ON THE LAND

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 5

ON THE LAND

COUNTRY LOOKING WELL COWS NOW PUTTING ON CONDITION SALE LEVELS The fair amount of rain that fell generally early in the week was of great benefit to the province. There has been plenty of sunshine nearly every day since, and growth has been helped along considerably. The countryside is looking extraordinarily well just now, although, of course, there is no great flush of grass yet. Lambing is practically over, and most sheep farmers have had good percentages. There has been almost a complete absence of deaths due to bad weather. It is reasonable to expect, a certain amount of pulpy kidney during the next month or six weeks, but it is possible that the trouble will not be as widespread this season as it usually is. The supposed main reason is that lambs are too well fed. There has not been too much feed by any means this season and there is not an over-flush now, so that cause cannot play its customary part. Pulpy kidney usually takes the biggest lambs and very often where there is the best of feed. A cure that has official recommendation is to keep the lambs and ewes moving and actually to put them on to poorer feed. There are still many very thin cows about, but they are now beginning to put on condition. Herds that were wintered well are producing satisfactorily, but it is doubtful if there is yet any marked improvement in the others. It stands to reason that a cow has to build up in condition as well as to provide for the drain on the system consequent upon lactation. Turnip and grass seeds have been going out very freely, and preparations for sowing are well advanced. Manures are in heavy demand. Many farmers are awaiting the arrival about next Thursday of a shipment of Seychelles guano, but there are other manures well suited to sowing with turnips and it seems that they will all get a fair trial this season. Good Fat Cattle. There was an amazing yarding of fat cattle at Lorneville on Tuesday. It was not generally suspected that there were so many still available in the province, and the quality was consistent and the best that has been yarded for a considerable time. It was not expected that the values of the two previous sales would hold, and any hopes of that were dispersed by the size of the yarding and the comparatively small representation of country buyers. Nevertheless the levels were payable, and they should remain fairly steady for some time now. The quality in the fat sheep section, too, was outstanding, but the sale was not spirited and values fell, by 2/6 to 3/- a head for evzes and about 2/- a head for wethers. There was little or no variation in the other sections. Good dairy cows have/ yet to put in more than a very occasional appearance, which is not to be wondered at. Dairymen whose stock is in good condition are not anxious to sell very much of it. The improved outlook for stock feed, as a result of the last week’s rains, was reflected in a much improved demand for store stock and a firm market for other classes at Wednesday’s Addington sale, reports the Press. The fat sheep entry was slightly larger, and there was an improvement in values of up to 1/- a head for the best quality. The markets recently had been easing, and the steadying was a satisfying reflection of the improved outlook. Spring lambs were forward in much smaller numbers than usual, and there was a sharp advance in prices, ranging from 3/- to 3/6 a head, the preceding market recording a drop of about 2/6, on account of the over supply. Store sheep were forward in the usual small numbers, in which there was a very small offering of ewes and lambs. These sold slightly firmer, but hoggets were better by 2/- a head for ewes and to 1/6 for wethers. The sale for hoggets was a very keen one. The fat cattle entry was again heavy. With the exception of a few truck lots from the West Coast the whole of the entry was practically from within the province. The market was a shade weaker over the earlier stages, but firmed as the sale progressed, on an average values were little different from last week. Addington Values. Lorneville and Addington values for fat cattle and fat sheep are given for comparison: At Addington, extra prime heavy steers made up to £l5 17/6; prime heavy steers, £ll 5/- to £l4; medium prime steers, £lO to £l2 5/-; ordinary steers, £7 15/- to £9; light steers, to £7 10/-; extra prime heifers; to £l2 2/6; prime heifers, £7 10/- to £9 10/-; ordinary heifers, £5 10/— to £7 5/-; light heifers, to £5 5/-; extra prime cows, to £lO 17/6; prime cows, £7 to £8 15/-; ordinary cows, £5 10/to £6 15/-; light and aged cows, to £5 5/-. Prime heavyweight bullocks made from £l4 to £l5 17/6 at Lomeville, prime quality from £l2 5/- to £l3 10/-, medium quality from £lO 15/- to £ll 15/-, with lighter weights down to £9. Prime heavy cows brought up to £lO 10/-, prime quality from £8 5/- to £9 10/-, medium from £7 to £7 15/-, unfinished sorts from £4 to £5, with inferior down to £2 10/-. Prime quality heifers ranged from £9 to £lO, good quality from £7 15/- to £8 10/-, and lighter weights down to £6. There were frequent passings. At Addington extra prime heavy wethers made to 38/-; prime heavy wethers, 22/6 to 24/6; prime mediumweight wethers, 20/- to 22/3; ordinary wethers, 17/9 to 19/9; light wethers, to 17/6; extra prime heavy ewes, to 28/1; prime heavy ewes, 19/6 to 21/6; prune medium-weight ewes, 17/6 to 19/-; ordinary ewes, 16/- to 17/3; light ewes, to 15/6. Lorneville values for extra prime heavy ewes were up to 29/3, for prime medium quality from 27/6 to 28/6, lighter from 22/6 to 24/6, and unfinished down to 18/-. Prime heavy wethers made from 31/6 to 34/3, prime medium weights from 28/6 to 30/-, and lighter and unfinished from 25/- to 26/6. .