NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19992, 16 September 1936, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Classes for children. Children exhibiors are being further catered for at this year’s Waikato Summer Show on October 30 and 3i. Besides an extension of the oalf club classes, there will be a special class for lambs and a class for weaner pigs. Beef Cattle. Recognition of the growing importance of beef cattle to the Waikato s provided in the schedule for the orthcoming Waikato Summer Show. At next month’s show there will be two classes for Aberdeen Angus cattle, but the show executive hopes to have also classes for Herefords at latter shows and states that the two classes for Aberdeen Angus constitute only a preliminary step in providing for beef cattle in the show schedule. Demand For Farm Horses. An Otorohanga correspondent states that the demand for working horses Is remarkably keen in the King Country and present prices easily establish a record for draught horse values in the history of the King Country. As an instance of this, district farmers are paying to £55 for ordinary sorts which two years ago would have brought half these amounts. The bitterly cold conditions In the Otorohanga district have* slowed up farming activities, but. with ample supplies of hay and ensilage on hand no feed shortage has been experienced. Bullooks From Galatea. The value of Galatea as a fattening area can be gauged from the fact that recently 100 bullocks from the estate were sold to export buyers at an average of £l2, while another lighter line of 150 was traded at £ll. With the chilled bee’f export trade being rapidly developed the potentialities of the Galatea Estate are apparent and solely as a beef producing area the estßtd would be a valuable national asset. Australian Criticism. In referring to New Zealand beef sires an Australian writer states that the majority of them, unless they are by Imported bulls, are all too wide betwe'en the ribs, too long in thp “boss.” and lacking in twist and loin. With these characteristics and ribs not well sprung, one could not expect early maturity. Breeders In New Zealand had been importing Britishbred Southdown and other English sheep, and consequently had gained an excellent market in Australia, not only for rams, but for ewes and at the same time had improved their fat lambs. This also could have been done in the beef cattle' business, but if one looked all over New Zealand today for a good sire of the early maturing type, unless Imported, one would have a very difficult task to find a bull. Pig Pavilion. Ve'ry satisfactory progress Is being made with the new pig pavilion at the Claudelands Showgrounds and It is expected that the building will be completed within a fortnight. The new building constitutes two wings to the old pavilion and a perusal of the plan of the pavilion Indicates how highly satisfactory it should prove. There is to be a judging ring 12 feet square, in the centre of the building with accommodation Bft 6in wide round the ring for the public. The plan provides for two stories In the centre I where the' judging ring is to be situated, the upper storey comprising the accommodation for the public. The facilities which the new building provides should be especially appreciated during show time. Exceptional Season. Described by run-holders and shepherds as one of the best seasons in living memory, exceptional lambing is being experienced in Central ’Hawke’s Bay. A le'ngthy spell of fine, warm weather In August gave a remarkable fillup to early lambs and with the docking completed under these conditions, they received only a small set-back. Snow on the high country and a biting wind brought a change' last ■week and rheumatism in ihe quarters of the younger lambs was not infrequent among flocks that had been docked only recently. However, farmers are unanimous in stating that mortality among both ewes and lambs has been the lowe'st for many years and the lambing rate is approximately 125 per cent., a remarkably high figure. (Continued in next column.)