ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 28, 19 July 1923, Page 51

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORTS. At Burnside last week 190 head of fat cattle came to hand for market, a small proportion only of which could be termed prime quality. Prices opened at about 20s above the previous week's rates, and as the sale progressed values improved to the extent of 30s. Prime heavy bullocks realised from £ls 2s 6d to £l7 10s, prime £l2 10s to £l4 12s 6d, medium and unfinished from £8 10s to £ll, prime heifers and., cows sold from £8 15s to £lO 10s, others from £5. • Fat Sheep. The yarding consisted of 2400 sheep, the majority being ewes. The market opened on a par with the preceding week's rates and hardened to the extent of Is per head towards the end of »the sale. Prime heavy wethers realised from 51s to 55s 9d, prime 45s 9d to 50s 3d, medium 36s to 42s 3d, light from 31s 3d, prime heavy ewes from 36s 6d to 425, prime from 29s to 34s 3d, medium 25s 6d to 28s, light from 20s upwards. Fat Lambs. There were 2170 lambs yarded, which, with the exception of a few pens, were of fair to medium quality. The fact that the local freezing works were closing accounted for the increased yarding. Prices for freezing lambs were on a par with the previous week's rates, but prices for light and unfinished sorts were easier by Is to Is 6d per head. Prime lambs realised from 32s 9d to 355, extra to 37s 9d, others from 27s to 30s 9d, stores from 17s to 21s. Fat Pigs. —There was a full entry of pigs, all classes being represented. The demand was brisk, especially for prime baconers, and these sold at prices equal to those which c ruled at the preceding week's sale. Porkers, however, were easier to the extent of about -J-d pr lb. Best baconers realised up to 6?d, and best porkers up to 7d per' lb. A notable feature about last week's Addington market was the sudden jump up in values, for fat sheep of which there was a small yarding. Fat Lambs. —Three hundred and forty were penned. The first consignment per the tunnel arrived from the West Coast in good condition, and topped the market. Values were unaltered. Fat Sheep. —There- was a small yarding and. a big jump in prices, averaging from 2s 6d to 5s per head. Host wether made to 7j-d per lb, medium 6da to 7.\d, good ewe 5} to 62<1, light to sd, extra prime wethers 41s to 435, a few special at 45s 6d, prime 37s 6d to 40s (id, medium 34s 6d to 375, light 30s to 345, extra prime ewes 36s to 38s, a few special at 39s 9d, prime 32s 6d to 35s (id, medium 28s 6d to 325, light 24s 6d to 28s, old 19s 6d to 245. Fat Cattle.—A heavy yarding of 522 head showing a drop on values fcf about 15s to 20s per head. Extra good beef made 325, good 27s to 295, medium 245. 6d to 365, rough 15s to 22s 6d, extra prime steers £l4 10s to £l7 ss, prime £lO 15s to £l3 10s, medium £8 to £lO 10s, inferior £5 15s to £7 15s, extra prime heifers £lO 7s 6d, prime £7 to £9, ordinary £3 15s to £6 15s, extra prime cows £9 15s, prime £6, to £8 10s, ordinary £4 5s to £5 15s. Vealers.— A small entry with .a good demand. Prices again advanced. Runners £5 15s, good vealers £3 to £5 ss, fair £2 to £2 15s, small calves £1 to £1 15s. Fat Pigs.—Bacon improved a little, but pork was easier. Choppers £3 to £B, light 'baconers £3 15s to £4 ss, heavy £4 10s to £5 ss, average price per lb 7d to 7|d;Uight porkers £2 5s to £2 12s 6d, heavy £2 15s to £3 ss, average price per lb 8d to 9|d. MILKING POWERS OF COWS. The most wonderful breed for milk production is the Friesian or Holstein, which is now largely kept by the dairy farmers of Great Britain, but has not yet gained much of a footing in this country (says an Irish exchange). The drawback to adopting it as the chief dairy breed of this country is, of course, its inability to compete with our native Shorthorn as a producer of stores or beeves- vet at a recent Smithfield show a Friesian steer was awarded championship honors in competition with representatives of all the beef breeds. The Friesian is represented in Eng- , land by a very much alive association, which publishes the records of all registered herds, and when any Friesian cow • '..■■'.. . &

or heifer milks upwards of 2000 gallons in a year, the fact is advertised throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Thus it would seem that a man keeping one of the 2000 gallon Friesian cows would make as much profit from his single cow as an Irish farmer keeping an average herd of 420gallon cows makes from eighty cows. ■ <*x> : _