENACE. A MAGISTRATE’S STRICTURES. PAMIATItA. May 7. ’ Counsel for a Masterton resident, who was charged here with failing to clear his laud of ragwort, said that his client had found it impossible to get anyone to do the work, as his property was so far away, being under the ranges opposite Eketa-i buna. The Magistrate held that the man should find ways and means of clearing his farm so that 4he weed would not become a menace to his neighbours. In some districts he explained that ragwort was a real menace, yet fines made no difference to some men. who simply would not clear their land: neither would they compensate their neighbours. Some men, he said, did not care two straws whether their land wa* clean’d or not. The defendant was fined £3 and costs.

CANTr-'eURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, May 7. The potato market, which had been sagging during the week, experienced a sharp revival yesterday owing to Sydney inquiries for June-August shipment. The briskness does not affect prompt tubers, which havo been sold as low as £6 ss. f.0.b., s.i., in some cases. The price on truck for May potatoes has come under £5. Farmers are now digging freely, although the absence of frosts and the cold rains have delayed the maturity of the potatoes unusually long, and a good many of those offering could do with a further period in the ground. The Kurow, which left Lyttelton early in the week, had a cargo of 2700 sacks, and the Kauri, which is due to sail to-night, is taking approximately 9000 sacks. The Wlngatui will sail about the middle of next week for Sydney. Inquiry for later deliveries caused some business at £7 ss, f.0.b., s.i., yesterday, but to-day £7 15s was paid. An extra 20s a ton has to be allowed in comparison with local f.o.b. prices to cover the additional charges associated with the Sydney business. The Walkouaiti Is due to sail about April 18 direct for Sydney, but her potatoes were bought some time ago. Another vessel is expected to sail about the end of t|ie month. Onions'are a shade firmer In tone, though values have not advanced. The Sydney boat Is likely to take a fair number. The demand for oats is practically nonexistent. A few sales have been made at 4s 1 |d, f.0.b., 5.i., for A*s, and 3s 101<1 for

Little life can now be expected in the ■eed market until the spring demand approaches.