A Clearly Defined Demand

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 804, 26 October 1929, Page 29

A Clearly Defined Demand

Smaller Cattle for Better Profits

/M>X\ JXCIXt; testimony to the fact that heavy-prime bigV/ framed cattle are not wanted, either for home consumptmn or tor ex-port, has been given at New Zealand stock markets m recent weeks. More than ever it is being shown rluit the meat buyer will always pay more on a poundage basis for medium-weight young cattle than he will for older big-framed beasts, irrespective of finish.

Frequent reference has been made over the past few months in the reports of both Addington and West- I field stock sales, and in a lesser extent in the reports of the smaller sales, to the fact that when there was any sign of an easing in the market, big-framed heavy prime sorts suffered first and most. The buyers | don't want big cattle; firstly, because j they don't cut up economically, and secondly, because the public defintely demands small, sweet joints. The overseas market has long ; shown that it does not favour the : heavy-weight beast, and that if tile j . oloriial producer would cater to in- ! creased consumption he would be j well advised to confine his attention j to an early maturing, moderately- \ framed type of animal. In U.S.A. the most popular beef type is the •'long yearling,” a beast in the vicinity of IS months old. Well-nourished right up to this age, he kills out as tender as matured veal, and every part of the frame is profitable. He cuts up into joints suitable for the most modest re-, quirements. In New Zealand the majority of farmers would not consideu they were getting the best out of their cattle by sending them to the slaugh-ter-yards at that age, and prefer to hang on considerably longer. In many cases there is some justification for this, as apart from the fact that the cattle may be growing into profit, they have a certain value on the farm; they keep down the rough feed and can be used for crushing when the need arrives. As in business, however, so on the farm, turnover at a profit even though the margin may not be large should receive consideratipn, especially when, as in the case of young cattle, the farmer would be catering to a definite demand. On present

! market values a well-finished two- ; year-old steer will bring anything I from £lO to £l2, while if he were three years older it is a moot point ! whether the jnarket would be willing j to go much over £l7 for him. On S that basis a farmer could show a i gross turnover of £3O on three | beasts sold before they were two j years old, as against £l7 for one ; beast kept over the whole period of! I five years. These figures argue con 1 vineingly in favour of sending steer i cattle to the works at an early age. Beef raising has a big future in New Zealand, a bigger future than most farmers realise. Figures show- , ing increases in the number of beef ! cattle in certain districts have i astounded those who were not really i conversant with what fertilisers could | do. An even greater use of topdressing manures in the future is going to make cattle more than ever necessary to keep dowu the rank growth. It. is to be hoped, therefore, if New Zealand is to hold her connection overseas that her farmers will listen to the request of the consumer and market a smaller and more compact animal. All principles of profitable farming point to the handling of an early-maturing, compact beef type.

ANSWERS TO INQUIRERS

“Trouble with Heifer” (Russell). We Placed your letter before an officer of the Department of Agriculture. He advises you to write to the “Stock Inspector, Ohaeawai,” who would come out and inspect the heifer for you free of charge, and advise you as to treatment. In all probability it is a form of mammitis. What form, only an ex- , ■ amination could show. In the rnean- ! time we advise you to, above all, keep I the quarter milked out and to milk the

LAND SETTLEMENT IN N.S.W.

BIG IRRIGATION SCHEME Plans for settlement of 845,000 acres of “new” land in New South Wales, which will be made available for farming under the Wyangala dam water conservation project on the Lachlan River, are being considered by the Development and Migration Commission in conjunction with the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, says an exchange. The estimated cost of constructing the Wyangala dam is £1,352,000. The dam will give a regular supply for domestic and stock purposes to an area of 1,357,000 acres. The construction of 20 miles of railway from Hillston and Roto is included in the project, which the Development and Migration Commission lias recommended for approval under the terms of the £34,000,000.