THE CATTLE TRADE.

Waipa Post, Volume II, Issue 55, 24 October 1911, Page 4

THE CATTLE TRADE.

DEMAND FOR STORES. In the annual report of the Agricultural Department, the Minister states that on few occasions has the demand for store cattle been greater than has been the case during the past year. The main cause of this has been the large number of calves slaughtered immediately after birth in dairying districts, principally in the North Island. The reasons responsible for this failure to rear the young stock are not altogether matters to be deplored. Dairying farmers are paying more attention to the

grading of their he rds, and are therefore considering it more profitable to rear the calves from their best cows well than to rear a lot indifferently ; pig-rearing is receiving more attention ; and the increasing importance being attached to special-purpose dairy breeds, such as Jerseys, makes it quite unprofitable to rear the steers of such stock. Altogether, there is a general tendency in dairying districts to use singlepurpose stock, and the opportunities the grazier has to secure stores from territories where milk production is the fchief objective is annually decreasing. There was a distinct shortage of beef cattle of a good class towards the close of the year, and local values rose considerably —this while market prices in Britain were at a comparatively low level. This latter fact pointed to the improved local values being due to conditions operating within the Dominion. ''One factor no doubt responsible was the improved position of wool, which had induced many farmers to stock more heavily with sheep than had been customary: It is gratifying to be able to report that the dairy farmers of the country are paying more attention to the culling of their herds. They are realising that if the business, of milk-production is to be made really profitable it can only be done by grading up the herd and having the means of determining (by systematic testing) if each member of it is showing a profit'; and by using only a purebred bull of a milking strain. The herd-testing campaign of the Department has aroused keen interest, amounting to enthusiasm in some cases, in the important objectives of the work.