OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 4057, 15 December 1931, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO. The sunny weather conditions experienced during the week, although most pleasant, are not conducive to the best interests of the man on the land. The eountry is fast drying up. and the outlook is not too promising in regard to stock feed. In North Otago tfie conditions are lot good. WOOL SALES, 1931-32. REGULATION OF OFFERINGS. The New Zealand Wool Committee, «omprising representatives of the producers, woolbrokers, and woolbuyers, have arranged the maximum aggregate, quantities of wool which may be. offered at the jales:— . 1931. Bales. December 18, Dunedin .. 25,000 1932. January 6, Wellington .. 30,000 January 11, Napier .. .. 30,000 January 15, Wanganui .. 30,000 January 19, Auckland .. .. 25,000 ' January 25, Christchurch .. 25,000 January 29, Invercargill .. 30,000 February 2, Dunedin .. .. 30,000 February 5, Timaru .. .. 20,000 February 11, Wellington .. 30,000 February 16, Napier . . . . 25,000 February 19, Wanganui .. 30,000 February 25, Christchurch .. 25,000 March 1, Dunedin .. .. 30,000 March 4. Invercargill . . .. (no limit) March 11, Wellington .. 30.000 March 16, Napier .. .. 25,000 March 21, Auckland .. .. (no limit) March 31, Christchurch .. (no limit) April 4, Dunedin (no limit) April 7, Timaru (no limit) April 11, Wellington .. .. (no limit) April 14, Napier (no limit) ' April 16, Wanganui .. .. (no limit) BURNSIDE MARKET. The outstanding features at the recent jat stock sale at the Burnside Metropolitan Market were the lower prices ruling for fat cattle and lambs, and also for fat pigs, while fat sheep about held recent values. The supplies of bullocks and lambs were comparatively large, in view of the weak demand experienced. An entry of 366 fat cattle (260 last sale) was comprised of a large proportion of average weight bullocks, some extra choice, and rather more heifers and ■ cows than at the previous sale. Opening • slackly, matters became worse as the sale progressed. good bullocks declining sharply, while a number were passed out. Good average weight finished bullocks receded 20s to 35s- a head, and light. 15s a head, beef making the lowest price for a very long period, prices to 22s 6d per 1001 b. About 1800 fat sheep (2100 last sale), all but 2.00 being shorn, elicited a faildemand to a shade better early in the sale, but towards the finish prices were barely maintained, and generally good shorn wethers made about the same as the previous week, that is, to 3ld per lb. The quality was fairly good, seme excellent pennings of wethers being offered. also plain to good ewes. The yarding of 597 fat lambs (462 last sale comprised, .for the .most part, good sorts, of average to heavy weights, with a few indifferent-pennings. There was a slow demand throughout, with a decline towards the close of the sale. Early sales were made at a reduction of 3s . on heavy, and ‘2s to 3s on light prime lambs, easing another Is a head ere the finish, lambs'making about up to 5d per lb. . The store cattle section was better supplied than has been the case at recent sales, some 150 inclusive of 40 to 50 mature bullocks, the balance being odd sorts of cows and young cattle. Generally speaking, the pick of the entry moved oil fairly well at possibly a shade better than usual, aged bullocks making £5 6s to £6. and very fair one and a-half-year-old in good order to £3, others unchanged. The supply of fat pigs, 110 (170 last sale), proved to be an over supply, and prices of porkers and bacon pigs declined, the former 5s and the latter 7s 6d per head, porkers making to Gid and baconers to barely 5d per lb. Stores to the number of 119 (GO last sale) sold 3s to 5s lower than rates of a week ago. LOOK AFTER THE DOGS. The Tail-waggers' Club, the dog membership of which now approximates 500.000, and which has already raised £20.000 for dog charities, has recently made the following further donations: —Glasgow Veterinary College. £500: Bristol Dogs' Home, £100: Plymouth Dogs' ITome. £5O: Royal Veterinary College. £25: Our Dumb Friends' League, £25. MONTHLY FAT LAMB COMPETITION. With a view to further stimulating interest amongst farmers and graziers in the export Jamb trade, the South Australian branch of the Australian Society of Breeders of British Sheep has decided to conduct a series of monthly competitions during the ■ 1932 season. A prize of £5 5s is to be offered each month for the best consignment of 15 lambs, sired by British breed rams flrom flocks registered in recognised stud books, which can be shipped to London during the months of July to November inclusive. It . is understood that breeders will be required to make entry on forms supplied by the society. This will specify approximate date of birth, breed of sire and dam. and district where raised. The lambs will be judged for grade and quality both before shipment and on arrival in England. THE DRAUGHT HORSE. It was reported at the Shire Horse Society’s Council meeting recently, says the Scottish Farmer, that over 1100 entries had been received for the next volume of the Shire Stud Book, and that these include 50 more stallions than were registered in the last volume. This is an indication of the general improvement in the heavy horse trade that has been

noticeable for some time in other directions, and no doubt it will mean more heavy horse breeding next year. But it was not the only indication of the revival of horse breeding. No fewer than 73 new members were admitted to the society (making 175 new members for the year), and the council also approved of stud prefixes applied for by the owners of 22 studs. The Clydesdale Horae Society Council at its meeting also admitted the record number of 52 new members. The improved trade for "heavy horses has been noticed at the sales at Lanark, Ayr, Perth, and elsewhere. liven when horse breeding was at its lowest ebb, good, sound, weighty geldings could always command a satisfactory price; but such horses are becoming scarce. This year the horse trade has been surprisingly good, and despite the continued depression in farming and the decline in arable cultivation. prices have on the whole been fully better than last year. If farmers start to break up more land, as they may quite well do in the belief that the Government will impose tariffs, the demand for work horses will exceed the supply. At Lanark the best Clydesdale geldings made to £Bl (twice) and £BO (twice), three-yea T-olds to £B2, and two-year-olds to £9l, and many were sold at prices 3rom £5O to £7O. Prices above £7O for geldings have been reported at Perth and Newtown St. Boswells, and the good demand for young Clydesdale females augurs well for the future of the breed, yearling fillies having made up to £lOO and £73, two-year-olds to £Bl and £BO. and filly foals to £64 each. Shires and Suffolks have also met with an encouraging trade at recent sales in England. THE ROYAL SHOW. The General Committee of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association is to offer the Royal Show Society a special inducement to establish the Royal Show at Palmerston North alternately with Christchurch. If the offer is accepted the Manawatu Association has expressed its willingness to go to the expense of erecting additional permanent accommodation. The president (Mr L. B. Wall) said the suggestion had come forward that the Royal Show should be held in Palmerston North and Christchurch in alternate years. It would no doubt be better for a definite location for the show to be fixed, and in his opinion the Royal Show Society would doubtless welcome the suggestion. Mr J. Linklater, M.P., said that as a member of the Royal Show Society he would be pleased to place the suggestion before the society The Manawatu Association should be informed if there was a reasonable prospect of the show being held in the Manawatu every alternate year. COUNTRY STOCK SALES. BALCLUTHA. At the fortnightly sale sheep prices slumped considerably, owing largely, it is said, to the fact that one big buyer was operating only very lightly compared to his usual practice. There were a few fat lambs forward (first of the season), which brought 12s 6d; fat wethere in wool at up to 21s 9d, and shorn ditto to 13s: fat ewes 8s 6d to Ils 6d, fat hoggets 12s 3d;_ ewes and lands (all counted), 6s to 7s Gd, aged and inferior ditto 3s to 4s 3d, two-tooth ewes 10s Bd, ditto wethers 8s 3d. Bullocks (three to four years) were passed at £6; two-year-olds, £2 3s lOd. Dairy cows sold at low rates; a line of two-year-old dairy heifers realised £5 17s 6d. Pigs were back slightly in value, but [ good suckers realised 17s to 255. WORLD WHEAT SUPPLIES. According to a statement issued by the International Institute of Agriculture, Rome, at the end of October, exportable wheat supplies for the current grain year (ending July 31, 1932) will be 110.000.006 bushels loss than those for the previous 12 months. On the other hand, it is estimated that wheat importing countries will require 880.000.000 bushels, or an increase of 70,000,000 bushels on last year's needs. If the foregoing is correct the world's surplus stocks will be reduced by 180.000.000 bushels, or from 540,000,000 to 360.000.000 bushels, which may be expected to maintain a generally firmer market, LARGE WHITE BOAR. Messrs C. R. Smith and Sons (Bushey) have just purchased the large white boar Waione Ben Hur from the Waione Model Piggeries, Ltd., Auckland. This boar was described by the judge, Mr J. A. M’Linden, M.R.C.V.S., as the outstanding animal of his breed at the New Zealand Royal Show last month. Winning the class for boars, 8-14 months, the Waione representative subsequently won not only the male championship, but the supreme championship of his breed. He shows, great length, with remarkable quality, and is well balanced right through. He was sold during the show at a high figure. Waione was also successful in the class for boars under four months old, and so outstanding was the winner that the judge adopted the unusual course of declining to make any other awards, although there were several entries. NEW ZEALAND BULL’S PROGENY. A happening quite unique in the dairying world of New Zealand is that a Dominion-owned Jersey sire was represented by winning progeny at the great American Jersey Club Regional Show, held recently at Ohio. The sire in question is the well-known Island bred bull, Sybil's Volunteer, imported by the Taranaki breeder. Mr J. S. Jones. Prior to exportation from Jersey Island, Sybil’s Volunteer, when only a yearling, was given a few consorts, and the resultant progeny purchased for America have flashed his name around both hemispheres as one of the great sire's

of the worldwide Jersey kingdom. His three-year-old daughter,* Brampton Standard Sybil, winner last' year at the American National, scored an easy win in her class, defeating the elect of several of America’s great breeding establishments. The Jersey Bulletin (United States), commenting upon her, described her udder as “ almost perfect.” Later iu the day a daughter of Brampton Standard Sybil, and thus a grand-daughter of the New Zealand-owned sire, scored an easy victory in a great class of 40 heifer calves, and was ultimately selected as junior female champion. Another daughter of Sybil’s Volunteer (imp.), in Daisy’s Princess, was second in a wonderful class of four-year-olds, defeated only by the Island cow, Bullseye Sybil, probably the outstanding cow in America today, who was purchased by her present owner recently for £9BO. “ Good enough to win in almost any company ” is what the Bulletin says of Daisy’s Princess. It is evident that Mr Jones has been fortunate in getting hold of what must be one of the world's greatest breeding bulls before his true worth became known. No wonder he has received a cable from America asking him to put a price on Sybil's Volunteer. FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. In the light of recent discoveries recorded in the fourth progress report of the I’oot-and-Mouth Disease Research Committee, it is likely that the possibility of infection by such animals as rats and hedgehogs will receive greater attention in the future. A veterinary inspector on duty at an infected farm in Yorkshire iu 1929. noticed that many of the rats that infested the place were lame. Several were killed and sent to the foot-and-mouth research station at Pirbright, where lesions were found on the feet. Although the circumstances were highly suspicious, the various scientific plied did not give very convincing proof that the disease was foot-and-mouth. A rat killed at Pirbright, however, gave complete proof, and other infected rats have been caught at Pirbright since then. This adds fresh importance to the campaign against rats. Among small animals, natural transmission of foot-and-mouth disease does not as a rule occur except among rats and hedgehogs, and the latter are much more susceptible to the disease than the former. Heme it may be of importance to make further inquiries into the nocturnal and often unobserved habits of the hedgehog. STUD SHEEP BREEDERS. For some time members of the different sheep breeding societies of New Zealand have considered proposals which have for their object the creation of co-ordination among the societies. The movement has much to commend it, but so far very little progress has been made towards putting the idea into practice. Under the existing conditions. each sheep breed society, and for that matter each cattle breed society, has a separate voice on national questions concerning the sheep breeding and cattle rearing industries. They meet and arrive at decisions which have a national character, and pass them on to the powers that be for consideration. Certain prominent breeders hold that it would be better for sheep breeders if there were created a New Zealand Stud Sheep Breeders’ Advisory Council, which body, being representative of all sheep breed societies, would carry more weight in representing national questions to the Government of the day. Under such an organisation there would be no loss of identity, as each society would be represented by its delegates, who would voice the views of their particular society. There are many questions to-day affecting the sheep breeding industry which are not dealt with as efficiently by the individual society as would be the case if there were created a National Advisory Council. Such issues as the existing embargo on the importation of live stock to prevent the introduction of the foot-and-mouth disease, the export of stud sheep overseas and their proper inspection, are among the major questions which could be more satisfactorily handled on a national basis by an Advisory Council. Breeders themselves know that the existing conditions as to the export of stud slieep are not all they should be. In the business of the export of stud sheep it is to the advantage of the breed societies, as representing the sheep breeding industry of New Zealand, to see that the purchasers secure the value they are entitled to, but the existing conditions do not altogether secure this. There are many other points which suggest the need for such an Advisory Council, and if the sheep breeders make the first move, it should not be long before all stud stock breed societies are represented on an organisation which could present their considered opinion on vital matters. FIRE ON PRINCE’S RANCH. The “ F..P.” Ranch in Alberta, owned by the Prince of Wales, was, says the j North British Agriculturist, recently sori- i ously damaged by an outbreak of fire which continued for about 12 hours. Two byres containing valuable pedigree cattle were burned, and a champion Shorthorn cow, Balcairn Lavatra. perished in the flames. The fire, which was attributed to spontaneous combustion, causeci damage estimated at £5OOO. The ranch bands had a long battle with the flames in order to prevent them spreading to other ranch buildings. The nationally recognised prize animals which were lost were being prepared for the Royal Winter Fair at Toronto, and the consequence is that all the Prince’s entries there will now be withdrawn. Besides Balcairn Lavatra, which was valued at lOOOdol, the champion heifer Princeton Lily (£120) and the yearling heifer Princeton Jessie (£120) were also burned to death. EXPORT LAMB TRADE. At the present time meat exporters in Auckland are operating at half-pressure, and freezing will not begin in earnest until the middle of the month. Ftoin the end of January it will be carried on in

a more moderate degree until March and

Fairly heavy killings took- place in Auckland last month, and they represeated an increase on those in November 1930, because the weather during the spring of last year detrimentally affected the activity in removing lambs from the farms to the works. Reports last week have shown that lambs are coming forward very well, and a satisfactory' quality has been evident. The producers, however, have not a favourable prospect, as the return has definitely declined. The prices at present quoted are:—Prime lamb, under 361 b sd; 37 to 421 b 41d; over 421 b and seconds 4d. All these rates show a drop of about Id from those of last season, and prominent exporters say that there seemed to be no indication of an increase. The ruling values were in keeping with the disappointing returns at the Auckland and Napier wool sales. JOTTINGS. Low as were the prices ruling for mature store bullocks at Burnside on Wednesday, it is questionable whether better values could be obtained anywhere else in the Dominion, in view of the nric<* of fat cattle. Of, the four dairy factories in the Waikouaiti district none has reached the figures for intake of milk for last year. Goodwood has the largest supply. 1'9.000 gallons, as against 20.000 at the' peak of supply. Fat cattle, bullocks particularly, made their lowest rates per 1001 b on Wednesday at Burnside for years. In 1927 Burnside rates in Dec-ember were up to 45s per 1001 b: in 1928. 40s per 1001 b; in 1929. 45s per 1001 b; in 1930, 39s per 1001 b: and in 1931. 22s 6d per 1001 b. Fat lamb prices at the recent Burnside Metropolitan Market were most depressing, more particularly towards the final stages of the sale, and in contrast to those ruling at this time last vear were lower by 6s to 7s per head.' If a proportion of these milk lambs had been put into- the local works the balance of the yarding would have realised shillings per head more than was the case on Wednesday.

In view of the low rates ruling for beef throughout New Zealand, it appears that the Meat Producers’ Board lias an opportunity of stimulating the trade. The board has done something to further the

interests of the mutton, lamb, and pork industries, but one cannot remember whether the beef export trade has received commensurate consideration at their hands. ' The following comment by the North British Agriculturist may well serve dairymen to keep only the best of cows: bix I-riesian cows, the Dairy Show team that won the Bledisloe Cup, averaged over eight gallons of milk per day, am! butter-fat over 4 per cent. At our local retail price of Gd per quart, each, cow produces 16s worth of milk per day. Indications are that there will be a considerable drop in the Canterbury when yield this season. In most parts of the province and North Otago the effects of the continued drj- weather have been f’eit ami reports from the various districts state that the position is fast beconiin" serious. I'here have been numbers «n eases where stock has been turned on i o the crops.

That the halfbred sheep of years a"o had made Canterbury's name in'the meat trade was asserted by Mr E. C. Studholme, president of the Waimate Agricultural and Pastoral Association, at the association’s jubilee social. He added that they should do al] they could to keep the good name. In getting small sheep tln-v had lost the standard, and he did not think they would get it back for man?

Senator Guthrie (Victoria), who is a ea -w”> ? Ol>! ex P z orte1 '. Pointed out in the tariff debate at Canberra that sheep had ted and clothed most of the people of Australia for years, and sheep will pav most oi the interest on their overseas Australia has onlv 16 per cent ot the world's sheep, yet we produce 32 per cent, of the world's wool.’’ he added -Tins year we will have 115.060,000 sheep and will shear 100.000.0001 b of y; 00 ?' •n t . ai . l avel ' a " e as low as 9d alb that will bring £37.500.000.”

J he extensive demand for British pedigree pigs from all parts of the world niav be gauged by the fact that since January last the National Pig Breeders' Association, England, has been called upon to issue pedigree certificates for 736 pigs, consigned to almost every civilised country where pig production is an important branch of agriculture. The details aiv as follows: Large White 536. Middle \\hite 13-. Berkshire 42, Tam worth 14. Messex Saddleback 12—total. 736. As f ' ol .' res Ponding period oi £930 tins shows an increase of 470.

The average -yearly price paid by Great Britain for imported butter in the four .years 1927-30 was £50,465,000, of which £29.707,000 went yearly to foreign countries. Sir Thomas Wilford, High Commissioner for New Zealand, recently pointed out that if dairy farmers in the Empire supplied—as they could —all the butter requirements of the home market it would -put into Empire circulation the vast sum of £29,000.000, which would enormously increase the capacity of the people overseas to buy British manufactures.

The four-year-old Jersey heifer, Carhuduff Pollyanna, the property of Mr J. O’Donell, Bunnythorpe, Manawatu, recently completed test with the splendid record of 7571 b fat, the highest yield returned by a heifer of the breed in New Zealand last season. Carhuduff Pollyanna is a daughter of the champion butter-fat bull. Hawkesbury Emperor, the noted son of Soumise Majesty (imp.), the head of the great Majesty family which has played so important a part in the development of the Jersey breed in New Zealand.

Shearing is now well under way on the large back-country stations in the Mackenzie. Operations have practically ceased on the down-country holdings. It is expected (says the Timaru Herald) that the majority of the smaller clips will be advanced for the first wool sale on December 14. One runholder stated that no difficulty had been experienced this year in procuring shed hand< and shearers, the prospect of two or three months steady employment appealing to a great number of the unemployed.

Nineteen pedigree bulls and one Southdown ram were shipped to Sydney and Melbourne on the s.s. Port Bowen on December 1. This will be the first shipment since January 22, and the abolition of primage duty and sales tax on such stock is considered to be partly responsible for the shipment. It is hoped that the s.s. Mahia will take a further quantity of stud stock towards the end of December. An expert has informed the Australian Press Association that the removal of these restrictions and the fact that high-class stock can now be bought in England at absurdly low prices should lead to a renewal of stud stock exports.