A Farmer’s Notebook CHILLED BEEF SHIPMENT

Southland Times, Issue 23782, 1 April 1939, Page 18

A Farmer’s Notebook CHILLED BEEF SHIPMENT

Southland’s First Consignment VALUABLE TRADE LIKELY FARMING WITH SHEEP AND CATTLE The shipment this week of some 800 quarters of chilled beef from Bluff to the British market represents Southland’s first effort to obtain a footing in what may be termed the baby beef trade. The Argentine has specialized in the production of quickly grown young animals and has built up a very good reputation on the British market for this class of chilled beef. South America has also made strong efforts to obtain a place in the fat lamb trade, but New Zealand and Southland in particular, holds pride of place for both quality and quantity. Nevertheless, the introduction 'of restrictions on the quantity of meat to be admitted to the Old Country is a disturbing factor and may be increasingly so in the future. It may well be that the development of the chilled beef trade will in future be a most valuable asset to New Zealand. A large area of pastures in Southland has been built to a very high standard as the resuit of draining, liming and topdressing, and these should prove most suitable for the production of young cattle for baby beef. 1 Very good evidence of this was to be seen in the quality of the 200 cattle killed at Makarewa this week. Most of these cattle were about two and ahalf years of age, and Hereford and Hereford cross predominated. Some of these fine animals came from A. S. Holms & Sons’ famous Waimahaka estate, and some were those supplied by the Southland Frozen Meat Company. Other well-known farmers who pay special attention to breeding good cattle for fattening purposes were represented. Among them were Messrs Galt Bros., Tuturau, who sent forward excellent specimens of the Aberdeen Angus breed. Farmers are no doubt wise to pay attention to the varying needs of overseas markets, and by producing fat cattle as well as fat lambs a more even annual income should result.

Control of pastures by correct, grazing methods has rapidly become one of the most important aspects of farm management on highly developed pastures. This being the case a combination of sheep and cattle grazing is a real necessity on a great many farms; it ensures full utilization of all growth secured from topdressing and therefore maximum financial returns. In addition pastures are kept free from patches of long rough grass which smothers clovers and harbours many parasites that have a detrimental effect upon the health of stock. All those interested in the progress of primary production in Southland will await with interest reports on the quality and financial returns of the first shipment of chilled baby beef. The high quality of Southland-bred cattle has been recognized throughout New Zealand, and there is little doubt that when the reports come to hand the ability of farmers in this province will be further enhanced. Assuming this to be so graziers generally will be in the fortunate position of being able to draw upon many outstanding stud cattle breeders for supplies of bulls suitable for the production of quickmaturing cattle necessary for building up a reputation in the world’s meat market.

SOUTHLAND GRAIN CROPS Harvesting operations have proceeded apace during the past weeks. The weather has been reasonably good, although heavy dews and some fog have necessitated a late start for stacking and threshing operations. Farmers have made up for this by working until darkness set in, and a very large proportion of the oat and wheat crops are now stacked. The condition of the grain varies a good deal. In the Mossburn district little rain has fallen for some time and the oats are hard and well filled. The coastal districts have experienced a growthy season. Many heavy crops were most difficult to handle and it was found that where very large sheaves were tied they did not dry out satisfactorily in the centre. The result has been that a proportion of musty grain will appear when crops are threshed. Yields of up to 120 bushels an acre have been reported, and some samples have weighed as high as 471 b to the bushel. Unfortunately a high moisture content exists in many newly-threshed samples and although the grain is plump fears are entertained about the maintenance of quality under storage conditions.

An exceptionally fine crop of wheat has been grown on Mr W. Hamilton’s property at Oreti, and it is doubtful if there has ever been a better-looking crop in the province. Threshing from stook has been proceeding in this large paddock during the past 10 days, but the yield of grain is not yet available. In the past some really good crops of wheat have been grown in the Tuatapere district. For two years in succession Mr W. J. Erskine, Papatotara, harvested crops that yielded 75 bushels to the acre. Although this quantity is above the average yield in Southland, it is a very good indication of the capabilities of the soil on our heavy, fertile country.

The average yield in Canterbury over a period of years is about 40 bushels, but in the Morven district of South Canterbury 82 bushels to the acre have been secured. On account of the adverse weather over a wide area of the wheat lands it is doubtful if such high yields will be obtained this year. The problem of fully utilizing stubble land in Southland is one that in the past has been neglected to a greater extent than is advisable. In many cases there has not been any attempt quickly to plough paddocks and sow out a catch crop for green feed. As there is a prospect of some farmers having a short supply of swedes and turnips for winter feediig, it should be a very payable proposition to plough stubble land and sow oats or a mix-

ture of oats and Italian ryegrass for green feed. Even though the harvest has been gathered rather late in the year, newly-sown oats will grow we 1 when generously supplied with quick acting fertilizer. , , . The value of green feed in conjunction with a ration of hay or chaff and some roots has proved, to be a reliable preventive for paralysis in ewe flocks. The green feed should be ready some weeks before the ewes are due to lamb and a ration of green oats or grass and oats for an hour a day is a form it insurance against the trouble that has proved most profitable in past seasons. Given a continuance of reasonable weather much stubble land can be quickly prepared and sown out, especially where modern tractors and laige implements are available.