OUT AND ABOUT

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 14

OUT AND ABOUT

Wonderful Season for Growth STOCK WANTED FOR FATTENING Grass is still growing in Southland. It has been a wonderful season, probably a record so far as the manner in which the grass has lasted is concerned There was a short burst oi winter weather in the middle of this week, but so far there have been only a few light frosts. Many farmers are only just beginning to use their turnips. ♦ ♦ ♦ * Supplies of winter feed are so ample that a keen demand for stock has sprung up. At Lorneville on Tuesday the yarding of fat cattle was smaller and prices increased by about 20/- a head compared with the previous week. Values have been rising steadily during the last few weeks, and they are now definitely ahead of these ruling at this time last year. Many buyers are predicting a strong .demand for fat stock in the spring; but it has to be remembered that big quantities of stock have been sent out of Southland this season. There has been so mucn feed in Otago and Canterbury that buy ■ ers have bought for fattening there instead of waiting until the spring to build up their supplies. It cannot be expected that that market will be as strong as usual this year. Farmers all over Southland have been looking for stock for grazing. There is a definite shortage at present, but it is surprising where all the entries come from as soon as prices climb sufficiently high. « * * *

The fat sheep yarding on Tuesday was bigger and better than that of , the previous sale. Prices were very firm, and the sale was a brisk one throughout. Heavy wethers brought as much as 33/3 and 35/-, but the range for good quality was from 28/- to 30/-. Prime quality young ewes brought up to 23/-, and good quality heavy ewes from 19/6 to 21/9. Prime quality bullocks realized from £lO 10/- to £ll 7/6, prime quality cows from £7 to £7 15/-, and good quality heifers from £6 10/- to £7.

The Southland killing season is to end on the 26th. It has been a particularly good season for fattening, the quality had been good, and there has been no cause for complaint about the prices growers have been getting. Recent London reports stated that the market was firm and the inquiry for mu(ton and lamb improved. Growers have enjoyed a good schedule. In fact according to the manager of the Southland Frozen Meat Co., (Mr A. Derbie), for much of the season a better price was paid locally than the overseas market really warranted. The latter fall in the schedule rates was the logical outcome of this, he said, and would help to keep the balance even. ♦ » » *

There were 269 fat cattle yarded for the Bumside stock sale on Wednesday, the offering comprising principally medium quality bullocks with odd con signments of prime heavy grades, reports The Otago Daily Times. There was a smaller percentage than usual of cows and heifers and prices generally were firm at late rates. The yarding of store cattle numbered 200, including a good line of 100 three and four-yeai steers, which, in keen competition realized from £5 14 to £8 7/-. Vealers were in short supply and had a firm sale. Boner and grazier cows also attracted good competition, though there was no appreciable rise in values. The fat sheep entry totalled 1280, medium quality ewes being forward in the greatest numbers. The wethers forward were confined principally to medium quality sorts and prime heavy wethers were distinctly in the minority. All prime heavy ewes sold at 1/ • higher, and medium quality ewes were from 6d to 1/- firmer. There was no noticeable change in the value of wethers, and all freezing descriptions sold at late rates. The entry of 413 fat lambs was a small one. The quality generally was unattractive, but prices remained on a par with those realized at the previous sale. Only 18 dairy cows were forward, and best young sorts, close to profit, brought to £6. There were 109 fat pigs in the pens, with porkers in the majority. Both porkers and baconers sold at recent values. Only 38 stores were submitted, and these sold at slightly increased prices.

It is commonly believed that if a heifer calves at an early age the tendency to milk production will be intensified, but, judging from the report of the available data, the indications are that the highest milk yields are usually secured from cows that are well grown before lactation begins. Gestation has very little effect on the rate of growth for the well-fed heifer, but it is materially checked as soon as lactation begins, owing to the large amount of untrients needed for milk production. Heifers fed scanty rations and bred too early are usually stunted and are generally finer in bone than those not bred until more mature. From the time a heifer is bred until calving she should receive considerable attention in order to assure her future success as a dairy cow. Kindly treatment, frequent handling and good nutritious feeding are necessary. The heifer should come into milk in good flesh and with udder large and full. As parturition approaches the feeding of the heifer should be plain without being stimulating or heating.

Generally the most satisfactory method of preventing club-root in turnip growing, states a Scottish writer, is the use of mercuric chloride, lime and cyanamide. These may reduce the damage caused by destroying the organism responsible, by producing conditions unfavourable to the latter, by stimulating the growth of the crop or by combining these several effects. Lime has long been known to produce conditions unfavourable to the clubroot organism by rendering the land less acid, and since it is inexpensive it is in common use as a method of control on a sheep farm. A dressing of three or four tons an acre should be applied, preferably before planting the crop preceding the susceptible one. The lime should be well worked into the soil.

Farmers are estimated to be losing more than £500,000 annually through live stock becoming bruised immediately before slaughter, states The Adelaide Chronicle. Large quantities of meat are placed into the brine tub every year on account of bruising, and further heavy supplies are processed. The whole of this meat has to be sold at heavy discounts. Some of it fetches only a few pence per stone in stead of as many shillings. Much of

the damage occurs after the animals have left the farm. It may happen during transit by rail or road, or at the abattoir before slaughter. No matter where it occurs, however, the farmer has to bear the loss, as the buyer al ways takes into consideration the possibility of bruising when making his offer to the farmer. Losses on cattle through bruising are estimated at 1/2 a head, on veal calves 9d., on pigs 1/and on sheep and lambs 6d. a head. Pigs are the most susceptible to bruising, and the loss on pigs is greater than on cattle or sheep.