THE NORTH ISLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 17

THE NORTH ISLAND.

GENERAL. The information contained in a recent Vancouver cable message stating that Mr E. J. Herrick was importing Aberdeen Angus bulls and heifers from Canada proves to have been not quite accurate The importations are being made by Messrs Herrick brothers, of Tautanc. Hawke’s Bay.

A striking increase in dairy production is occurring in the Auckland province this season (says the New Zealand Herald) For the first five months of the season butter production throughout the Dominion has increased 11 per cent, ever the output of the corresponding period last season, and the December figures constitute a record for that month.

A full board of butchers is in operation at the Imlay (Wanganui) freezing works. Killing for the season started towards the end of November last, and has developed in volume to suit the offerings of stock. One very’ busy week was •experienced before Christmas and the workers are now killing between 6000 and 7000 a day. The fat lamb trade is at its height. The wintry weather one night last week resulted in heavy mortality among newlyshorn sheep in the Fitzherbert district. Miss J. A. Poppe, of No. 4 Line. Fitzherbert. M ost, was a heavy loser, and it is estimated that 350 sheep perished. The sheep were shorn on Tuesday, but the sudden change in the wind on Thursday brought with it bitterly cold conditions, which the sheep, in their unprotected state, were unable to withstand. A northern fat stock buyer states that while the motor lorry is a handy means of bringing in fat stock from the back country’ to the works, he prefers, whenever be can, to use the rail, for the reason that the sheen do not get jolted about as much as they do on a lorry. He states that the Railways Department is particularly’ attentive to stock buyers and gives them every’ facility to get their stock through quickly.

A Rangitikei farmer just returned from a trip through the Wairarapa remarked to a Northern Advocate reporter that all the grown cattle in New Zealand could be grazed for the next six months in that district without overstocking. Throughout Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay rough feed predominates with the result that sheep, especially lambs, are not doing quite as well as they ought to. The constant rain is also telling against fattening lambs in the districts mentioned, as it is doing in Rangitikei. Hundreds of acres of oats and other crops in Poverty Bay have been knocked down by the heavy rain of the past few days, asserted a Gisborne resident, his observations being the outcome of a tour of the flats (says the Poverty Bay Herald). Much of the grain was just about ready’ for harvesting, and in consequence of the rain a good percentage of it will not be worth the cutting, while in some instances crops which may recover partially will still represent a loss, through thg shaking out of grain. Advices received at Paeroa state that a big movement of sheep intended for the Thames Valley, Hauraki Plains, Waikato, and Westfield has started at Gisborne, in which district over 30,000 head have been purchased for transhipment to those parts. The first flock moved off from tne Gisborne district at the beginning of last week, and, like all the others which aie to follow, is making for the railroad at Taneatua, from which place the sheep will be railed to their destination. The Paeroa railway authorities are now making arrangements to deal with tins exceptional traffic, which will necessitate tne running of a number of special t’ains on the east coast main line, as well as the main line to Auckland.

Unseasonal weather has had its effect on the fat lamb trade (says the Herald). A Wanganui farmer remarked the other day that his first draft killed out much lighter than those sent to the works at the corresponding period last year. It seemed to him that there would be a heavy reduction in returns to farmers Fat lambs killed in New Zealand during 1929 up to December 15 numbered 331,513, compared with 441,418 for the corresponding period of the preceding year. This decrease, of approximately 25 pct cmt.. was wholly due to the weather. Based on current market values of 22s and 23s a diminution in the fat lamb trade of £123.643 was recorded. A Dannevirke youth home from college had his first experience last week of dipping sheep on his father’s farm (says the News). Operations were in full swing. A batch of sheep had been shot into the bath but the person in charge of the crutch for immersing them was temporarily absent. Seizing the opportunity the novice grabbed the crutch, made a push at a sheep, missed, and dived into the dip. He might not have W’on a prize for a neat header, but he went completely under amongst the whirling hoofs of the struggling sheep. The picture he presented on emerging was one that no artist could, or would, paint, but he was

none the worse for his involuntary plunge after a clean up and the taking of a precautionary emetic.

The removal of fat lambs to the freezing works is a big factor these days, in so far as roads are concerned (says the Wanganui Chronicle). A Westmere farmer counted 12 lorry loads pass his residence on a recent morning, and he lives on a by-road. The volume must be abnormally heavy’ on the main routes. The type of lorry used is a double decker and this means of transport is both quick and convenient. It is asserted that lambs driven on the road lose considerably in weight, something up to a pound a day. Quick removal by' motor obviates this, but at the same time the increase in the burden the roads have to bear creates a problem for county’ councils and highway boards to deal with.

ABUNDANCE OF FEED. Although it is causing anxiety in other directions the continuance of showery weather has kept pastures fresh and green in the Manawatu district, which means that dairy cows have not fallen away in milk yields to the same extent as is usual at this time of the year. This is esjiecially noticeable when the mower has been used to prevent the seed stalks and rough growth from getting away. Early mown hay and ensilage paddocks have given a good second crop, which will soon be ready ior cutting again, if needed for hay. Early sown turnips are now ready, so that there is an abundance of suitable feed. Up to the present yields are quite as good and even better than those of last season, which was a record year for production. With the soil full of moisture in January the prospects seem good for a sustained milking season, which will help to compensate for the lower range of prices ior butter-fat until the markets recover. With feed to spare for immediate use an opportunity is offered for putting b.v an extra supply of hay or ensilage as an insurance against times of emergency, even though that time may be a year or two distant. As a general rule, suitable food for dairy cows or other farm stock is not too plentiful in winter and spring time even in normal seasons: therefore, a reserve stack or two are desirable from every point of view. SOUTHDOWN DISPERSAL. There yvas a good attendance at the dispersal sale of Mrs B. H. Slack’s stud of Southdown sheep held on January 13 at Palmerston North. Competition was not particularly spirited, although taken right through the sale was a successful one, and when it is considered that the sheep were brought forward in an entirely' natural state, untrimmed, and practically straight off grass, prices were on a substantial level. It is certain that the present prices of wool and lamb did not have the effect anticipated in regard to the prices paid. Mr James Knight, of Feilding, paid the top price for ewes. This was 20gni for an aged ewe bred by His Majesty the King. Other juices paid for ewes were 13gns, 161 ms, llgns, IGlgns, 9gns, lOAgns, 16gns, 11 “ns, 124gns, 12gns, 14gns, 174gns, lOgns. 12gns, 12gns, figns, 12gns, 12gns, 17gns, 13gns, 151gns. Ewe lambs realised 121ns, 6gns, 7gns. Signs', 4Jgns, 4gns. sjgns, 3jgns, 3-Jgns, etc. I’ens ot ewes realised up to lOlgns: ewe hoggets to 9gns; ram lambs 16gns, 41gns, 25gns. 7gns, 16gns, 91gns, ami 15gns; stud rams 23gns, 19gns, 27gns, 23gns, 12gns, 21gns, 15gns, 22Jgns, and 40gns. the latter prie» being paid by Mr W. 11. Field, M.P.. Waikanae. Pens of ewe hoggets sold at sgns to 6Jgns, pens of ram lambs from 3gns to 4-jgns, and pens of ram hoggets from agns to 9gns. One of the largest buyers was Mr S. O. Wood, of Melbourne, Victoria, who was a contender for the pick of the ewes. Buyers from practically every district in the Dominion competed for the sheep, and as a result the flock has been widely distributed. The average price over all was sgns.

PROBLEM FOR SHEEP FARMERS. pretty problem for sheejy farmers in New Zealand is presented by’ the prevailing conditions in the wool and meat markets at Home, according to Mr J. M. Gouldsmith, a retired Poverty Bay’ farmer, who is now permanently’ residing in England. Gouldsmith is on a holiday’ '■jsit to New Zealand, and informed a Gisborne reporter that Bradford, the great wool centre, is crying out for a strong Lincoln type of ‘wool, of 36-40 count, yvhich is now very’ scarce in the market. Lacking the supplies of this type of wool, which used to come from New Zealand, the wool firms are paying high prices for anything like it they can secure, and West Country yvoolgrowers from Mr Gouldsmith’s neighbourhood received 3d a lb more for their clip in September and October than they expected, the product being a coarse, rough wool. The demand arises from the fact that artificial silk is ruining the trade in fine-wool fabrics, and. moreover, men who formerly paid 12gns and 13gns for a fine suit now go in for a rougher material, and buy two for the same money. To make this coarser material a loyy-er count wool is wanted, and New Zealand is breeding too fine a clip norvadays to meet the demand. THE CHEESE POSITION. “If the industry is as bad as it has been painted in recent years, I look to the Massey Agricultural College for its salvation,” stated Mr II- Bond, of Rangiotu, to a Standard reporter when discussing the recent statement made by’ Mr J. B. M'Ewan on the cheese market at Home. He expressed the conviction that, the experiments at Massey College were being conducted on the right lines, and that ultimately splendid results would be achieved.

“ Personally, I think that it is just a waste of time to bring men out from England when Mr Singleton has been there recently,” stated Mr Bond, in referring to the proposal made by Mr M'Ewan that Mr Ross should "visit the Dominion to explain the requirements of the market. “ I can say that to-day the milk is 100 per cent, better delivered to the factory than 10 years ago, but I think that there is still an excess of fat in milk for cheese from rich-testing cows. I agree partially with the view that rushing the manufacture may’ have something to do with the trouble experienced with cheese.”

I do not think that the cheese position is half so black as it is painted ” commented Mr Bond. ‘'Probably, had there been short supplies, no complaints would have been heard. There happened 5?,. “ J! sur Pl u s, and prices slumped. W hen there yvas not much cheese on Hand lour or five months ago, the Dola!ni?n " as 011 a P r *ee parity’ with Canada. We have excellent pasteurisers and the latest machinery in the factories. I am not a bit afraid of the future,” he concluded.

PROGRESS IN DAIRYING. In an interview with the Napier Telegraph an American journalist. Mr Marshall Dana, who is travelling through the Dominion, said that the Waikato struck mm as the most progressive farming district he had ever seen, and though its man-made production was astounding, he .vet opined that within the next few years it would be further increased by at least a third, and if the growth of nitrogenous manure sables is any indication he will be right. The production of the Waikato always appeals to visitors because it is entirely- the result of forethought and planning on the part of the farmers. Other districts have better land, but most do not make such good use of it. One thing which this visitor could not quite understand was the redundancy of factories in certain districts, and notably’ m parts of j aranaki. He was tremendously impressed with the benefits of cooperation m dairying, and pointed out that in his own country most of the factories were purelv juoprietary. Why, then, the competition between co-opera-tive concerns? That is a question which has given many loaders of the industry food for thought, but only a wider viewjiomt will find the solution. Unfortunately petty interests otten dominate the situation, and prevent the savings ol considerable sums through the reduction of overhead, expenditure. HERD-TESTING OPERATIONS. The past year has proved a most .successful one, the steady progress which the New Zealand Co-operative Herd-test-ing Association has shown during the last few years having been well maintained. stated Mr S. J. Sheaf, actingmanager of the association, recently. 'The actual number of cows tested during November. 1929. was 83.013. compared with 71.032 for the corresponding month last year an increase of 11.981 eows. The average 30-day butter-fat production for each cow under test during November. 1929. was 37.091 b of fat. compared with 36.931 b for the corresponding month last year. By reason of a change in the constitution this association now tests the herd of any dairy farmer, irrespective of the dairy company that member supplies, continued Mr Sheaf. Prior to this alteration in the association’s rules, the only suppliers whose herds the association would test were those sending their milk or cream to co-operative dairy companies.

The call-marking scheme has continued to play an important part in this association's herd improvement campaign. Since the inauguration of the scheme in the 1925-26 season more than 16.000

calves have been marked. The rapid growth of the movement may- be clearly demontrated b.v a comparison between the 1925-26 season, when 641 calves were marked, and the first six months of the present season, during which 5500 have been registered. Prices paid for marked calves have been well maintained, the best price recorded this season being £S each for a line of 10 sold at the drop.