FARM AND MARKET

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21245, 16 October 1940, Page 10

FARM AND MARKET

WEEKLY AGRICULTURAL REVIEW

(By “Stockman*’} It«na of Interest, Enquiries in regard to Shews and Sales aud General Comment from Readers will j be welcomed. These should be addressed to “stockman,” Waikato Times, Hamilton.

SHOWS AND SALES Frankton Stock Sale: Every TuesCambridge Stock Sale: Every MonTe Awamutu Stock Sale: Every Thursday. Morrinsville Stock Sale: Every Friday. Te Kauwhata Stock Sale: Every Monday. Taupiri Stock Sale: Every second Wednesday. Beef Bull Sale, Frankton: October 23. Waikato Summer Show: November l and 2. WEATHER CHANGE EFFECT IN WAIKATO HEAVY HARVEST PROMISED BUOYANT STOCK MARKETS Little change is reported for fat cattle although cows are sometimes a shade cheaper. Store cattle sell freely at unchanged rates. Quality dairy cattle are sometimes dearer. Fat sheep are usually very firm. Keen rates continue for store sheep. Fat pigs tend slightly dearer at some centres. Firm to firmer values are realised for store pigs. The bleak and wet conditions that were experienced some days during the past week were in very marked contrast to the warm and favourable conditions that had ruled since the beginning of spring. The rain was needed, however, and last week's heavy fall, amounting to just over two inches on one day alone, brought a further assurance of a successful harvesting season. Indications are that harvesting will be much earlier in the Waikato this year, some farmers intending to commence operations within the next few weeks. The wet weather caused some inconvenience to those who were carrying out shearing operations, but most farmers had finished this task before the break in the weather. Conditions, too, were also unfavourable for the lambs, but this fact was more than counter-balanced by the good that the rain brought. A buoyant tone has continued throughout Waikato stock markets, fats usually selling steadily at all

NOIES AND COMMENTS Kuipuki Group Highest Highest group tested by the Auckland Herd Improvement Association during September was the Kaipaki group, which has been responsible for high production figures in past years. The 494 cows in the group last month averaged 9531 b milk with 43ib fat. The highest herd for the same month was one of 43 in the Waerenga group, which was responsible for the good average of 601 b fat. Ploughing Payments According to a Parliamentary statement by the British Minister of Agriculture, the total sum paid, and in course of payment, to date, .11 respect of Die ploughing grants in England of £2 an acre was £3,663,000; and the amount still to be paid in respect of ploughing.-; for the 1940 harvest was estimated to be about £IBO.OOO. Dairies in Demand Thae quality dairy cattle are still urgently wanted in the Waikato are shown at the Morrinsville sale on Friday. Highlight ol' the sale was the auction of a herd of 62 choice young Jersey and Jersey-cross cows from Mr D. W. Jones, og Kiwitahi Hoard, Morrinsville. Tops of the herd sold from £l3 to £ls with the excellent average for the yhole entry of £l2 10s. Beef Bull Sale Although the chilled beef has been suspended in the meantime because of the war, Waikato beef' producers are realising the importance of wellbred beef cattle. One of the most successful beef studs in the Waikato is maintained by Mr F. C. Johnstone, of Waitetuna, who has bred his stud up to its present high standard by the purchase of valui able southern sires. One of the features of the pedigree beef bull sale to be conducted at the Frankton saleyards on October 23 will be an offering o'f young Polled Angus bulls of Mr Johnstone's own breeding. Horses For Waikato A valuable consignment of six mares from the Waimate district has been purchased by Mr W. F. Saunders, of Cambridge. The consignment includes those well-known challenge cup and prize-winning animals, “ Jean Risque,” “ Snow Flake,” “ Silver Flash,” and “ Bell Drew.” Mr Saunders has also taken from the same district a rising 3-year-old colt of excellent quality. The vendor was the well-known Waimate breeder of Clydesdale horses, Mr J. Bruce, of Willowbridge. The Canterbury Farmers’ Co-operative Association. Ltd., report that the consignment is one of the most outstanding yet to leave the Waimate district. i New Branch Formed | New branches of the New Zealand | Farmers’ Union continue to be formed and the proportion of nonunion farmers is becoming steadily smaller. The new branch at Te Kauwhata promises to be a particularly successful one. No fewer than 250 members attended its recent inaugural meeting. Auckland Provincial President Mr H. M. Rushworth, addressed the meeting on behalf of the Dominion executive. Te Kauwhata branch officers were elected as follows: —President, Mr E. T. Bain; vice-presidents, Messrs D. A. Pirrit and F. D. Holt; secretary, Mr A. M. Austin; committee, Messrs !H. H. Chapman, P. H. Saxton, W. Murray, R. P. Rodda, F. Begbie, W. Mawston, C. E. Sampson, W. A. Jeffries, J. R. Hill and R. Alexander. Water For Cows The amount of water that dairy cows in milk will consume is beyond the belief of most people. The average cow will drink about 10 gallons a day, and high-producing cows drink even more than this. Ecles found that cows in milk drink four times as much water as they do when they are dry. He quotes figures relating to a Friesian cow that produced 1001 b of milk a day on a ration of 181 b of lucerne hay, 101 b of corn silage, and from 141 b to 201 b of concentrates, and drank from 2161 b to 3071 b of waier daily. It is believed oy some that cows will milk satisfactorily if they have access to water only once a day. This is contrary to all experience and commonsense. Cows should have access to water at least twice a day, and they are likely to yield more satisfactorily if they j have water close at hand at all times. j Polled Hereford Sold The imported Polled Hereford | bull, Hodgson's Gem. which was imj ported from the Jrbted Stales for j Mr G. F. Moore, of Bushy Park, Kai ! Iwi. by Messrs Wright, Stephenson j and Co.. Ltd., and wnich has been j m service in the Bushy Park stud for the past three seasons, has just been sold by the same firm on Mr Moore's account for export to Tasmania. Hodgson’s Gem lias bred exceptionally well for Mr Moore and as he has now a lot of stock by him lie decided to accept the tempting offer made for export to Tasmania, where the Polled Hereford breed is also getting well established. Hodgson's Gem, which is a thick, very level bull of grand colour, and great substance, has left excellent stock at Bushy Park. He is by Larry's Gem, an outstanding breeding bull, in fact a bull that lias the reputation of being one of the best sires in the United States, while his dam, Beauty’s Lady, is from the same family that produced Mr Fred Humphreys’ famous breeding bull Royal Gem. Hodgson's Gem was also bred in the noted herd of ! Messrs Hodgson Bros., Ottawa, Illinois. U.S.A.

centres. Some high values for quality dairy cows in milk have been reported, and there is no doubt but that the demand will remain keen for this class during the next few weeks. Yearling Jersey heifers have also been keenly sought and high values have continued despite fairly heavy entries. Heavier Beef Supply A larger supply of cow and heifer beef at the Frankton yards yesterday demonstrated the inability of the current market to cope with extra supplies. The market had remained very firm for some weeks while entries were light, but yesterday’s penning was the heaviest lor some weeks with the result that most vendors had to accept slightly less money. Ox beef, which during the last few weeks has been subject to more change than cow beef, remained firm yesterday. This position being in contrast to that experienced at previous sales during the past two months, when the market for ox was usually less keen than that for cow beef. Rather limited supplies of really choice quality beef has been coming forward at the yards for this time of the year, but there has been usually a sufficient number of good quality fat Jersey cattle available for the local trade. These sorts have continued to sell well at all yards. A comparatively sharp demand for store cattle has been reported from most yards dur-

ing the week. Firm Sheep Market The market for fat sheep has been firmer, if anything, during the past week. At the central yard sale yesterday ewes were noticeably a shade better, although there was no very distinct advance. Fewer woolly descriptions have been shown during the week, yesterday’s entry at Frankton being practically a shorn one. The fat lamb trade will shortly be under way in earnest, when*a very busy time will be in store for those connected with this important trade because of the record lambing percentages that have been reported. Store sheep have continued to create keen interest. At the central yards yesterday a special entry of some 1100 ewes ancl wethers, mainly from the East Coast, sold very keenly. One pen of shorn 2-tooth ewes was sold at 295, and there were other sales of the same class from 20s 3d to 24s 4d.

Limited Pork Supplies Feature of the fat pig trade at the saleyards recently has been the comparatively limited supply of pork on offer. The result has been that all classes of porkers have been particularly dear. Butchers have had to contend with competition from buttermilk operators, this being another factor forcing prices up. Some attractive quality baconers have been i coming forward and a new top level of 92s has been established during | the week, although this price had Ibeen previously realised at Te Kauwhata,