On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 19 October 1911, Page 2110

On the Land

+ —— : Milking must be done with clean, dry hands. Water for scalding a pig should be at 151 degrees Fahr. ' It will not pay to hold pigs for a rise in price, as a rule. Big pigs do not fetch the best prices. ,w A bacon pig should mature in about seven months, and should weigh about 1701 b dead weight, or 2201 b * live weight. A crop of rape is a splendid thing for pigs, and they are very fond of it. A ton of lucerne hay is equal in value to a ton of bran as feed for dairy cows. Good milking develops the milk-secreting organs; careless milking arrests this development. There was a small yarding (164) of fat cattle at Burnside last week. The quality was fair. Prices, on account of the shortness in supply, were firmer. Best bullocks, £l2 to £l3 12s 6d; extra, £l4 15s; medium do, £lO to £lO 10s; inferior do, £8 to £9; best cows and heifers, £8 10s to £9 10s; extra, £l3 2s 6d; medium do, £6 10s to £7 10s. There were 4364 fat sheep penned. Prices at the commencement of the sale were a shade easier than those of pervious week. Best wethers, 22s to 245; extra, 28s; medium, 19s to 21s; inferior, 17s to 18s; best ewes, 22s to 235; extra, v 245; medium, 17s to 18s. The yarding of 46 lambs sold at about previous week’s rates. There was only a small number of pigs forward, and these sold at satisfactory rates. _ ' 1 Pampas is a swollen condition l of the palate, immediately behind the upper incisors. In young horses it is usually due to shedding of the temporary teeth and the appearance of the permanent teeth. In older animals, with whom it is very uncommon, it may be the result of digestive trouble or of feverishness. The swelling often causes this part to rise to nearly the same level as the edge of the teeth, causing difficulty in taking food or in masticating it. If the horse is running out, with plenty'of good grass, no special feeding is required. If stabled, soft food should be given in the shape of bran mashes. A dose of laxative medicine is nearly always beneficial, and a little dry burnt alum may be rubbed on. If this i§ not efficacious, half ounce of bicarbonate of potash in the drinking water twice daily may be allowed. On no account permit burning, which is extremely cruel, and not necessary, A veterinary surgeon will sometimes scarify the inflamed part, but an inexperienced hand may pierce a blood vessel, and fatal cases have been known to result from hemorrhage. At Addington last week the entries of stock were large, and there was a good attendance. Fat cattle were easier. Fat.lambs also sold better in consequence of a shorter supply, and the fat sheep market opened at the previous week’s rate for prime, but other sorts were a shade easier. Fat pigs sold well. The yarding of fat sheep was chiefly made up of large lines of good crossbred wethers from Southland, There was also a better entry of local sheep, including several pens of the first shorn sheep of the season. The market opened well, there being several outside buyers operating. Prices were firmly maintained, but eased off somewhat later on. The range of prices was: Extra prime wethers to 29s 3d; prime 22s to 26s 4d, others 16s to-21s 6d; shorn wethers, 14s lid to 16s. The entry of fat cattle totalled 280. The yarding was of good quality, the North Island again contributing a large portion, the bulk of those cattle being in prime condition. There ! was a marked decline in the demand. Steers made £7 • 7s 6d to £ll, extra to £l3 10s, heifers £6 5s to £9 ss. The entry of fat lambs totalled only 68. The lambs were well grown and of good quality, and there was a keen demand, prices showing a considerable improvement. Best lambs made 17s Id to 225, and smaller ' 14s 9d to 16s 9d. Fat pigs were in medium supply, and well finished animals met with a keen demand at advanced rates. Choppers made £3 10s to £4 2s 6d, large haveners, 60s to 77s 6d, smaller 50s to 57s 6d.