STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3871, 22 May 1928, Page 19

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Wtckly Stock Sam. Burnside, Wednesdays. Addington, Wednesdays. Waiareka, Railway Junction, Tuesdays Fortnightly. Riversdale, Fridays (March, April, and May). Wallacetown, Tuesdays. Ashburton, Tuesdays. Heriot, Thursdays. Winton, Thi’-sdays. Wyndham, Thursdays. Clinton, Thursdays. Balolutha, Fridays. Gore, Tuesdays. Monthly. Edendale, Ist Monday. Palmerston, 4th Thursday. Winton, 4th Tuesday. Mataura, Ist Thursday. Tokanui, 4th Monday

Monthly - (contlnuod). Duntrooo, 2nd Wednesday. Woodlands, 3rd Wednesday. Milton, 2nd Tuesday. Balfour, 3rd Thursday. Thornbury, Ist Friday. Otautau, 2nd Wednesday. Biversdale, 3rd Friday (except Maroh, April, and May). Waikaka, last Friday. Clyderale, last Friday Periodically as Advertised. Lumsden, Mossburn, Orepuki, Waimahaka, Waikouaiti. Riverton, Ngapara, and Otago Central Sales.

OTAGO

Good weather, with many sunny hours, was experienced during the week in Otago, culminating in a gale of wind during the week-end. In the Central conditions have been pleasant, and general farm work is well advanced.

BURNSIDE MARKET. The entries of stock at Burnside were numerically of an average scale, with the exception of fat sheep, which bulked up largely for an ordinary week y sale. Prices, however, were wonderfully maintained owing to export buying being on a generous plane throughout the sale. The yarding of fat cattle, 262, com-

pared with 284 the previous week, was of medium quality, few extra weighty bullocks being penned. Prime heifers and good sorts of cows were in fairly large supply, the balance comprising moderate steers. The demand early'in* the sale for prime cattle was fairly good at par to -Os better than the previous week on the pick of the entry, and this was maintained to the close of the sale. Beef may be quoted as realising up to 40s per 1001 b. The fat sheep entry, 3878 (2116 last week), comprised all qualities, mostly good. Ewes of merit were forward in .arge numbers, but both heavy and me-dium-weight wethers were also freely intermixed. Values early in the sale were well under last week’s prices, but soon firmed up, and generally the previous week's rates were maintained until towards the finish, when ewes receded Is to 2s per head. Best butchers’ wethers sold to 6bl per lb. light primes (exporters’ choice) making fhore than this figure. Some 600 fat lambs (1019 last sale) of medium to prime quality evoked keen competition, and the previous week’s rates were more than maintained. Lamb made to. 10? d per lb for light primes. The fat pig entry totalled ISO, and stores 55. Porkers were in somewhat over supply, and receded about 3s per head. fiaconers about held their own, while stores sold fairly well. Baeoners may be quoted as making to 6d per lb, and porkers to 7sd per lb. About 350 store cattle of mixed description, including 'some 80 well-furnished bullocks, met with a very fa’r demand, but mature bullocks, if anything, were cheaper than a week ago. Cows and young sorts sold on a par with recent quotations.

COUNTRY STOCK SALES. —Milton.— An entry of some 1800 sheep, chiefly two-tooth wethers, at Milton on Tuesday of last week met with very fair competition from a good attendance of farmers. Two-tooth wethers made 27s 8d to 335. four-tooths 345, fat 37s 6d, mixed ages 27s to 30s 2d. mixed young ewes 31s 6d, failing 27s 6d, old 9s to 13s, mixed lambs 20s 6d to 22s Id. —M’Nab —

The fortnightly stock sale was held at M‘Nab on the 15th in fine weather, there being a fair attendance of farmers and buyers. There was an entry of 327 fat sheep of very good quality wethers and ewes, which made firm rates. There was good demand throughout and fairly heavy prime wethers made up to 37s 6d, the best price being obtained for two lines sold on behalf of Mr J. G. Scott (Ferndale) . A similar price was obtained for a small lot sold on account of Mr A. Reinke (Howe). Other sales of fat wethers were at from 30s to 345. Very prime heavy ewes changed hands at from. 30s to 345. The store sheep entry comprised 166-5 of all classes. Wethers were in good demand ana sales were made at from 27s 61 to 31s 6d. A fair number of lambs were on offer, and the best sale was of a pen of ewe lambs, which realised 27s 2d. Other lines were mixed sexes, mostly small sorts, and prices ranged from 18s to 22s Id. There was some inquiry for breeding ewes, and a line of guaranteed sound mouths made 34s 2d, while good full and failing eaves made-from 22s 8d to 265, and poorer quality from 16s lid down to 10s 6d. The offering of fat cattle comprised 17 head. There was good inquiry throughout and prices were very firm. Light fat bullocks made £lO 2s 6d, an extra heavy cow £lO, lighter To £7 12s 6d, fat heifers from £4 10s to £7 17s 6d. Only a small offering of store cattle was forward, and the market -was in .keeping with .recent sales. Store steers made up to £5 15s, empty cows to £4 17s 6d, and calves £1 15s. —Studholme. — At the Studholme stock sale on Wednesday the attendance of the public was small, and prices were easier. Fat cows made £5 10s to £8; heifers, £5 15s to £7 2s 6d; dairy cows at profit, to £6 ss; any September calvers, £4 2s fid to £5 15s; heifers, £3 10s to £5; bulls, £4 15s to £5. A’ big yarding of fat sheep was disposed of under the hammer at record prices, 37s being the top price for lambs, and 26s 8d for ewes. . The quality all through was good, and most of the sales of lambs were from 32s to 355, and ewes 20s to

245. The" store pens were principally filled with wethers with a few pens of breeding ewes and lambs. The market was easy and bidding dull. A pen of good Romney cross ewe lambs made 27s 8d and another similar lot was passed at 275. Six and eight-tooth halfbred wethers made 265, s’.m. ewes. 23s 6d to 27s 6d, cull lambs 16s, aged ewes 17s to 20s. —Riversdale.—

-The fortnightly stock sale was held at Riversdale on Friday, there being a large attendance of district farmers. There was ■ a comparatively small sheep entry/ but there was good demand for most of-the lilies offering. The entry included two lines, of particularly good lambs, for which there was keen competition. The top price, 29s 7d, was secured for a line sold On account of Mr A. G. Brown (Waimea), which were purchased by Mr T. Newall (Wendon). Another fine fine was sold on account of Mr George Lynch (Riversdale). at 29s 2d, to Messrs Hedley and Sons (Te Tipua). There was also good inquiry for wethers, good sorts selling at 34s 6d to 38s 4d, medium twotooths at 28s. Only one ' line of small two-tooth ewes was forward, which realised 30s. .Very few old ewes were on offer, and extra good full and failing sorts made up to 26s 3d, while poorer quality realised up to 18s 7d.

STOCK NOTES. Lambs have already made their appearance i’l tne Horowhenua district, on the farm of Mr Robert Bevan, a well-known sheep farmer of Manakau, near Otaki. Stock values at present are firm at recent quotations, and in Otago there is a very sound tone for all well-bred sheep and cattle. The demand for store wethers has improved, and no difficulty is found in placing any consignments offering. Breeding ewes are quiet, but other classes of stock, wellbred steers and fat cattle and sheep, and, of course, lambs, evoke inquiry, and generally holders of sheep and cattle view still better values in the near future. Extra choice beef at Westfield (Auckland) market at the last sale sold at up to 37s per 1001 b, and generally good beef cattle were in firm demand, with tlte result that well-bred steers are inquired for. Good prices were realised at Major Morrison’s sale of Red Polls in England the other day. Bulls made up to 150gns. The top price for females was llOgns, the 50 head averaging £53. Fat sheep and cattle in the North Island (at Feilding) are still selling freely at firm values, with the result that store sheep and cattle find ready buyers. Wether lambs made 16s to 18s, fat and forward 22s 6d, good two-tooth wethers 28s 6d, springing heifers to £8 10s, weaner heifers to £4 10s. It is estimated that the Burnside metropolitan market draws its weekly supplies of fat stock mostly from the south. About 40 per cent, of fat sheep and cattle come from Southland, and 40 per cent, from South Otago (including Heriot, Kelso, and thereabouts), the balance coming from Central Otago. Breeders of Red Poll cattle in Southland and Otago have formed themselves into a club for the purpose of advancing the interests of the dual-purpose breed. Up to the present time 11 members have been enrolled, and there is every indication that this number will be appreciably increased.

The shortage of sheep trucks in Southland has reached a chronic stage, and has already interfered seriously with the sale of fat lambs. No doubt, states our informant, the Railway Department is doing its utmost to meet farmers and buyers in the matter, but in the meantime the enterprising lorry owners are reaping a harvest.

A sale of surplus pedigree Ayrshire cattle and Large White pigs on behalf of Mr Morgan Williams. Waverley, Kaiapoi, was held recently, when there was a large attendance of buyers. Four to seven-year cows made 6gns to 37gns, two-and-a-half-year heifers 84gns to 24gns 18months’ heifers 6gns to 18gns, 18months’ bulls Ugns to 14gns, bull calf lOJgns. Large White sows 2gns to 12gns boars Bgns.

Mr R. E. Alexander, on behalf of the Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln), made application to the Canterbury A. and P. Association for a permanent space on the showground, which he undertook on behalf of the college to plant and provide plots of an educational nature for the show. Members were favourable to the proposal, and on the motion of Mr F. Coop, the president, Mr John Deans and Mt Alexander were appointed to arrange a suitable site. Reporting a recent cattle sale at Gisborne, the Poverty Bay Herald says that qnnn e a *y ardln ? of approximately 9000 cattle, and one of the largest attendances of buyers for some years. Buyers from outside districts were act’ve and a large number of cattle is now on the road on both the northern and southern routes - S0 ¥ en - that the Ormers had no difficulty in obtaining the amounts of their reserves and in some cases these were considerably exceeded. The rise apparent is held to be the greatest that has taken place in Poverty Bay since the beginning of the boom period. The prices are not on a par with those of the boom times, but they are the nearest approach to those figures since the values began

LONDON’S MEAT SUPPLIES. The annual report of Mr H. W. G. Millman, clerk and superintendent of the London Central Markets, states that the total supplies last year weighed 489,290 tons, which -was in excess of‘all previous returns, and the receipts from rents and tolls amounted to £205,791. Of the 489,290 tons there came from England 81,128 tons, Scotland 35,825 Ireland 18,438, Australia 25.669 New Zealand 68,292, Canada 1137, America 3165, Argentina 223,616, Uruguay, Brazil etc., 11,729, Netherlands 5826, Denmark 1680, and other countries 12,745. The value of meats and other commodities handled at Smithfield during 1927 was approximately £33,500,000, as against £35,000,000 the year before. The decrease was attributable to the all-round decline in the wholesale values'of beef, mutton, lamb, and pork

THE BLACK AND WHITES. Larges Queen, Mr Charles H. Jones’s British Friesian cow that some time ago headed her county for individual milk yield, has recently completed her second 2000 gal yield. Eldad Meibloem,' one of the British Friesian cows owned by the West of Scotland Agricultural College, Kilmarnock, has, for the second time in her career, exceeded the 2000 gal yield of milk within the year. Altogether 267 British Friesian cows have given upwards of 2000 gal of milk in the year, and 69 of them have repeated the performance on more than one occasion. MORTALITY AMONG LAMBS. Mr A. M. Paterson, M.R.C.V.S., of the New Zeailand Government Live Stock Division, reports that there is considerab.e mortality among lambs throughout South Canterbury, the cause of death being inflammation of the fourth stomach resulting from the activities of a small worm, which is present in enormous numbers. Animals swallow the eggs of these parasites while grazing on low-lying, swamnv ground, or by drinking water from shallow, stagnant pools. Even when such an invasion takes place, it does not always follow that the sheep will die; if they are in good condition and fed on nourishing food, and the weather is dry and warm, they will not likely die or show any indication of the presence of worms in their stomachs. But when the opposite conditions prevail, there is bound to be trouble. It is safe to say that, had farmers given their lambs a little crushed oats during the past month, or the sheep-lick of salt and crushed oats which has been so often recommended, they might have heard nothing of the present serious mortality. Failing the oats, the animals may be drenched with two ounces of the following mixture:—Kerol or lysol, half a pint; water or milk, three gallons.

LICE-INFECTED SHEEP. An unusually large number of cases concerning sheep infected with lice were before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., at the Balclutha Court on Tuesday last, and in every case fines were imposed. Inspector George Reid, of Balclutha, prosecuted in each case. F. M. Dow (Hillend), charged with exposing lice-infected sheep (125 ewes) for sale at Balclutha Sale Yards on April 20, did not appear, and was fined 30s and costs. John Wilson (Lauder) was similarly charged in respect to 510 ewes.—the Inspector in this case said that he examined 20 and all were infected with lice. —Defendant was fined £3, with costs. W. Welsh (Pukeawa), similiarly charged in respect of 79 lambs, did not appear; but Mr J. A. Copland said he had been asked to explain the position. The lambs had just been weaned and defendant had no idea they were infected with lice. A fine of 20s avith costs was imposed. George M'Leod (Mihiwaka) was similarly charged on account of 20 lambs, four of which the inspector examined and found to be badly infected with lice. A fine of 5s with costs was imposed. Harry Holgate (Barnego), similarly charged in respect to 12 fat lambs exposed at the sale on April 20, stated that the lambs were dipped on March 14, and another pen out of the same lot he had examined and found to be clean.—The Inspector said he had found three infected. —-Defendant was convicted and ordered to pay costs (12s). Archibald T. Stewart (Lovell’s Flat) similarly charged in respect of 450 sheep, stated that he had dipped the sheep a fortnight before at the Corporation Y’ards’ municipal dip, and asserted that there must be something wrong with the dip—The Inspector in his evidence said that the sheep showed signs of having been dipped. A fine of 20s and costs was imposed.

T. J. Stevens, sheep dealer, Oamaru, was charged in respect of 915 sheep exposed at Balclutha sale on March 30. Defendant did not appear.—The Inspector stated that he had examined 28 and all were infected with lice. A fine of £4 with costs was imposed. Noel Sutherland, Waiwera South, similarly charged in respect to 98 lambs, was fined 20s with costs.

J.-C. Smith, Lovell’s Flat, was similarly charged, the number of sheep exposed for sale being 42. Of these the inspector examined six, and found three infected with lice. A fine of 10s with costs was imposed.

Benjamin Throp, Dunedin, charged in respect of 475 lambs from his Moa Flat Estate, at Balclutha sale on March 30, did not appear, but was represented by Mr J. R. Copland.—The Inspector said he had examined 10, and found eight infected with lice.—Mr Copland said the lambs had been seven days on the road, and the culls left behind had been examined since and no lice were found on them. Mr Throp considered that the lambs must have picked up the lice in camp paddocks while on the road. A fine of £2 with costs was imposed. William Lawson, Papatowai, was similarly charged in respect of 225 sheep.— The Inspector said he had examined 15, and found all infected with lice.—Mr Kelly, who appeared for defendant, said the sheep had all been dipped in January, and were examined prior to leaving for the sale on March 30. A fine of 10s with costs was imposed. WHEAT AND OATS. The April Abstract of Statistics just to hand notifies that returns of actual threshings received to date (April 19) from threshing-mill owners in New Zealand show that, so far, 4.170,951 bushels of wheat and 1,915,000 bushels of oats have been threshed out. The average yields per acre in cases where particulars of areas were furnished (covering 99 per cent, of total threshings) work out at 39.05 bushels for wheat, and 45.06 bushels for oats. A table is appended showing, by land districts, the quantity of wheat and oats threshed, and the yield per acre in each case:— WHEAT. Quantity Av. yield threshed. per acre. 1 Bushels. Bushels. Auckland .. 311 18:29 Gisborne .. 1,947 26.31 Hawke’s Bay .. 10,634 34.75 Taranaki .. —

CANTERBURY CRAIN AND PRODUCE MARKET. • CHRISTCHURCH, May 18. Potatoes have improved, ex wharf. Auckland sales have been made at £6 15s, and the inquiry from that quarter indicates that the accumulation at that centre has disappeared. “ Prompts ’’ are quoted at £3 15s, f.0.b., s.i., though there is litle offering at this price, the f.o b s.L figure being about £4 17s 6d. Junes are quoted at £5 2s 6d to. £5 ss, f.O b si and July-Septembers £6 2s 6d ’The Kurow and the Waikouaiti are about to leave for Auckland with a consignment between them, of about 5000 sacks. To May 12 the total shipments from Lyttelton aggregate 76,622 sacks more than usual up to the period of the season. Reports of blight in the crop vary in North Canterbury, and it is claimed that quite an amount of disease has been manifested. Further south the reverse is the case. The onion market has improved and £5 a ton is available, on trucks. Oats have scarcely the “ vim ” about them of a week or two ago, though business has been done in June-Septembers at 4s 4d, f.0.b., s.i., for A Grade. Maj- oats are quoted at 4s 3d. The wheat market remains firm, and as high as 6s 2d, f.0.b., s.i., has been paid by merchants for North Canterbury wheat, or the equivalent of 5s lOd on trucks. Millers are not in the field to anv extent, and their offers are not on this level for Tuscan. Hunters have been sold at 6s, on trucks, there being a keener demand for short berried varieties. Fowl wheat is quoted at 5s Bd, f.0.b., for prompt deliver)- at Lyttleton.

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. Entries for the Winter Show this year are considered quite satisfactory, though the farmers’ entries in the stock, roots, grain, and potato sections are a little disappointing. The women’s sections—bread, scones, and cakes—on the other hand, have been very well patronised. There is one farmer, however, who is an exception to the rule. He is Mr D. Martin, of Beaumont, whose entries total 91, made up of 57 in the fruit classes, 22 in roots, and 12 in the potato sections. Speaking at a dinner in Blenheim accorded to visiting Nelson farmers the other evening, Mr T. Hewartson, one of the visitors, said he had learned that in 1883 the wool yield on one of the Marlborough sheep stations which the party had visited was 80 bales, but last year it was 208 bales, though the number of sheep on the place was the same to-day as in 1883 (states the Express). This demonstrated the tremendous increase in production which could be achieved bj- carrying the right class of stock. Frederick Hansell was fined £5 at Wanganui last week for selling bacon to the health inspector that had been dusted with boric acid to keep away fl es-. “ Prices of land in the Nelson d s'rict generally are lower at present than thejhave been at any time since the war period,” was a statement made by a land valuer at the Compensation Court recently. A'Sland valuer giving evidence in a compensation case heard at the Nelson Court recently stated that he attached no importance to Government valuations, as thej' were always on the low side. As an instance of tim waj- in which dairying is being taken up by the Wanganui River Maoris, a herd of 48 picked stock was taken up-river recentlj- (says the Herald). A considerable number is on order for other suppliers, which should be ample proof of the confidence being placed in the Maori people to make good. Big developments can be looked for when Morikau and Ngarakauwhakarara blocks are subdivided. Speaking to a gathering of farmers at Rangiora on the occasion of an inspection of the New Zealand Farmers’ Cooperative Association’s new grain-cleaning plant, Mr W. Machin said that, while visiting the Dominion, the late Mr H. E. Pratten had told him that New Zealand had killed Australia's exportation of wheat and flour. “ I was so pleased to hear it,” said Mr Machin, *’ that I could not help interjecting that we will take some more of Australia’s dried fruits.”

The thoroughness of the tests carried out at the farmers’ laboratorj- at Hawera was illustrated in a striking manner a few days ago (says the Patea Press). .A Whenuakura farmer, who had been supplying first grade milk throughout the season found when his samples of milk were sent to the laboratorj- for testing purposes that his milk was second grade. What astounded him was the fact that the expert who tested the milk and examined it under the microscope at the laboratorj- was not onlj' able to tell him the actual kind- of bacteria that was causing his milk to be second grade, but also informed him how it was getting into the milk. On inspecting his milking plant the farmer found that what the laboratory expert, Mr Veale, had told him was correct —the fault lay in a defective rubber inflator, which was allowing bacteria to enter the milk and pollute’it. • Needless to say, the farmer, who is paid on the grade of the milk supplied, was thankful to be told what to do to prevent further -pollution. Interesting information .about the bof>by calf or & white veal” industry was disclosed at the recent annual meeting of the Toko Farmers’ Union (reports the Taranaki News). Mr C., Dickie, managing director of the Patea Refrigerating Company, said that concerning the supply of veal for the coming season the demand

was unlimited for all that the country could produce. The advantage of pooling was pointed out by another speaker, who explained how the Southland farmers had pooled their calves, and whereas the farmers of Taranaki had received from 3s 6d to 5s 6d per head for their calves, tha people of Southland were assured of 83 6d per head, with possibly a little more. The Textile Import Company. Ltd., of Russia, has bought up to the end of February 80.000 bales of wool in Australia, 6000 in New Zealand, and 2500 in South America—all merino. The National Dairy Show at Palmerston North this year provides an excellent programme of sporting events, and it is anticipated that the place will be thronged with visitors. Entries close on June 5. Former students of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, will be pleased to learn that it will be possible to reopen the college almost immediately. The task undertaken by the new council at one time looked formidable, and, indeed, has never been easy, but it can now be said that the premier college of its kind will resume active operations a few months hence under extremely encowaging cir

eumstances. Cirencester always possessed distinctive characteristics, and it appears that these will be preserved under the new order.

Wellington 58,392 35.78 Nelson 21,085 28.04 Marlborough 02,507 29.35 Canterbury. . . 3,405,209 40.04 Otago • ■ 497,700 36.01 Southland . . 53,166 34.93 Totals 4,170,951 OATS. 39.05 Quantity Av. yield ... threshed. per acre. Auckland Bushels. Bushels. Gisborne 304 30 40 Hawke’s Bay Taranaki 10,567 34.65 Wellington Nelson Marlborough 29,477 7,756 28,608 42.23 30.-12 32 36 Canterbury . . 1,209,825 44.56 Otago Southland . • 299,519 . . 329,844 47.99 47.32 Totals 1,915.900 45.06