OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 4041, 25 August 1931, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO. The weather was at -times of an inclement nature in Otago during the with, however, rain showers of a useful nature, and there is some evidence of spring in sheltered localities. BURNSIDE MARKET. Fat stock continue to come in freely, and the requirements of butchers at the Burnside Metropolitan Market being comparatively trifling, together with an absence of speculative buying, all tend to make sales more or less difficult, with the result that values .show but very slight appreciation indeed. The entry of fat cattle was relatively large—269 as against 241 the previous Week. The quality was for the most part good, including many pens of prime bullocks and heifers, with .an extra good top of heavy-weight cattle in prime condition. The demand was -quiet, and only towards the close did light, well-conditioned animals firm up a little. -Generally best heavy-weight bullocks declined £1 10s to £2 per head, lighter sorts being down £1 a head, with beef making on an average around 31s per 1001 b for finished cattle but of no undue fatness.

A yarding of 2516 .sheep (2706 the previous week) comprised a few pens of heavy-weight, open-wool wethers, a number of close-woolled wethers and ewes, and a moderate .supply of heavy e.wes, together with some 60.0 medium to fair hoggets. Heavy wethers were very firm to a shade better than a week ago. with heavy ewes Is up, and light-sorts generally meeting with .a fair demand. Butcher’s wethers made to 3jd per lb. A fair clearance of hoggets ensued at 9s 6d to 12s and up to 17s for well-conditioned aorts.

Store cattle were not of an attractive nature, although in the 50 yarded some very fair two-and-a-half-year-.old steers were looked over with interest, and were not dear at £4 to £4 13s. Cows made up the Balance, and sold at up to £4 ss. The fat pig section attracted attention, and prices are encouraging. An .entry of 82 fats (80 last sale) moved off under keen coinpetition, and the best rates of the previous week were obtained. Generally prices were up 5s a head, baconers making elose up to 7d and pokers to 8d per lb; while the small stores were ail wanted —80 compared with .30 the previous week. COUNTRY STOCK SALES. BALCLUTHA. There was a good demand for fat sheep at the fortnightly sale on Friday, but the sale of stores was sticky.” Heavy weight wethers made 18s to 245; others, 12s to 17s; heavy ewes, 1.2 s to 16s; light ewes, 8s to Ils. There were no hoggets. Store wethers made 8s to 12s; good ewe hoggets, Ils 7d; small ditto, 8s 6d; wether hoggets, 6s to 7s fid; sound-mouthed ewes, 8s to 12s; failing mouthed ewes (good), -6s fid to 8s fid; poor ditto, Is Id to 2b 3d. Fat cows realised £4 10s to £6 10s; forward bulloeks, £7 12s fid; two-year-old steens, £3 to £4; empty cows, £2 IDs. A good yarding of dairy cows .sold at from £4 10s to £lO 12b fid. There was a good demand for the tetter .sorts close to profit. A small yarding of sucker pigs sold at from l"s to 275. MILKING SHORTHORNS. At the Invercargill Show Grounds recently Mr John Bateman, of Bay road, held his annual .sale of purebred “Hollies” Milking .Shorthorn cattle. The ■offering was a small -one, totalling 11 head, but the quality of the stock, all yearling heifers and bulls, was excellent and attracted a considerable amount -of attention there being a good attendance. Despite the unfavourable season experienced, the stock were brought out in excellent condition, and all gave promise of developing into good dairy animals. There was keen competition for several of tlie heifers and ‘bulls, -which showed good type and were backed by good butter-fat records, the highest price secured being 25 guineas, which waspaid for a yearling heifer. Hollies Hazel 3rd whose sire, Hol Hob Bonny Boy, has n .good show record with 'good butter-fat backing, and whose dam, Matangi Hazel, has established good show records, and has registered some good production performances under test. Another promising heifer by the same sire and from a dam with a C.O.R. of 5721 b of fat. realised 20 guineas. Prices wei<e on the easy side for such attractive cattle, but in view of the considerable reduction in values, tlie sale must be considered a very successful one. The average for the 11 head, all of which were sold at auction, reached tlie satisfactory figure of 164 guineas, which compares favourably with recent sales of purebred yearling •stock. Otago purchasers included Messrs John Christie and Sons (Warepa). F Chittock (Kelso)., and P. G. Ford (Outram).

THE ROYAL SOCIETY. The Koval Agricultural Society of England, whose show opened at Warwick on July 7 under the presidency of Sir Arthur- Hazlerigg, was more fortunate than the Highland Society in that not only did the relaxations of foot-and-mouth disease restrictions permit of the exhibition of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats from all but certain areas of England, but also from many parts of Scotland. The following championship awards were made in the sections designated-— Messrs Templeton had the Clydesdale .stallion championship and reserve -with their Benedictine and The Factor respectively. The female .championship went to Mr Robert Park for his great mare Brimstone Phyllis, with G. M. Beck’s first prize two-y.ear-gld filly Lane Lucky Girl .as reserve. The championship in the Aysfiire section, which carried .with it the Cowhill Cup for the best Aymhire. was won by Messrs A. and A. Kirkpatricks Barr June, with Mrs TV. W. Bourne’s Biilldclunartiii Cinderella 7th reserve. The Oklner Cup for the beet co-w or heifer with a milk record of over ,1000 gallons went to Barr J'une, with Mr John K. Drummond's Borgower Princess 7th reserve.

STIRLING HERD-TESTING GROUP. Fully 50 farmers and others interested were present at the annual meeting of the Stirling Herd-testing Group, which was held last week. Mr A. A. Jenson occupied the chair. The chairman welcomed Mr C. M. Hume (the federation supervisor) and Mr Osborne (secretary of the Southland Association, Gore).. The report and balance sheet (which showed a small credit balance) were adopted, and the election of a committee resulted in the re-election of the old committee, with the -exception that Messrs P. Dippie and Cuthbertson did not seek re-election, and Messrs H. Holgate and E. Stiven were elected in their stead. Afterwards the cormnittee will elect its own president. Meskrs Jenson and H. C. Anderson were re-elected delegates to the meeting of directors of the Southland Association to be held at Gore.

Mr Hume addressed the meeting for one hour and a-half, illustrating some of his subjects by the aid of lantern slides In dealing with pig-keeping for dairy farmers, he stressed the importance of pig recording in order to determine the sows that were producing tlie weights that would pay to keep. He also pointed out that herd-testing and top-dressing were really co-subjects because, while one improved the milk capacity of the herd the other improved the laud, and made it give of its best. Comparing figures in relation to Denmark and New Zealand the speaker said that whilst the average of butter-fat per cow was not bo great in the Dominion as in Denmark, yet the rate of increase in the last five years here was greater than it had been in 20 years in Denmark. In conclusion, Mr Hume empliasised tlie value of ensilage in the ration of file dairy cow.

BUTTER-FAT RECORD. It was shown in the report of tlie Stirling herd-testing group which was presented at the annual meeting that the herd average for the group was 2561 b of butter-fat per cow this year, whereas last year it was 2591 b. This looks as if the group had gone back, but the fact is that the B cows (second grade) were this year included, whereas last .vear they were kept in a class by themselves. The highest testing herd in the group -was that of Mr W. Stiven (Parutai), which gave 3231 b butter-fat per cow. from a herd of 47 in 254 days. The lowest testing herd had an average of 1491 b in 222 days. The highest testing individual cow (the property of Messrs T. Johnston and Son. Inch Clutha) produced 5131 b of fat for the season. A most encouraging aspect of the report was that a number of large herds showed splendid averages, as for example one herd of 72 cows which yielded an average of 3061 b butter-fat in 222 days. WOOL INDUSTRY COSTS. The Arbitration Court’s decision to grant a reduction of 10 per cent, in Tates of pay, while very welcome as an indication that tlie court recognises the gravity of the position, does not hold out much hope of improvement in conditions for the sheep owner, who finds himself still under the necessity to pay far too heavy a proportion of the gross produet from his sheep for -mustering, shearing, etc. (says the annual report of the Canterbury Sheep Owners’ Union).. The mustering rates for the coming season under tile general order will be:— For musierers by the week £3 17s fid, by tlie day 15s lid, with 15s lid extra for Sundays on which they are required to muster.

For packmen by the week £3 4s, by the day 14s 7d. Packmen engaged by the week are to be paid an additional 14s 7d for any Sunday on which they are required to work. For snow raking by the day, £1 2s 6d. For youths: First year,. £1 7s per week; second year, £1 16s per week. And found in all the above cases. For drovers, per day, 19s fid, nnd all necessary expenses. With wool.prices as at present, it takes approximately one bale of wool per week to pay the cost for each musterer, and Hie impossibility of maintaining the present Tates of pay on those sheep stations where from 10 to 12 musterers are required for from five to six months each season must be apparent; and unless either ft substantial reduction -in costs of production, or a corresponding rise in prices occurs immediately, large areas of pastoral land must necessarily go out of production, with a corresponding further diminution in the national income, not only from a lessened quantity of exports of wool, etc., but also te the Government on account of the inability of Crown tenants to realise sufficient for their product to paj - Crown rents. .

Tn an entry of 113 Red Polls, compared with 96 last year, the male championship was won by the Earl of Stradbroke, Henham Hall. Suffolk, with the four-year-old bull Henham Rajah bb Hutton Assessor. Captain Allan Richardson, Seven Springs, Cheltenham, was reserve with a two-year-old bull, Springs Quebec, by Sudbourne Loyalist. The female championship went to Captain Sir H.. E. de Trafford. Bart,, Newsells Park. 'Royston. for the nineyear old cow. Kirton Patsy, by Lichfield Victor; Mr Owen H. Smith being reserve with the four-year-old Upton Queen B by Hatton Fabulist.

By common consent the shorthorn male championship was awarded to Mr A. J. Marshall for his stylish red first prize ■aged bull. Balcairn Colonel, bred by Mr F. L. Wallace. The reserve ticket went to Sir Gomer Berry for his first prize two-year-old bull Cluny Rosewood Rover, bred by Lady Cathcart and purchased for 720 guineas at Perth. The Bapton Shorthorn Company, Limited, got the female championship with their first prize two-year-old heifer, Bapton Orange Blossom 3rd. while the reserve went to Sir Gomer Berry for his first prize Upper-mill-bred yearling Rosewood Countess by Millhills Broad Arrow. Mr Marshall was widely complimented upon his great success. This is the sixth or seventh occasion on which lie has won the Shorthorn chanrnionshin at the Royal Show, mid it may be recalled that he won the championship here three times running with hie great bull Bridgebank Paymaster. The male Polled Angus championship went to Mr W. Gilchrist Macbeth, of Dunira for his handsome two-year-old bull Erman. of Dunira. Viscount Allendale being r s rve with his first prize old bull Elurio of Nisbrthill, The supreme

championship, however, was awarded to Lady Robinson for her first prize two-year-old heifer matchless of Amport, the reserve going to the second winner in the same class —Captain Atkinson’s Bona Maid of Banks. The females thus completely out-classed the bulls for supreme honours.- The Dunira champion bull and Viscount Allendale’s reserve were the best and second best animals of the opposite sex to the champion. Lady Robinson's champion got the silver medal for the best, animal bred in England or Wales, the reserve in this being Mt E. K. Brook’s second prize cow.- The best animal bred by exhibitor was the Dunira champion bull, and the reserve Mr J. P. Ross Taylor’s second winner in the champion bulls’ class —Mungos Gregalaeh. One of the most interesting features of the show was the remarkable success achieved in the British Friesian section by a Scottish herd, namely that of the trustees of Sir Alasdair W. Macßobert, Bart. Douneside, Tarland, Aberdeenshire, which not only had an. important share of the class prizes, but won outright the Wobaston Cup for the best bull bred by exhibitor.

The male champion was the Dounesidebred three-year-old bull, Douneside Marcellus, by Douneside Pel Klaas, shown by Mr George Gee. Ely Grange. Frant, Essex, which, in the hands of Lady Macßobert, won the same honour for Scotland at last year’s ’‘Royal,” but, having already won the Wobaston Cup, he was ineligible to compete again for the trophy, which .accordingly went to the reserve male champion, which was Lady Mac-Roberts nine-year-old bull Douneside Masterpiece by Cradlehall (Imp.) Hollander 2nd, which was also second to Marseims in his ciass. As Lady Macßob.’rt has now won the Wobaston Cup three times in succession, it becomes her own property. The reserve for the cup was the two-year-old bull. Hales Burika, bj’ Hache Buringa, shown by Mr Ernest B. Hall, Hales Hall, Market Drayton.

Mr J. R. Upson, Rush Court, Wallingford, won the female championship with his first prize cow in milk —-the five-year-old Moulsoe Elsie 2nd by Moulsop Gold m King. The reserve ticket went to Mr T. E. Gladstone. Miirg ry r -jus. County Durham, for his eight-year-old cow in milk, Royds Glofisie.

DAIRY COMPANIES. HEDGEHOPE. The report of the Hedgehope Dairy Company states that prices realised for cheese were disappointing. -<l> • n for butter-fat was correspondingly low. The output was 123 tons, or i .ess than last year. From September to December an average payment was made to suppliers of .9 Id per lb butter-fat. and from January to the end of season 8d p-T lb. A further payment of lid per lb will be made for the latter part of the year, making a total pay-out of 9Ad per lb for the Beason. A nummary is as follows: — Milk, 2,862,3651 b: cheese, 275.9871 b; butter-fat, 103,1621 b; test, 3.64; milk to lb of cheese, 10.37; cheese from lb -of lint tor-fat, 2.67. NORTHOPE. The seventh annual report of the Northope-TlaiTy••Factory states that the output was 6 tons JesX than last year, 54 tons cheese being manufactured. To the end of December the directors adopted a ■consignment policy. From the beginning orf January a sale “was made at 54d per lb. The returns enabled a cash payment to be made of 9d per -lb butter-fat. plus bank reduction Id per lb. The loan account will now te reduced to £785 4s &d, •while the general account will be in erecLt £22 6s Id. Summary:—Milk, 1,204.3331 b; cheese, 121,4341 b; butter-fat, 44,5891 b; test, 3.70; milk to lb of cheese, '9.91; cheese from lb of butter-fat, 2.72. HOKONUI.

Tlie eighth season of the Hokonui Dairy Company has been the poorest one for the dairy farmer since the inception of the company. The output was fairly well maintained. 42 tons cheese being manufactured, .as against 45 tons last year. Owing to the low prices received,. the payment for butter-fat was very disappointing. Allowing for £l5O written off as depreciation, the actual value of the butter-fat is 8d per lb. At the beginning of tlie season a waxing plant was ifistalied. This meant a saving of 1 per cent, slirinkage. Summary:—Milk. 986,5171 b: cheese, 93,4741 b; butter. 35,3111 b; test. 3.57; milk to lb cf idieese, 10.55; cheese from lb of butter-fat, 2.64. BOGGY BURN. The annual report of the Boggj- Burn 'factory states that tlie twenty-first -year has been the poorest exiierieneed since the inception of tlie company. The output was six tons less than last season, 209 tons being manufactured. To the end of December the cheese was sold on consignment. A sale was then made of 50 tons at 54d per lb, and later on the balance of the output was disposed of atfi l-8d per lb. An average payment of 9Jd per lb butter-fat was made during the year. A further pay ment of lAd is now being distributed, making the total 10jd. A 6 per oent. dividend is also being made, absorbing in all £lll4 13s 9d. 'Summary.—Milk, 4,626.61 lib; cheese 468,1061 b: butter-fat, 168.7501 b; test, 3.64; milk to lb cheese, 9.88; cheese Hom lb of butter-fat, 2.77. BROWNS. Tlie annual report of the Browns Dairy Factory shows a decided drop in the payout for butter-fat. A further payment of Id per lb is now being made, making the total pay-out just over 9d per lb. The bank overdraft will be reduced .by £2OO, so the actual value of butter-fat is equal to Old. Towards the end of the season sales of the cheese on hand were made at ssd and sjd per lb. The bulk of the output was sold on consignment, the prices realised being disappointing. During tlie year a waxing plant was installed, this effecting a saving of 1 per -cent, in shrinkage. Summary.—Milk, 3,-063,5281b; cheese, 300,5421 b; butter-fat, 109,8041 b; test, 3.58; milk to lb of cheese. 10.191b;cheese from lb butter-fat, 2.731 b. . ' ' LOCHIEL. The directors of the Lochiel Dairy Factory report that the output was 267 tons, which is one ton less than last year. The season has been a poor one for the dairy farmer. The bulk of the cheese was sold' on consiginnent. The prices realised were very disappointing. A short time ago a sale Was made of 82 tons at BJd and SJd per lb. It has been decided to

make a further paynTCnt of Jd per lb butter-fat- from September to the end of January, and 3d per lb from February; this will make the total payment lOiJd per lb. for the season. Satisfactory arrangements have Deem made for the disposal of the surplus whey and waste water. The installation of pipes, pump, motor, well, etc., will cost slightly over £5OO, but as the repayment to the bank may be spread over a number of years, it will not be much hardship on the suppliers. Summary.—Milk. 5.797,9331 b; cheese. 598.9621 b; butter-fat, 220 3341 b; test. 3.8: milk to lb of cheese, 9.671 b; cheese from lb of butter-fat. 2.71 b. GLENHAM.

Mr W. Diack presided at the annual meeting of the Glenham Dairy Factory, when a representative gathering adopted the report and balance sheet. The quantity xif milk received at the factory during the season was as f0110w5:—4,262,0891b. containing 164.4891 b butter-fat; the average test was 3.85; the output of cheese being 430.2501 b. One lb butter-fat made 2.6151 b cheese. Milk to 11b cheese, 9.91 b. Payments during the season were—September Is, October-November lOd. December 9d, January-February Bd, March to end of season lOd. A further payment can now be made of IJd for tlie months of January to end of season. The average payment to suppliers for the season will be 10.33 d. The manager and staff have carried out their duties during the season to the satisfaction of the board. The grade of the cheese is uniformly good. Mr Bennie continues in his position as manager. The directors recommend that a dividend of 6 per cent, on the paid-up capital of the company be declared. For the office of two directors there were four nominations, viz.. Messrs James Bruce. ■James Scott. D. MKenzie. and F. Wliite. At the resulting election Messrs James Bruce and James Scott were returned as directors for the ensuing term. Messrs Bruce and Scott returned thanks for their election. The question of milk payments on grade was discussed, and the Dai rv Department’s proposals were considered unworkable. The opinion was expressed that the grading of milk at Glenham factory was unnecessary in -view of the high grading of cheese manufactured, and it was considered that the manager was quite capable of dealing with the milk supply. At a subsequent meeting of directors Mr W. Diack was re-elected chairman. JOTTINGS. Stock business in Otago is practically at a standstill, with prices showing little if any variation, to those ruling early in the month for store sheep or cattle. Messrs J. E. Watson and Co., Ltd., report the sale of the Waimea homestead block of 1050 acres, and house, from Mr Reuben Butler to Mr' Walter S. Miller, of Wendon.

Farmers in the Maruia district have been having a trying time with their cattle owing to the severe winter ami continual snows (says the Nelson Evening Mail). Owing to the depth of the snow it has been impossible to carry on the usual routine farm work.

.According to a number of analyses carried out by Professor Park of a limestone deposit at the south end of Lake Hayes, the lime content (calcium carbonate) proved to be fairly high, and is excellently -suited to the needs of Crown Terrace settlers who may .contemplate topdressing land deficient in lime. There is some inquiry for eafly-cnlving dairy cows of good milking strain and in a satisfactory condition, but not many of

this class are offering i n Otago. After all, there is nothing in sight more promising than the breeding cow of type and ewe in lamb. Lack of early grass prospects is evidently deterring the usual buyers of store sheep apart from present low wool rates.

A scheme for the improvement of the flocks and herds of the Dominion by prohibiting the public sale of scrub sires was brought under the notice of the directors of the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association at their meeting the other day. The directors briefly discussed the proposal and decided to support it. and biffig it before breed societies of the province and the Stock and Woolbrokers’ Association.

Fat cattle are rather cheaper, judging from prices ruling at Burnside, than was tlie case early in August. Roots are now in small compass, and tlie market has been fully sujiplied both with prime cattle and three-parts finished bullocks. Compared with values at this time last year, prime bulloeks to-day in the met 10politan market are fully’ 16s per 1001 b lower, or, say. £4 to £5 under rates ruling in 1930 at this time -of the year. It is stated by Dlr George Britten, secretary for the Hereford Herd Book Society (England), that the Russian Cooperative Society, through the Co-opera-tive Wholesale Society, have just purchased from Herefordshire breeders of pedigree Hereford cattle I'3l heifers and 59 bulls. The animals are young, ranging from 14 to 30 months. This shipment of 190- animals is the biggest consignment for 20 years.

Good work in giving boys opportunity to take up farming is being performed by the Future Farmers’ Committee of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League in the North Island. Within tlie last mouth the committee has been instrumental in placing 20 boys in positions in districts from south of Tanmarunui to Northern Wairoa and in the Bay of Plenty, and six or eight other applications will be finalised in the course of a few days. A Wanganui Herald reporter has been shown a photograph of a sheep pen u;u.;y scarred by shear marks. This has been sent from a well-known freezing works to its representative to bring under the notice of farmer clients. A covering letter states that 60 per cent, of the skins sent in to the works are damaged in this way, and in consequence fully 40 per cent, have to be placed in a lower grade. The photograph and letter will be brought under the notice of the Farmers’ Union.

The dairy industry is no longer one which any man connected with only one, phase of it—as, for example, the farmer —can hope to understand fully,” said the president of tlie New Zealand Dairy Factory Managers’ Association (Mr P. C. 11. Peterson). “Only by the combined working of the farmer, the scientist, the dairy manufacturer, and the men who market the produce, can anything be done which will adequately deal with the problems of the industry to-day.” An organism has been discovered in certain cold stores which emits a strong musty odour. Experts at Cambridge, England, shut it up in a cupboard with fresh meat and eggs and found that it would taint these foodstuffs, even although it never came into contact with them. Eggs .which were kept at a considerable distance away took on a musty flavour in a fortnight, even after -they were boiled. Possibly this germ may cause meat and eggs to taste stale when they are really perfectly fresh.

“ Our Meat Control Board is a source of envy to Australian growers, and its good work and its high value to the industry

were generally recognised in remarks made to our delegatee at the Empire Wool Conference in Melbourne in June,” stated Mr R. M. Morten in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Sheepowners’ Union in Christchurch the other night. ‘‘A word of appreciation is due to the board for the efficient way in which the extraordinary large output of lamb has so far been handled this season.” At the conclusion of the dairymen’s meeting at Wyndham the chairman announced that the dividend on calf sales was payable at the company’s office. A private firm was in the field to compete in buying calves. Mr Fisher urged dairymen to continue their support to their own co-operative concern. The other might go for several years, and, if it got the business, they would be at the mercy of the private firm. In the long run it would pay to support their own enterprise.

Notwithstanding the difficult times it is pleasing to notice in the StrathTaieri district the amount of topdressing that is being carried out, and it is also apparent that there is to be more cultivation than in former years. The area in wheat will be small, as wheatgrowers in the district have been unfortunate for the last two years. A few early lambs are to be seen, and are doing well, but there is not a great number so far.

“ The depression has not been so hard on the fruit industry as on other branches of farming.” remarked the president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation (Mr T. C. Brasch), who is also a member of the Fruit Control Board. “ Fruit prices this year are likely to be higher than in the previous year—that is, for export.” He added that while the industry had not been affected so materially by the slump it had to be borne in mind that it did not experience inflation during the boom period. “We had not 2s 6d a lb for butter-fat,” he remarked. Returns of the quantities of lime used in New Zealand for the year ended March 31 last show a decrease of 10 per cent, compared with the previous year. In the South Island the decrease amounts to over 20 per cent., but the quantity used in the North Island —which is considerably less than that in South Island — shows a fairly substantial increase, amounting to 20 per cent., thus reducing the total decrease for the Dominion. During the past year, 154,293 tons of lime were delivered at officered railway stations compared with 171,530 tons similarly handled in the previous year. In the South Island 81,615 tons were delivered, compared with 111,063 tons the previous year, and in the North Island 72,678 tons, compared with 60,467 tons.