STRAYS

Southland Times, Issue 22728, 2 November 1935, Page 12

STRAYS

A Good Week. The rains' of last week-end were a blessing to Southland and this week has been a good growing one. Oat crops which were very backward 10 days ago, have shot away and pasture growth has come on very well indeed. Most of the turnip ground has now been worked up, and the countryside could do with some more rain yet. All districts appear to have recovered fairly well now so far as the feed situation is concerned.

North Island Shearing. The recent spell of fine weather and the improved tone of the wool market at the present time have caused shearing t<j be commenced on a number of stations. Already a quantity of wool has been received at the wool stores at Port Ahuriri, most of it having come by lorry, or by steamer from coast districts.

Germany and Denmark. According to a Home correspondent, Germany has arranged to barter rye for Danish cattle and butter, an arrangement which no doubt has something to do with the improvement in the British butter market. Germany, it appears, has a big harvest of rye and has arranged to sell to Denmark 2,000,000 bushels of second quality for fodder purposes. In return Denmark is to supply Germany with 4000 head of cattle and between 8000 and 9000 casks of butter.

Dealing With Culls. A unique type of meat factory has just been opened in the Irish Free State. It is solely for the purpose of dealing with uneconomic cows. The meat will not be used for human consumption, but every device has been installed in the up-to-date factory for converting every part of the animal into a commercial product. Meat meal, bone meal and meat and bone meal will be made for pig-feeding and a meal for poultry will also be made. Edible and commercial fats will be produced, and full use will be made of the hides, hoofs and horns. About a thousand cows a week will be handled.

British Dairy Herd Increase. According to the official returns for June dairy cattle in England and Wales show an increase of 54,000 over the figures of last year, and this while beef cattle have declined by 176,200. The total cattle figures are 6,538,000. against 6.660,200 last year. The total number of dairy cattle is 3,049,700, while the cows and heifers in milk is 2,231,000. In New Zealand there are about 2.000,000 cows and heifers in milk, about the same as in England and Wales. It is estimated that there are about 3,250,000 cattle in the Dominion.

“Worst on Record.” Information from Gisborne is to the effect that the recent lambing season will probably prove to be one of the worst on record. Percentages on an average are expected to be very little more than 70. and the average is generally about 87. In the Wairoa district it was expected that some percentages would be as low as 30 per cent. One big station it is understood, will have no surplus ewes to sell this year, as the loss of lambs will have to be replaced by an increased mating of ewes. The belief is held that the main cause of the poor lambing was the prevalence of the disease, known as facial eczema when the ewes were mated. The disease commenced to show up in February, following three weeks of continuous rain, and the ewes showed the effects of the trouble for some weeks after. Apparently the trouble is singular to country with a heavy rainfall, and it has been serious this season in the Manawatu. Real Progress. The National Dairy Cattle Show of America is setting dairy cattle shows in general a much-needed example. It is requiring that all dairy cattle exhibited shall have some evidence of production. This is as it should be. On the Continent’ many dairy cattle shows attach supreme importance to production. The females are allowed a certain number of points for the milk and fat they have produced and other points for type; the males are partly judged according to the production of their dams. According to the American idea, every animal is required to have reached a certain standard of production, and then the judging is decided according to the usually accepted ideas of what constitutes type.

Canterbury’s Season. Although the rain is holding off in most parts of the province there have been visitations in a number of districts which are helping matters along, writes “Straggler” in the Press. Early last week there were several good showers in the hill country in North Canterbury, the tail-end of which reached the flats. At Culverden there was quite a good fall, whilst on the coastal area south of Ashburton there were sortie useful southerly showers early last week. Promising clouds to be seen around the hills at times continue to avoid the parts which require the moisture most—the middle plains. The country up the Omihi valley through Cheviot to Parnassus is looking very well at present on the flats, but the hills are in need of a good downpour. Wheat is looking particularly well. To the casual eye the countryside, indeed, is presenting a picture in that district.