CANTERBURY BUDGET.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 14

CANTERBURY BUDGET.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

ADDINGTON MARKET. CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. There was a tone distinctly reminiscent of happier times about the fat sheep sale at Addington this week, when, in in the face of a short yarding, prices reached levels that have not ruled at any ordinary sale this year. Alost of those interested in the sale had despaired of ever seeing round about 30s paid for a wether, but on Wednesday there were several sales at over that figure, and quite a number at within a few pence of it. Altogether, the results to the vendors made very satisfactory reading. In many cases the sheep were as much as 8s and 9s a head dearer than they were at the sale a fortnight ago, and on a general average they were fully 5s or 6s better. The offering totalled about 3000 head, much the same as the previous week’s. In view of the fairly substantial improvement shown by prices at last week’s sale, this can point to only one thing, and that is that supplies of mutton in the country must be getting on the short side. The usual result of an advance in the market one week is a bigger muster of sheep the next, and the absence of it on Wednesday was significant. With the consistently heavy yardings that have come forward throughout the winter months, this is not very surprising, as they must have constituted a big drain on available supplies. There were not many wethers, which made up about half the entry, that sold below 21s, which, three weeks ago, was the value of a fairlj 7 good sort of sheep. With the exception of a halfdozen or so pens, the tops of the various lines forward exceeded it. The feature of the market was the line of 16 show wethers penned by Mr L. O. Oakley (Rakaia). They were big sheep, fattened to the limit, and they made from 31s Id to 38s 4d, the last price being paid for four two-shear Corriedales. Three others —Shropshire cross—sold at 36s lOd, two at 33s Id, four at 32s lOd, and the other three at 31s Id. There were several pens of early-shorn wethers offered, and the sheep looked well. Just how much value is placed upon wool these days is indicated by the fact that one pen of shorn sheep made ISs 9d, and another pen of woollies out of the same draft sold at 19s 3d to 20s 7d. There were well-bred sorts, carrying good fleeces of halfbred wool. The pick of the shorn sheep made up to 26s 4d, 81 selling on behalf of an unnamed vendor from 19s 7d to that figure. The tops of the ewe offering sold at 27s Id, three out of a line of six selling on account of Mr W. K. Wilson (Alethven) making this price. After a delay of some months, the first main drafts of the Otago and West Coast consignments made their belated appearance in the fat cattle pens on Wednesday. As a rule, supplies from this source are forwarded in the mid-winter months, but the disappointing prices that have ruled during the cold season have forced their owners to keep'them in the paddocks. Indications are, however, that from now

on there will be fairly regular supplies j from these sources, where there are a lot of cattle ready for the market. It is understood that there will be about 10 trucks up from the south for the next sale, and that consignments will also be coming forward from the coast. The entry of 339, which was 14 higher than at the previous sale, was absorbed by the demand without any difficulty, the increase not being severe enough to affect the market. As a matter of fact, the sale throughout was, if anything, a little keener than it was the preceding week, and a good clearance was effected. On the average, prices remained firm at late rates, and in the case of some of the steer beef there was a slight appreciation. Quality, as well as the moderate size of the offering, influenced the steady, and sometimes spirited, demand, a feature of the market being the proportion of wellfinished, medium weight cattle of all [ ' classes penned. The outside lines consisted chiefly of Hercfords and Shorthorns, and their long spell on feed had brought out their condition, though one or two showed signs of going back a little as a result of being held for too long. It was among the Otago line that the top-priced steer of the day was included. These cattle were sold on account of Air J. Murray (Alosgiel), and were split up into three lots. For one lot of seven steers the prices paid ranged from £l4 7s 6d to £l7 7s 6d. a figure not recorded at Addington for many weeks. The average for them was £l5 15s 4d. Another seven made from £l4 12s 6<l to £l6 7s 6d, and two cows brought £ll 7s fid and £l2 12s 6d respectively. The best of the beef was making up to 35s a 1001 b. with some exceeding this price. A lot of the steer beef made over 30s. There was little to interest buyers in the store sheep pens on Wednesday. The total yarding amounted to 10 pens, most of them only sparsely occupied, and with the exception of a couple of lots of hoggets it was a most unimpressive-looking collection. Buyers were found for most of the offering at prices that were quite satisfactory 7. In fact, in some cases there was a noticeable improvement in values, and taking an average over the whole sale they were probably Is a head better. Ewes and lambs sold quite well, and from the strength of the inquiry it appeared as if the market could have absorbed more of them without any trouble. Up to 8s 8d w 7 as paid for this elass of sheep, two sales of small lots being recorded at this figure. The first one sold was a line of 42 three-quarterbred ewes, with sound and failing mouths, and 47 lambs. The ewes -were big framed sorts, but were a little on the shabby side, and the lambs, which had not been tailed, were uneven. Hoggets were wanted, and those that changed hands did so at reasonably good prices. The best sale for ewe hoggets was 13s. which was paid for a small line of three-quarterbred ewes.

DAIRYING METHODS. Following on a recommendation made at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Herd Testing Association recently, members of the executive of the association waited on Professor R. E. Alexander, director of the Canterbury Agricultural College, this week, and put forward to him a number of suggestions in connection with dairying with the view to making some effort to improve existing methods in the province. Among them it was suggested that information should be published concerning the growing of green crops other than grass, the making of ensilage, and the methods of maintaining a balanced ration by the proper use of legumes and grasses. It was also asked that the college undertake the practical demonstration on its present herd of the value of the use of animals of milk record breeding, and in particular the value of the introduction into a herd of high milk record sires, the object being to show the possibilities of increased production without loss of constitution. Published information on various points was also asked for.

It was pointed out by Professor Alexander, in reply, that although in sympathy with the suggestions, it was not possible under present circumstances for the college to carry some of •'hem into effect. The function of the college was teaching and arable farming, and ic could not undertake any further activities, unless they came within the scope of’ the work laid down by the Act of 1927. Literature put out by the college showed that it had been doing as much for the dairy farmer as the present conditions allowed. The members of the association decided Co recommend to their council that a deputation should wait on the Board of Governors of the college and urge the advisability of the college giving a lead to dairy farmers in Canterbury in up-to-date methods. LAMBING RETURNS. Some good lambing percentages have been recorded in the Ashburton district this season, one farmer who has tailed about two-thirds of his flock of about 1000 ewes getting a return of 143 per cent. This is after deducting losses during the recent bad weather, when he lost about 20 per cent, of the lambs dropped then." Another farmer nearby has recorded a return of 150 per cent., and most farmers in this district regard the season as a record one. Among the smaller flocks there have been, some exceptionally good returns. One man's flock of 22 Southdown ewes dropped 37 lambs, and where flocks have numbered several hundreds-the percentages have in several cases exceeded 140.