ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22146, 14 October 1933, Page 5

ON THE LAND

WORK OF THE WEEK SATISFACTORY LAMBING RETURNS LOWER DEATH RATE Southland has experienced yei another week of splendid weather and all seasonal farming operations have proceeded unhindered. On all sides reports to hand indicate that the lambing returns have been very satisfactory’. The death rate among lambs has> been much lower than usual, and with better prices in prospect the sheep farmer is inclined to view the outlook much more hopefully than was the case last year. It is stated that if the present good weather continues lambs will be ready for the freezer much earlier than usual and the works will probably be required to open about the middle of December. This will be a boon as generally the congestion at the works in previous years has been very inconvenient to many farmers who have had their lambs ready for killing. There is still a fair demand for seed oats, even in spite of the low prices ruling last year. The greater activity in the horse market may have, something to do with this, as it is well known that the breeding of draught horses for farm work has received a fillip during the last couple of years, largely as a result of the “back to the horse” movement among farmers. The sale of farm properties continues. One particular sale transacted during the week was that of 160 acres owned by Mr J. A. Mclntyre, of Woodlands, to Mr Hickey, a northern fanner. A New Zealand record, and what it is believed may also be an international record has been created by a sow owned by a Hastings breeder. The sow, a Large White, owned by Miss G. Breen, of Hastings, farrowed a litter of fourteen pigs on July 4. One of the pigs died, and at three weeks the thirteen pigs were weighed, the total weight being 1381 b. At eight weeks, the thirteen pigs were again weighed by Mr H. E. Allen, Government stock inspector, and turned the scales at a total weight of 6391 b. This constitutes a New Zealand record, and it is believed it may also be an international record. It is 941 b in excess of the present New Zealand record, held by Hiwinui Pride, litter-mate to. the sire of this litter, which was Hiwinui Victor. The previous record was recognized by the Manawatu Pig Recording Club, a sow producing eleven pigs with a weight at eight weeks of 5451 b. The Red Poll, the only hornless breed of English cattle, resulted, from the skilful mating, over a period of many centuries, of the old Norfolk and Suffolk cattle. From this mating, was evolved an excellent type of animal, combining the deep red colour and beef-producing qualities of the Norfolk with the polled characteristic and milk and butter-fat producing qualities of the Suffolk (states the Victorian Journal of Agriculture). From, the point of view of quality and quantity of milk produced the breed has always borne a good reputation, and in Australia this reputation has been strengthened by the performance of the Victoria herd of Red Polls conducted by the Department of Agriculture at the State Research Farm, Werribee, during the past twenty-four years. The average production of the 195 cows tested in this herd during the last five years has been no less than 78471 b milk. 4.38 test, and 3431 b butter-fat, equivalent to 4221 b butter-fat after adding the allowance for heifers. The British farming papers continue to report meetings of farmers where the demand is made for increased quotas or tariffs, or both. Some extravagant speeches are made, but the majority of the speakers are reasonable and realize that the Government cannot put prohibitive restrictions on the produce of countries doing a large trade in British goods, whether these are manufactured or raw material like coal. The British farmer, however, cannot see that any good has so far emanated from the Ottawa Conference. Mr Lloyd George in a striking speech in the House of Commons accused the Government of having been bluffed at Ottawa, but it is difficult to see where the bluffing has done Dominion farmers any good.