FARM AND MARKET

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19564, 1 May 1935, Page 10

FARM AND MARKET

Weekly Agricultural Review

COMING SHOWS AND SALES.

'Hamilton Stock Sale: Every Tuesday. Morrinsvllle Stock Sale: Every Friday. Waikato Winter Show: May 28'th. to

June ,3. "Alfalfa’’* Pedigree Jerseys Annual Sale: May 7. Est. SL E...Southee .and Sons Pedigree Jersey Sale: May 21. F. R. Seddon and Son’s and J. H. Gore's Dispersal of Stud Romney and Stud Southdown Sheep: May

22. W. R- Shattock: Pedigree Tamworth

Pig Sale: May 29. F. Discornbe, Sale of “Lucerndale"

Pedigree Pigs: May 30. R. Chilcott, Pedigree Pig Sale: June 19.

NORMAL POSITION.

WAIKATO STOCK MARKET.

LARGE YARDINGS MARKETED.

•SHEEP SHOW IMPROVEMENT

The period of anxiety that existed in regard .toithe' feed problem before the heavy rains came is now definitely over and- the consequent restriction it imposed on buying operations has been lifted. With feed in abundance, there has been a natural demand for store cattle by graziers throughout i the Waikato, and this class of cattle has been eagerly absorbed with a •: view, no doubt, to preparing them for ■ chilled meat buyers in the spring. The stock markets of the Waikato are now back to normal aftOr the considerable disorganisation caused by the intervention of the holiday period. In consideration of the lightness of the yardings at both the main marketing centres, Morrinsvllle and Frankton, just before an after the holidays, it ■would not have materially affected either vendors or buyers if the weekly fixtures had been suspended. Apart from the necessary curtailing of butchers’ activities, and alteration of train time-tables that detrimenally affect the conveying of stock,'holidays have the effect of discouraging the attendance, of the ordinary buyers.

With chilled meat buyers still operating, ox beef continues in short supply at the saleyards, only a few pens being offered at Morrinsville and Frankton at the last sales. Full yardings" of' cow and heifer beef are coming forward, but there is not the same demand for this type, the quality of which Is not proving sufficiently induoive to buyers. Values are remaining steady for beef, but at Frankton yesterday there was a slight rise in the price level, while at Morrinsville last week the rates were hlso a little improved. While the sheep market has generally been quiet the exceptionally large number ’of butchers operating at Frankton yesterday gave an unexpected fillip to this market, the good yardings being purchased at prices in excess of those ruling at the., sale for several weeks. The excellent prices realised could not be attributed to any particular market trend for they were merely the result of the big attendance of interested operators who had not satisfied.their requirements to any extent over the last few weeks. Sheep at present bold no interest for the ordinary farmer arid except for an occasional inquiry .for. a breeding ewe there is no inquiry from this quarter. Dairy cattle are now beginning to make -their appearance in small numbers at the selling yards and are commanding fair prices, but .It will be : some weeks before there Is any great activity In this department. As. the dairy -cOws ■ are sold -there will' be a subsequent demand for yearlings and calves for herd replacements. The dairy cattle season will be probably at Its peak stage at -the end of May and the beginning of June, when there will arrive from Taranaki heifers that have been bought for forward delivery during that period. The Pig Market. While the flush of feed that has followed the copious rain has to a certain extent arrested the big drop in milk production, there is little skimmllk and whey available for pigfeeding. This position has been eloquently reflected at the marketing centres and especially at Frankton yesterday, when there was an abnormally heavy yarding of porkers, the majority of which were unfinished. The heavy supply of porkers has had the effect, of course, of depressing values, and further the present, export position of porkers is detrimentally affecting the price level. The only object the pig farmer appears to be entertaining at present, is to quit his pigs as rapidly as possible and whether they are finished or not. does not apparently affect his decision to any degree. Those farmers who have provided for the winter feeding of their stock by the growing of roots or kumi kuml are in a better position and will be able Lo command improved prices for their stock when marketed. Irnfluenoo of Chilled Meat Trado. There can be no doubt but that the excellent, prices received at the dispersal sales of well-known Dominion beef entile studs recently -were to a certain extent Influenced by the thought of the future of the chilled meat trade. The last dispersal sale, that of the Waiterenui Aberdeen Angus stud, when approximately £12,-160 were realised the first day, with tho top price standing at 3togns., illustrated the demand I hat is setting In for this -class of cattle. If Now Zealand intends to cater for the beef trade there will have to bo a greater use of polled animals, a policy which has been followed in oilier countries interested in this trade. Baconors Domandod. As milk production declines, tho ! demand for baconers is becoming cor- 1 responding!) - keener. This iias been particularly -noticeable at the two (OouHnuta m next column./

(By “Stockman.”) Items of Interest, Enquiries in regard to Shows and Sales and General Comment from Readers will be welcomed. These should be addressed to “Stockman,” Waikato Times, Hamilton.

NEWS AND COMMENT.

Visit to Pig Farms. It was suggested by Mr A. W. Green at the annual meeting of the South Auckland branch of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association that on tiic 30Hi of next month, tho day after the annual meeting of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Associalion, that visiting pig breeders be shown over the Ruakura Farm. On the following day a visit inspection could be made to the farms of I lie well-knoAvn Waika to breeders, Messrs R. -Chilcott, If. D. •Caro, .0. Jamieson and A. T, Rogers. Tile meeting decided lo carry out this suggestion.

main selling centres in the Waikalo recently Avliere baconers have been exciting keen competition and commanding good prices. At Ihe last Morrinsville sale a line of exceptionally Avell-flnished baconers from the Morrinsville vendor, Mr R. J. Meat’s, realised an average of £3 10s 3d, the iop price for this consignment being £3 Us. Farmers avlio have the necessary food at the present Lo carry their pigs on to baconcr weights arc in a fortunate position as far as the market is concerned, and Avitli (lie position at -Home favourable for this class of meat, baconers should be at a premium throughout -the next few -months. The Boof Trade. While Argentina is the big menace so far as the beef trade is concerned, the fact is being rather overlooked lhal, with the barter agreement recently made by the -Rome Government with Ireland, rapidly increasing numbers of store cattle are reaching Britain from Ireland. Willi (he free entry o-t' Canadian live -cattle again permitted, this class df cattle is reach - Brilain in largely increasing numbers. Last year Canadian cat lie to Hie number of 13,592 head were exported direct lo Glasgow. In I lie previous year 11,238 were shipped, and in 1932 the number was 4016.

Recommendation to Council. At the annual meeting of the South Auckland branch of the New Zealand Pig Breeders' Association a recommendation to the council was brought forward by- the Whatawh-ata breeder of 'Large Whites, Mr L! F. Barry. This was to the effect that A. and P. Associations should be urged to make the following clause apply to conditions under which sows are exhibited at the shows,, “That every sow exhibited In classes over 14 months of age must have farrowed within three months prior to, or shall farrow within the following four months subsequent to the date of the show.” Farm Side-lines. Mr F. R. Callaghan, Assistant Director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, stated in Hamilton last week that be was a firm believer in the departmentalisation of farms, that is, the carrying on of -side-lines. He mentioned that in the Waikato there was amble scope for such sidelines as pig-keeping, poultry keeping, bee-keeping and fruit growing. Certainly, the side-line of pig-keeping is being rapidly developed in tilie Waikato, but there is considerable advancement yet to be -made in the other sidelines mentioned by Mr Callaghan. Farm Schools Needed. It has been decided to hold another farm school at Hawera on the lines of that held last year. Last year the school was organised solely by the South Taranaki Herd-Testing Association, but his year the Association is seeking wider support and the cooperation of different farming bodies in Taranaki is being sought. It is to be exceedingly regretted that it has been found impossible to continue the very successful Waikato Farm Schools that have , been held in Hamilton during the last three years. Although good work is toeing done in regard to agricultural -subjects in the secondary schools of the district, there is an urgent need of the conducting of such schools as the Waikato and Hawera schools. Young farmers who are unable to -spend any time away from the farm for agricultural courses at colleges can afford the few days necessary for attendance at -a farm school. It is really a refresher course for them, and the practical knowledge obtained from'the lecturers and the exchange of ideas and experience with fellow students, will materially help in giving-the younger members of the farming community a greater interest in their farm work. Beef Breeds. A recent-English visitor to the Waikato' remarked on the noticeable difference between the best English type of beef cattle and tile New Zealand -type. He stated that.the English cattle generally were very lowset.and thick while the -Dominion-cattle were rangy with long legs. Df course, it must he remembered that there is a great difference existing between the conditions under which the English and New Zealand cattle live. In England, the best type of cattle are kept growing right from birth and there is no store stage in the life of the animal.. The flesh, consequently, is tender and rather resembles baby beef at time of slaughter. The best cattle are not given any considerable range and are generally kept under confined conditions and exercise is thus reduced to a minimum. In the Dominion the nature of the country and the system of farming makes for vastly different conditions in the rearing df cattle for the beef market. -Here beef cattle are used in the back country to keep down the fern and generally to keep the land from going back and they thus become natural foragers, the exercise that this entails giving much of that difference in conformation' that is noticeable betwoen the English and New Zealand tyjies. After this period on rough country the cattle are usually marketed as stores after which they are put onto better country for fattening purposes. It is unnecessary to indicate that these different periods in the -animal’s life do not make for the best quality beef. It is the same In the fattening of pigs for market as the pig keeper realises that to produce the best quality flesh It is imperative to keep the pig growing right from the start and never to allow a store stage to intervene. -