STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 23

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

We»kly Stock Sates. ' Burnside, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays. Wsiareka Railway Junction, Tnesdaya Fortnightly. Rirersdale, Fridays (March, April, and May). Wallacetown, Tuesdays. Ashburton, Tuesdays. ' Heriot, Thursdays. . Winton, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays. Baldutha, Fridays. Gore, Tuesdays. Monthly. Edendale, Ist Monday. Palmerston, 4th Thursday. Winton, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday. Tokanul, 4th Monday.

Monthly (continued). ‘ Duntroon, 2nd WedttMday. Woodlands, Ird We®, nesday. Milton, 2nd Tueeday. Balfour, 3rd Thunday. Thornbury, lai Friday. Otautau, 2nd Wadnwday. Rivercdale, 3rd Friday (except March, April, end May). Waikaka, lost Friday. Clydevale, last Friday Periodically ■■ Advertised. Lr-nsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Waimahaka, Waikouaiti. Riverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sala*.

OTAGO. Capital harvest weather was experienced in Otago during the week —a bit warm at times, but most satisfying. In Central Otago early in the Week appreciated rain showers freshened up the languishing pastures, and once again it is fine and promising. Central Otago settlers using irrigation waters are advised to carry out the final watering of land ere this month runs out, as the supply of water from the races will be cut off at the end of March. This especially applies to the soaking with water of uncultivated land —intended to be broken up during late autumn. There is no doubt that by this means ploughing is made easier and more satisfactory. A start should be made to break up new land, and this operation not left until too late, when frosts may interfere with ploughing operations. Stock sales during the next few days in Otago, following upon the recent wool sale, should serve to indicate a level of values unswayed by fantastic factors. The Central sales will occupy a few days, followed closely by the fixtures at Lawrence on the 15th and Traquair on the 21st inst, held under the auspices

of the Dunedin stock agents. At Ettrick some 4000 sheep were penned, and there was a fair clearance at the following rates: —Sound-mouth ewes 23s 9d, two and four-tooth ewes 28s 3d, ewe lambs 18s 6d, wether lambs 15s lOd to 18s Bd. At Balclutha some 9000 sheep were penned, and practically all were sold at auction. The attendance was good. Extra two-tooth ewes realised 35s 9d to 40s, small 28s, sound-mouth ewes 24s 4d to 26s Bd, good ewe lambs 21s 6d to 225, fair 20s 3d, mixed sexes 19s to 21s 7d, fair 18s, wether lambs 17s lid to 19s, failing ewes 16s 6d to 20s, fair Ils to 14s 3d, and old sorts 3s 9d to 7s Bd.

At Clinton on Thursday about 5000 sheep were penned and sold, two-tooth ewes making 29s 3d, six and eight-tooth wethers 21s 3d, rape lambs 19s 7d to 21s, fair lambs to 17s 6d, and small 7s 6d to Ils. BURNSIDE MARKET. The entry or fat cattle at Burnside exceeding the previous week's yarding by 40 head, and was made up of prime bullocks, a fair number of heavy cows, and the usual proportion of heifers and medium quality steers, in all, 266. Early in the sale bidding was slack, and some pens were passed at auction, and at no time was the demand keen, best cattle selling at about 15s per head under last week’s quotations, cows making rates some 10s lower than the previous week. Light beef of choicest quality sold to 34s per 1001 b. The fat sheep penned 2257. compared with 2426 the previous week, comprised prime heavy wethers in good supply, a number of fine woolled wethers, suitable for freezing and a goodly proportion of fair to prime ewes. The demand was weak throughout the sale, exporters paying up to their limits, but butchers secured supplies early in the sale at somewhat under last week’s values, firming up a trifle, to ease away on the last race of heavy sheep Is to Is 6d uer head when requirements had all been satisfied. Butchers’ wethers may be quoted as making up to 4£d per lb. The entry of fat lambs (679) was a good average selection, the pennings of heavy well-grown lambs being fairly evident. Lambs suitable for export were not numerous, and met with a keen demand, values, if anything, being better than a week ago. Unfinished sorts were not in great demand. Exportable lambs sold up to Sid per lb, ethers unchanged, unfinished 18s to 21s. A fair yarding of store cattle met with a somnolent demand. About 50 one to two-and-a-half-vear-old steers and heifers were included, also a couple of pens of three-year-old steers in good condition. A yard of nice two-year-old dairy heifers made £5 12s, year-and-a-half Jersey cross heifers £3 2s 6d, and a pen of year ..old steers £3 Is, also some three-year-old steers £9 9s. The pig entry was a small one, 72 fats and 110 stores being offered. Fats were 5s per head dearer and stores about the same money as a week ago. Porkers made to 8d and baconers to 7Jd per lb.

NORTH ISLAND STORE STOCK VALUES. Best classes of breeding ewes continue to change hands in the North Island at improving rates, while good four and five-year-old ewes have more attention. In the Auckland province, at Westfield market, beef prices are. steady at up to 29s per 1001 b for choice bullocks, weancr Friesian steers made 27s to 30s, two-tooth store wethers 18s, best shorn rape lambs to 17s 6d, young ewes 21s to 24s 6d, extra 25s 6d, four and five-year-olds 17s to 19s lOd, inferior Ils to 13s. In the Manawatu good young ewes made 25s to 28s, extra 345, four-year-olds 15s to 17s 6cl,- medium sorts 12s to 14s, rape lambs 14s 6d to 17s 6d. At Palmerston North mixed wethers realised 18s 6d to 21s 3d, two-tooth ewes 23s to 24s 6d, good sorts to 28s 6d, three and four-year-old ewes 17s 6d to 235, medium sorts 10s 6d to 14s 9d. STOCK NOTES. Fatsgstock values in Otago do .not indi- , cate any appreciation, and sales of store

stock, judging from rates paid for fat sheep, lambs, and cattle must be considered good. The feed no doubt is a factor, but it is just possible we may r have a long winter, and then too many mouths is one’s despair. Future Auction Sales.—Attention is drawn to two important sales of stud stock in the near future, particulars of which are • published in this issue. Our reference is to the Friesian herd of Mr Geo. Aitcheson (Kaitangata) and to the noted Holly Oak Jerseys. Both of these herds are in the front rank of our purebred dairy cattle, and merit attention. Three Holly Oak Jerseys averaged over 10001 b butter-fat, while 20 cows averaged 7351 b butter-fat, and as to the Friesians, suffice it to say that they are most favourably known both in New Zealand and Australia, and their records, as recorded in the catalogue, are well worth perusal. The dairy cows penned at Burnside on Wednesday of last week were of better quality than usual, and met with good inquiry, several changing hands at £9 to £lO, extra £l3 ss. An unusual number of dry cows in capital condition have been marketed weekly, and still they come, boners, curiously enough, having most attention from buyers. Although beef, veal, mutton, and lamb supplied to the London markets for the 12 months ending December, 1926, show an increase from all sources compared with 1925 period, it is otherwise in regard to pork and bacon. Supplies of pork were approximately 10,000 tons less than in 1925. Owing to the embargo on account of foot-and-mouth disease the Netherlands imports according to a New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board communication, were curtailed considerably. New Zealand’s pork and bacon exports improved some 335 tons, being 378 tons, compared with 43 tons in 1925.

One thousand Canadian-bred horses were shipped from Montreal in October for Leningrad (says an exchange) . They, took 19 days on the voyage, and were of saddle type, weighing from 10001 b to 12001 b. This year from 3000 to 5000 will be wanted. Confirmation of the satisfactory outturn, of the trial shipment of day-old veal was conyeyed to the Dairy Board at its meeting on Wednesday. Advices from the London buyer were to the effect that the shipment had been very satisfactory, and the buyer hoped to be able to take the output next year in preference to South American supplies. Among the latest recruits to the 2000 gal milk standard is Findlay Gladys 11. belonging to Mr Thomas Q. Allan, of Parkhouse, Thankerton, Lanarkshire. She is the eleventh 2000 gal daughter of Findlay (imp) Adema 50th. She calved on January 2, 1926, and was milked three times daily up to the middle of July, her highest daily yield being 921 b. There are now 174 British Friesians* that have attained the 2000 gal standard. An official report shows that on June 30 last in New South Wales cattle numbered 2,937,130; horses. 651,035; sheep, 53,860,000; swine. 382,674; showing decreases of 61.000, 3500, 6,760,000, and 43,000 respectively, compared with the previous June. The crop returns do not supply a comparison of acreage, but show that the average yields of all the principal crops were below those cf the previous quinquennial period. With the object of to some extent ridding the western ranges of worthless horses that are eating down pastures, stockowners in Washington State, U.S.A., have erected a plant for the treatment of horse flesh. The company pays 12s each for the horses, which are converted into food for poultry, foxes, dogs, and fish, the last mentioned in the large hatcheries. In the. first fortnight over 500 head of horses were slaughtered. A controversy, it is alleged, has recently been going on in the United States of America relative to the correct grading of baby beef. Under date of June 4. 1926, the U.S. Bureau of Animal Industry issued a ruling that to be properly described as baby beef the meat must be the product of choice or prime steers or heifers of beef breeds, from seven to 15 months of age. and weighing from 6001 b to 11001 b on the hoof. Later, on November 4. the Secretary for Agriculture modified the ruling by extending the age limit to IS months, and the weight to 12001 b.

THE CHEESE POOL. Unlike butter, where marked seasonal variations in price have dictated the advisability of' two pools being operated to effect justice between winter and summer production, cheese will be operated in one single pool throughout the season (says the N.Z. Dairy Produce Exporter). This does not • mean that there will be no further payments till finalisation at the end of the season. The declared policy of the Dairy Control Board is that as soon as there is in any pool a practically divisible surplus it will be divided amongst those entitled to it. The cheese pool will include all produce graded from September 1, 1926, up to and including July 31, 1927, —a period of 11 months. Throughout this period

different prices and advance levels rule from time to time, but over the whole period the policy is to return to each pound of cheese an even price, grade for grade (subject to one limitation regarding shrinkage), regardless of in which month the cheese was made and shipped. In other words, the season’s output will oe marketed as one product and averaged over all. The advances so far made are:— Cheese graded from. September 1 to September 24 received in advance of 71d per lb for finest (first grade being Ad less and second grade another id lower). From September 24 to October 13, the advance was based on 7d for finest; other grades in proportion. From October 14 to December 3, the advance was based on 6d for finest; other grades in proportion. Since December 4 to date the advance has been based on 7d per lb for finest with the usual allowance for other grades. Realisations for the quantity sold up to December 10 averaged 85s 9d» per cwt., and at fortnightly intervals the average realisations have been 93s 3d, 93s 9d, 93s Bd, and 935. BRITISH SHEEP BREEDERS. Speaking at last month’s meeting of tlie Loyal Agricultural Society of Victoria, Mr H. Alan Currie, of Ereildoune (states The Pastoral Review), remarked■ that his observations while in England recently showed that Australian breeders of English types of sheep had much to learn regarding methods of breeding. While breeders in England were laced with many serious problems regarding pests, etc., their methods were far in advance of those practised here by raisers of British breeds. Mr Currie added that he would like to see sons of English breeders sent to the Common wealth to establish branches of their stud. He believed that if that were done Australia would become one of the greatest sheep breeding countries in the world, not only for Merino, but for the standard British breeds. Mr H. Harry Peck, who was also at the meeting, and; like Mr Currie, has lately returned from a visit to Great Britain, stated that breeders on the other side were taking a lively interest in activities in the sheep world in Australia. He thought it probable that in the near future there would be important developments in the industry, so far as British breeds were concerned.

THE SEASON IN AUSTRAL [A. The weather since last writing has been mixed (says the February issue of The Pastoral Review)). . The north of the Continent received further, and in many cases heavy, monsoonal rains, but unfortunately a good deal of west and central Queensland has not shared to any material extent in the falls, and is still suffering from drought. On the other hand the coastal- regions of Queensland and north coastal New South Wales recorded exceptionally heavy downpours, with resultant floods. Then again while the northern tablelands and slopes and central division of New South Wales received useful rains, the west .nd south of the State, and practically the whole of Victoria and South Australia, got little more “han light showers. The dry conditions in the south of the Commonwealth Irtive been accentuated by high winds, and in some districts serious bush fires. However, except where burnt out, -ae country is carrying a fair body of dry feed, and stock are holding their own. For that reason -here has been no rush of fat, or nearly fat, sheep or cattle into the yards, and prices are being maintained ! at a level above export parity. At the beginning of the present month prime wethers were averaging- in Sydney about 225, ewes 2 Is, and woolly lambs 20s a head. Prices in Melbourne were approximately Is per head higher. Gtfod bullocks were fetching to £l5 in both centres. Apart from a few very late districts harvesting is now completed, and in most cases wheat carting is also finished. With this urgent work over wheatgrowers who are not on holiday bent are turning their attention to summer fallowing, that is where conditions are favourable for turning ' the soil. The continued dry weather in the south is, however, making ploughing out ■ of the question on the heavier lands. January, like its immediate predecessors, proved a very dry month over practically j the whole of the southern portions of the I wheat belt of eastern Australia, and also in the agricultural areas of Western Australia. I The north of the continent, on the other hand, has been under monsoonal influences for some time, which have brought moderate to heavy rains. The inland cereal growing districts of central and north New South Wales and of south Queensland have shared in the storms, while the coastal districts north of Sydney have received exceptionally heavy falls. These should favour late sown maize crops. Fairly eeneral. but mostly very light, rains were recorded in the south early this month. The features of the nast month have been the general high standard of the catalogues in the various selling centres and the good clearances. Wools are being lifted quickly, and transportation is running smoothly, apart from industrial troubles which are to-day part and parcel of the job. By the end of next month there will not h° much unsold wool left in Australia, and that undoubtedly has a direct bearing on the buoyancy of the market, clearances at no time being better than thev have been since Christmas. Altogether everything looks well, the dark spot being the shadow -in the East; the cheapness of cotton does not appear to. have any influence on wool values, as might have been expected, and the trade apparently looks upon to-day's prices as a fair working basis,.

The following statistics relative to the 1926-27 clip received into store, sold and shipned unsold, compared with corresponding period of last vear. are sunplied by the National Council of Wool Selling Brokers of Australia :— 1925-26. 1926-27. Bales. Bales. Received in store July 1 to January 31 .. .. 2,006,718 2,259,041 Sold bv auction or privately 1,126,285 1,493,002 Shipped unsold .. .. 23,169 21,199 In store January 31 .. 857,264 745,740 2,006,718 2,259,941 Carry-over wool for previous season is not included in the above figures. There are

still 1918 bales of the 1925-26 clip unsold in store. Receipts of new clip into store show an increase of 253,225 bales compared with the corresponding period of last year.*