STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3833, 30 August 1927, Page 19

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Weekly Stock Sales. Burnside, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays. Waiareka Bail way Junction, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Riversdale, Fridays (March, April, and May). Wallacetown, Tuesdays. Ashburton, Tuesdays. Heriot, Thursdays. ' Winton, Thursdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays.’ Balclutha, Fridays. Gore, Tuesdays. ’ Monthly. Edendale, Ist Monday. Palmerston, 4th Thursday. Winton, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday. Tokanui, 4th Monday.

Monthly (continued). Duntroon, 2nd Wednesday. Woodlands, 3rd Wednesday. Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thor.nbury, Ist Friday. Otautau, 2nd Wednesday. Riversdale, 3rd Friday (except March, April, and May). Waikaka, last Friday. Clydevale, last Friday Periodically at Advertised. Lnmsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Waimahaka, Waikouaiti. Riverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Salat.

OTAGO. The weather proved cold and wet, with but little sunshine, during the week along the coastal lands of Otago, although inland the conditions were better, if cold. A fair number of deaths resulted among early lambs. An improvement in the weather conditions appears to have set in now, although there have been a few hard frosts. Some good prices were paid for ewes and hoggets during the week, a line of 760 Heriot ewe hoggets being placed at 32s 6d; four, six. and eight-tooth ewes 355, and failing mouths 225. At a Tapanui clearing sale the “ Fassifern ” two, four, and six-tooth ewes were sold at 41s to 445, and the ewe hoggets at 33s 4d.

BURNSIDE MARKET. The yarding of fat cattle at Burnside totalled 230, compared with 27’0 the previous week, and comprised a nice assortment of prime bullocks, some capital heifers, Va sprinkling of unfinished steers, together with a small proportion of cows. The demand at opening was very fair, and a good sale ensued for all prime-quality animals,'some slight firming occurring as the sale progressed, and generally sales for handy-weight bullocks and heifers ranged around the highest values ruling the previous week. Best quality stock made to 40s por 1001 b. About 2075 fat sheep were penned, compared with 2800 the previous week. Some very heavy sheep were included, the bulk of the entry comprising well-clad average weight wethers, some nice ewes, together with several pennings of light, fme-woolled wethers. There were also some pennings of fair to fat hoggets. There was a good demand. In sonic instances heavy wethers were dearer than was the case the previous week by Is 6d per head, but _*hc general good butchers’ sheep made similar monev to a week ago. Light sheep were Is cheaper, and values at the closing stages of the sale lower than opening rates. Wethers may be quoted as making to 7id per lb. Some small lots of fat hoggets made from 30s to 32s 9d. The store cattle entry was not large, but contained some 60 head of fairly well-bred two, three, and four-year-old steers in fair 'condition, the balance comprising medium cows and mixed young cattle. There was a brisk demand, the steers making from £7 to £lO 10s, according to ages and condition, while cows evoked very fair business at firm rates. A larger entry of fat pigs (121) and stores (109) sold at values which varied but little from those of a week ago, stores and baconers being possibly a shade cheaper. Baconers may be quoted as making 63d, and porkers around 7Jd per lb.

STOCK NOTES. The demand continues firm for hoggets, breeding ew-es, and wethers in Otago, but comparatively few lines are changing hands, good young ewes being held firmly. Fair to old breeding ewes at lambing make anything from 23s to 28s. Canterbury advises that entries for the Royal Show’ close on October 15, and that the horse parade, Christchurch, will be held on September 28, the week following the Otago Horse Show’. It is rumoured that Australian Jniycrs of fat cattle in the North Island are endeavouring to secure a shipload of fat cattle for the Commonwealth, but the margin at present is by no means large. At Adelaide, in South Australia, choicest beef was sold in mid-August at 60s to 70s per 1001 b, and in Melbourne at up to 60s. There has been a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease near Tamworth, in Staffordshire, England. This will put a

stop to the live stock export trade, which was just beginning to revive with the ' removal of the restrictions by the dominions. It is understood that quarantine stations will now be arranged at the ports where pedigree stock can be isolated for a definite period, and thus satisfy the Dominion Governments. Values continue firm for best grades of store sheep in the North Island. Beef at Westfield market, in the Auckland province. sold to 30s per 1001 b. Good hoggets in the Wairarapa made to 24s sd, fair sorts 18s 6d to 21s, small 13s to 14s 6d, and two-tooth wethers 18s 9d to 235. In Hawke’s Bay store wethers made 20s 6d to 27s 3d, hoggets to 255, and good mixed 265. About 30 Clydesdale stallions were paraded at the annual horse show in Victoria. Sales were not brisk, although progeny of such noted sires as Dunure Fabric. Brillian’ Chief, Springfield Stamp, Auchcnflower, The Blackwood, and Baron Wigton were among the offerings. Messrs Mitchell and O’Brien’s New Zealand horses looked well, but failed to sell at auction; but then no sales'were effected at auction, although privately there was some business. Giving evidence before the Royal Commission in Melbourne appointed to inquire into the affairs of the Amalgamated Freezing Company, a witness was asked to account for the difference between the prices of Australian and New Zealand lambs in London. He said that the best Australian lambs were never sold as such. They were sold as New Zealand, the wraps and labels being changed. As Canterbury’s they brought 2d per lb more. Evidence as to the size of a monster bullock which has been creating such a

stir in Marton recently is contained in the fact that it has been killed and tops the fact that it has been killed and topped the scale of 216241 b (dead weight). Though the meat industry’ is depressed 110 one who studied intelligently the beef classes at the Brisbane exhibition could fail to detect promising indications (states an exchange). The Prime Minister and Mr J. B. Cramsie, chairman of the Metropolitan Meat Industry’ Board of New South Wales, have both been speaking optimistically’ their Queensland visit of the future of the industry. Mr Bruce has argued that the Argentine has practically reached the limit of its export capacity, and that in view of the increasing purchases of the United States there will be a world shortage of beef within the next five years. Mr Cramsie, who toured the world two years ago in the interests of the Australian meat industry’, declared at the opening of the live stock and meat industry hall in the show grounds that the time was ripe for Australia to take her place as one of the greatest meat producing countries fe; the world. Mr Cramsie described the meat industry exhibit as " super-excellent,” and said that it showed that Queensland could produce beef equal to that from any other country.

N.Z. FRIESIANS (OTAGO). The Otago branch of the N.Z. Friesian Association decided at a recent meeting to enter an Otago team in the Friesian provincial group at the Royal Show in Christchurch in November, 1927. The question of holding a stud stock sale in Otago was considered, but action was deferred. The committee donated a medal for the judging competition of the Friesian cow at the Otago Summer Show. It was also agreed that the group class be cut out of the Summer Show. It was further agreed upon that a prize of £2 2s be given for the champion cow, and £2 2s for the champion bull, as special prizes at the Summer Show.

It was agreed that prizes of £3 3s, £2 2s, and £1 Is be given for the best two-year-old heifer in milk at the North Otago summer show. An extra class will be added. It was also decided that the usual gold medals be given for the best Friesian sire at this summer’s Palmerston, Waikouaiti. Waitati, and Taieri shows.

THE ROYAL AT NEWPORT. Circumstances combined .to spoil the Royal Show at Newport. Monmouthshire, in July, but in spite of bad weather, the quality of the stock was well up to the traditions of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. The dairy Shorthorns totalled 183 entries, then came the British Friesians, 155, and then Shorthorns with 130 entries. In the Shorthorn collection Mr H. Baker's Christian Ruler maintained his unbeaten record in the old bull class, and was reserve male champion. The executors of the late Mr J. Heaton won in the senior class of two-year-olds with the massive white, Garguston Defiance. In the younger class, Sir Richard Cooper’s roan. Billington Augustus VI. was first. In the class for 1926 calves Messrs Alexander, Addie, and Hughes won in the January-March class with Bahnuchy Baronet, a true roan, which also secured the male and breed championships. He was sired by Hindley White Ensign, out of a Lavender cow by’ Cupbearer of "Colly nie. I In the April-June class, Haselor Clipper I Star, a dark roan sired by Collynie Clipper King was placed first. In the youngest class the Prince of Wales secured first, and third with promising sons of Collynie Carnival.

NEW ZEALAND FRIESIANS IN AUSTRALIA.

Messrs .Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., have just received advice from Melbourne that the Friesian heifer Bainfield Netherland Sylvia 11, bred in Southland by’ Mr W. D. Hunt, has established an outstanding record for a heifer of any breed in Australia by-producing in a nine months’ test 20,5311 b milk and 7461 b butter-fat. If her test is continued for the full year the performance for this period should approach 10001 b butter-fat. Bainfield Netherland Sylvia II is by Rosevale King Sylvia, one of the most noted bulls ever bred in the Dominion, and which still heads the Piri Land Company’s great herd of Friesians near Taupiri, in the Auckland province. This bull is out of the ..champion cow, Burkeyje Sylvia Posch, 9831 b butterfat, and his sire is out of another former New Zealand champion cow, Longbeach Netherland Queen VII, 6591 b butter-fat. The dam of the champion heifer was also a former New Zealand champion in Westmere Princess Pietertje. This great cow, which is also a member of the Piri Land Company’s noted herd, produced as a four-year-old 9391 b butter-fat in the year. Bainfield Netherland Sylvia II was bought at Mr W. D. Hunt’s dispersal sale of Friesians in 1924. The purchaser and the present owner, Mr O. J. Syme, Melbourne, paid 230gns for this heifer. She was then 18 months old. It is interesting to note that Mr Syme, who has purchased most of his foundation stock from New Zealand herds, secured an average of over 5001 b butter-fat per cow in the herd testing carried on in Victoria under the Government’s supervision.

THE WOOL POSITION. Discussing the wool outlook, the Bradford Chamber of Commerce Journal says: ’’Users are compelled, in view of recent events, to recognise that there is not too much wool in this country’ to meet requirements for the remainder of the year. New wool cannot be expected from Australia in sufficient volume to influence the market until late in November or - early in December, and New Zealand wool will not be available until early in the new year. Nobody will sell on the assumption that in the meantime there will be any appreciable change in the position of the wool already in this country, although it is generally agreed that medium and coarse crossbreds are in a rather stronger position than the finer grades. Generally speaking, wool is too dear for the Bradford market, and it is very difficult for

machinery owners to secure orders on a profitable basis for tops, yarns, and piece goods. It is hoped that next wool season the position will be adjusted to a more workable basis from the Bradford point of view.”

The shortage of 250.000 bales in this season’s Australian wool, clip, recently forecasted, is now generally considered to be too optimistic (states an Australian exchange), and there is a belief that the decrease will be nearer 400,000 bales. Queensland, it is stated, has lost 10 million sheep, so there must bo an enormous falling-off there, and the bulk of the wool will be lighter and not as well grown as usual. The clip will also be much lighter in parts of Victoria and New South Wales, where the breeding ewes espcially have suffered from the shortness of feed. The arrival a few weeks ago of a representative of the Textile Import Company of Russia to buy wool in Australia and ship direct gives added interest to the 1927-28 wool sales, which will begin . ill Adelaide on September 9 and in Melbourne on September 26. Previously most of the wool for Russia was bought in London and re-shipped. A good deal of the wool, some 17,800 bales, bought by the Russians, is being scoured for them in Australia, so that the residues are left and more work is provided here. This work is being done principally’ in Sydney and Brisbane, but Geelong has had a small share of it. New Zealand’s increase in sheep numbers (half a million), together with very fair to good seasons, should result in an appreciable offering of wool during the 1927-28 wool sales.

SHORTHORN CATTLE. If the question is asked (says “ Salopian ” in the British Live Stock Journal) what breed of cattle has exercised the greatest influence on the commercial stock of this country, and of the whole stock breeding world, the answer must be Shoithorn. In these days, when other breeds are forging ahead in popularity, it must never be forgotten that the Shorthorn has been the great factor in live stock improvement and development the world over, and is still the dominating influence in cattle breeding. The Shorthorn still holds pride of place as the premier breed of cattle, and although some other breeds are boldly bidding fop the premiership, there is not the least danger of the Shorthorn ever losing its position so long as breeders keep to the right path, not forgetting that the breed has acquired fame by reason of its wonderful prepotence and ability to transmit its good qualities to its offspring from whatever dam it may have to come. That distinction has been achieved by its superior qualities, and not by reason of any particular passing fashion or anything of that kind. The great cattle raisers of America, both North and South, found in the English and later in the Scotch Shorthorn the type of animal they wanted to improve and grade up their native stock, and if the Shorthorn had not' fulfilled its purpose to their satisfaction they would soon have tried other breeds. The importations of

highly-bred sires into the United States from this country m the middle of the last century has been responsible for the present quality of ” the States ” cattle, and even if the Angus and the Hereford are increasing in favour over there as beef producers, it must be borne in mind that the Shorthorn had already brought the commercial stock of the country up to a high standard before other breeds were taken up. To what other breed than the Shorthorn has been due the wonderful development of stock breeding and beef production in the Argentine? Argentine breeders have spent large sums of money in purchasing our Shorthorns for improving the cattle stock of their estancias, and very lucrative investments they have proved. The high quality of the chilled beef that is sent over here from that country is almost entirely due to the influence of the Shorthorn and the extraordinary prepotency of the breed. If we ask ourselves why it is that the Shorthorn occupies the position it does, the answer is because of its universal adaptability to all purposes and every variety of soil and climate. For stall feeding, dairying, or summer grazing the Shorthorn is equally adapted, and its marvellous prepotency renders the breed of the greatest value for crossing purposes. The reason that the Shorthorn exercises so great an influence in cross breeding is because the breed has 150 years' careful and recorded breeding behind it. and that all the principal types, whether English or Scotch, were established by a system of close breeding worked by masterminds. In a final word “Salopian” says: Shorthorn breeders must in their own interest exercise the greatest care in the selection of their young bulls that are to be offered for sale.' To keep up the prestige of the breed no unworthy specimens should be sent to the collective sales, as these animals are sold at almost “steer” price. They beget bad stock and bring the breed into disrepute. . . .

SEMI-OFFICIAL TESTS. I.ast season Mr Donald Kennedy, the well-known Morven Jersey breeder, entered two cows for semi-official tests. Both of these have done well. One of them, Palmdale Princess, has completed her test, producing 5571 b of fat in 365 days. The other, Fleurangi, has produced 5531 b of fat in 309 days, and should yield well over 6001 b for the year. Both of the cows will come in again in time to qualify for first-class certificates. Mr Kennedy is entering a two-year-old daughter of Fleurangi for semi-official test this season. She is a very good type of heifer, and promises to he a heavy producer. WOOL INDUSTRY RESEARCH. There have been several reports recently that the quality of Australian wool has deteriorated. These reports have evidently impressed the farmers, for it is reported from Melbourne that the Australian Sheep Breeders’ Association at a recent meeting adopted a proposal to establish a fund of £200,000, the income from which is to be used in research. The money will be provided by means of a levy on the wool clip. While growers in the Commonwealth arc thus seeking to increase the output of raw material and enhance its value, the British Research Association for Woollen and Worsted Industries is actively endeavouring to achieve the purpose for which it was formed. The association staged an exhibition at the Royal Scottish Museum. Edinburgh, illustrating scientific and practical research -work relating to the

industries. One section showed the association’s work in determining the-quality of wool and its relation to spinning power, which should be useful to the sheep breeder in choosing the type of sheep 'which the manufacturer wanted. Illustrations of defects in Empire wool were shown, and the association was able to tell from the weakness of fibre whether the animals had suffered from drought. An exhibit showed how the association had been able by investigation to use sheep branding fluids without tar, which left no trace of marks after scouring.

SALE OF CLYDESDALES. A clearing sale of Clydesdale stock was held by Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Ltd., at "Stratha.” Knapdale, the property of the well-known breeders, Messrs Reid and Lockie, on Wednesday. The sale was held in order to wind up the partnership existing between Messrs Reid and Lockie. The horses were in excellent condition for this time of the year. There was a large attendance of farmers and breeders from all parts of Eastern and Western Southland, including visitors from Central Otago and South Otago. The highest price was secured for the five-year-old sire Mainlight, which was purchased by Mr Andrew Carruthers. Middlemarch. The well-known and suecesful brood mare Lady Betty was secured by Mr J- A. Johnston, Waikaka Valley, at S9gns. This mare had a well-grown filly foal at foot by Dunure Hazelwood.

A line of extra good two-year-old steers and speyed heifers (Hereford Cross) were secured by Mr J. Bell, Stirling, at £7 2s Gd; while another lot of two-vear-old

steers made £6 10s. and were purchased, by Mr John Loehhead, Kaitangata. The main sales were as follow: —■

Horses.—Myroe Footprint (imp.), by Dunure Footprint—Mady May of Myroe, 90gns. to Robert Lockie; Dunure Hazelwood (imp.), by Dunure Essential —Montrave Mae mare. lOOgns, to John Lockie; Mainlight. by Myroe Footprint—Baron Bold mare, 160gns, to Andrew Carruthers; brood mare. Lady Betty, five years, with filly foal at foot by Dunure Hazelwood, 89gns. to J. A. Johnston; brood mare. Montrave Lass, ]0 years. £5: gelding, rising four years. £4O; gelding, two years, £2l; hack and harness gelding, £ll 10s. Cattle and Sheep.—Forty Hereford steers and speyed heifers. £7 2s 6d: 7 steers, £6 10s: 2 empty heifers, £4 10s; da-jry cow, £7 10s; 3 calves, £2: heifer, £1 15s: 70 full and failing ewes. 255. Implements, harness, furniture, and sundries made full market rates. WAIKAKA SALE. The monthly stock sale was held at Waika.ka on Friday and attracted a small atter dance of farmers. Sheep.—The yarding comprised about 600 store sheep, mostly breeding ewes. The market was not quite so firm as if, has been of late, and several lots were passed in at, auction. Full and failing ewes in good condition realised from 23s to 27s 6d, and the only pen of mixed sex hoggets weio quitted at 245.

? title. —An entry of 13 head of stores were forward. The market was dull and little business was transacted. Dairy cows coining in for the factory realised £8 ss. and springing heifers from £3 10s to £6' 10s.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL I NEWS. In view of the fight over the proposal that all foreign eggs should be marked as such, a gruesome story comes from England. A farmer bought in a Leicester etore 16 Egyptian eggs for a shilling. He put his shilling’s worth in an incubator, and four of them hatched baby alligators! No wonder some agitation at times is evoked by Home farmers that foreign eggs should be marked. The South Australian Director of-Agri-culture has received several inquiries relatively to the special inducements offered by the Government towards the discovery of new and effective methods for the destruction of shoot and bush growth which follows the first burn of low stunted mallee and other small scrub. The inducements offered by the Government consist of prize money and assistance and offer to purchase South Australian patent lights in any method, device, or machinery definitely shown to be economically effective for the sum of £IOOO. A special trial will be made towards February, 1928. Few of the British dominions show such remarkable development as is evidenced in the recentlj’ published statistics of Canada. That Dominion has been steadily expanding, and she now occupies a high position in the world’s commerce. The value of her crop production last year was £225,000,000. Fisheries represented £9,600,000, minerals accounted for £48,350,000, while her manufactures reached the enormous sum of £589,000,000. Her average wheat yield over a period of six years was 249.000,000 bushels. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr W. Dagger) will hear an application in

Dunedin, on September 22, by the Otago and Southland Harvest Hands, Threshing Mill and Chaffcutter Employees for an increase in wages, improved conditions of work and other matters. At a special meeting of the Gladstone Herd Testing Association the other day (says the Wairarapa Age) it was decided that calf marking should be established firmly on the basis of the present season’s testing. “For success in dairying the three main essentials are herd-testing, a sire with butter-fat pedigree, and top-dress-ing,” said a district dairy farmer at the meeting at Stirling the other evening. The desirability of producers employing central ports for the shipment of produce was stressed by the chairman, Mr P. Hansen, at the recent 'meeting of the Awahuri Dairy Company (reports the Manawatu Standard). He mentioned that -as many as 30 days .were lost by steamers calling at the various coastal ports. Big steamer, added the speaker, cost as much as £3OO per dav and, apart from the delay entailed, the unnecessary expenditure had to be borne by the producer. Comment on the fact that, although the Government had failed to appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into land settlement in New Zealand, a movement known as the Land Settlement League had been instituted to consider the situation, and, if possible, formulate some policy for utilising waste lands, was made the annual meeting of the Auckland Land and Estate Agents’ Institute by Mr C. F. Bennett. When the league brought forward its policy, Mr Bennett, said he hoped that every member of the institution would

give the matter most careful consideration. Any constructive suggestions from them would also lie of great benefit, and welcomed by those investigating the matter. “I hope that, when this policy comes forward, it will be considered by the executive, and have the support of not only the citizens of Auckland, but all in the Dominion,” he added.

The Member for Rangitikei (Mr XV. S. Glenn) has given notice in the House of Representatives to ask for a return showing the number of bankrupt farmers in the Dominion for the years 1925-26 and 1926-27, and also showing the number of farmers who abandoned their properties. According to the Napier Daily Telegraph milking by means of motor power is increasing in Central Hawke’s Bay, 46 electric plants being in use.

“It will come as a shock to a lot of people who think that the farmers are asleep to find that we are leading a great many industries in making this move,” said Mr W. W. Mulholland, when explaining at a recent meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union the proposal to establish a cereal laboratory in Canterbury. Every year there must be hundreds of pounds sterling lost to the dairy farmers of this country through faulty separator skimming (remarks the Hawera Star). This loss could be saved if the farmer would interest himself in these matters more. When purchasing a separator, see that it is a good one. After installing it, carry out all the instructions issued with the machine, such as oiling, washing, and operating. Power for turning is a factor that should be watched. If the separating takes up a large amount of time, get some

motor power and one will have regular running. Irregular turning will cause a loss of cream. This is probably good for the calves, as the skim milk will be richer, but the dairyman must place his butter-fat in the direction where he will receive most for it. One cannot afford to feed calves or pigs o n butter-fat. It is a wise farmer who regularly checks his separator and tests his s kim milk. A Mokoia farmer who separates reports that his loss is almost infinitesimal.

The recent cold, wet weather has been responsible for a heavy mortality amongst lambs on this coast (says the Hawera Star). Several farmers in the district aro reported to have lost a number, some up to 70, and it is certain the total losses will run into many hundreds. It is said that ewes often show a heavy lambing in bad weather, and the lambs when dropped are in many cases paralysed and unable io get up from the ground. At such a time sheep farmers have a busy time and manage to save many by bringing them in to the house. Way back in the hill country, says a Mangamingi farmer, the lambing is later than on the open country, .-.nd in consequence they have not been so much affected. The sheep seem able to get shelter more easily in the rough country.

“ The time will soon come when the Dominion will be carrying a big enough population to consume all its present output of beef, but the present number of cattle is quite insufficient to keep the country from deteriorating,” said one delegate at the meeting of the Meat Board in Wellington. Other delegates also stressed the necessity of keeping cattle, especially in the North Island, if farms were not to deteriorate. The trouble was that cattle at present did not pay in most instances and those who wanted to stock with cattle could not get financed. “ The position today is not unique,” declared Mr J. IL Joll (Hawke’s Bay); “nothing fluctuates so much in value as cattle. Every year sees a slump in them and the opposite.”