ON THE LAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 42, 25 October 1923, Page 51

ON THE LAND

MARKET REPORTS. There was a medium yarding of fat cattle at Burnside last week, numbering 237, which consisted chiefly of medium to good quality animals, with a few pens of extra heavy bullocks of exceptionally choice quality. In comparison with the previous week’s rates, the sale opened at slightly under par values, but as it progressed, competition became decidedly keener, and prices appreciated. The sale finished very strong. On the average the improvement could be stated at 25s per head. Extra prime heavy bullocks made up to £25 7s 6d, prime £l7 10s to £l9, medium £l3 10s to £ls 10s, light £lO 10s to £l2, extra prime cows and heifers realised up to £ls 17s 6d, prime £ll 10s to £l2 10s, medium £8 to £9 10s, light and inferior £5 to £6 10s. Fat Sheep.—There was a moderate yarding of 1957. Taken on an average, there was nothing outstanding about the quality of the entry, which comprised mainly medium-weights, with a few pens of heavy-weight sheep. The sale commenced under the preceding week’s rates, but owing to competition from graziers and outside butchers, vaiues -firmed as the sale progressed and finished strongly. On the average prices could be quoted firm at the previous week’s rates. Extra prime heavy-weight wethers made up to 61s 9d, prim© 52s to 565, medium 44s to * 47s 6d, light from 365, extra prime ewes realised up to 545, prime 45s to 48s, medium 39s to 425, light from 335. Fat Pigs.—A medium yarding, all classes being represented. Competition was fairly brisk, and the prices obtained were fully on a par with the preceding week’s rates. Prime baconers realised up to 7£d and prime porkers up to 9d per lb. . .* ~ The Addington market yardings last week were, on the whole, smaller than the previous week’s, owing to the recent wet weather, with the exception of fat cattle. Fat Sheep. entry was between seven and eight races, compared with 10 on the preceding week, most of the entry being of medium quality only. Values, dwing to the smaller yarding, were from Is 6d to 2s 6d a head above late rates. Prices per lb for best wether mutton were from 8d to 81d, secondary 7ld to 73d, best ewe mutton 7£d to Bd, secondary 7d to 7*d. Fat Sheep. Extra prime Avethers 50s to 545, a few special 58s 6d ; prime 45s 6d to 49s 3d, 1 medium 41s 6d to 44s 9d, light and unfinished 36s to 40s 6d, extra prime ewes 43s to 455, a few special 50s; prime ewes 38s 9d to 42s 3d, medium 33s 6d to 37s 6d, light 28s to 32s 6d, prime shorn wethers 37s to 43s 10s, : medium 30s lOd to 35s 6d, prime shorn ewes 38s 3d, Sheep Farming on Native*Grass Pasturage (Contributed.) MARKETING. The shepherd manager will be called upon to buy and sell sheep from time to time in the ordinary course of his business. He will therefore find it of advantage to visit the public sales, and make himself familiar with affaires courantes, the methods employed by the local auctioneers, prices obtained, etc. He will then be able to compare his stock with that exhibited at the sales and should have no difficulty in appraising their value. For the same reason when he begins transacting business he, should attend, at least occasionally, the wool sales in order to get a good grasp of the methods employed in selling stock, wool and skins, getting up for the market etc., ■ always bearing'in mind that it is the man who makes or mars any profession. ' SKINS. The skins of sheep slaughtered for home consumption should be well stretched out, and left to dry in the sun. Stretch on a rail from tail to neck and fold in the tail a little. As soon as they are perfectly dry they should be removed to the shed. If left too long in the sun they become crisp and : dry and discolored, and consequently • cannot bo sent to market in good condition. They also

lose weight which is an important consideration. I- Care should be taken to paint the skins with 'an insecticide when they are put in the shed, as a preventive against' weevils, rats, and the ravages of the blow-fly. During the summer weather, it is particularly necessary to be careful on this point. It is at this time that the blow-fly is most busy. Green or newly-flayed skins are much preferred by the wool-scourers, as they are more easily treated in the scouring process; they consequently command a higher price, so that if they can be conveniently disposed of in this state further trouble in drying and saving may be avoided. It pays to give attention to detail in looking after skins as in everything else. There is also a good demand for salted skins, and under /certain circumstances this may be the more profitable way of dealing with them; but as it depends on local conditions of the market, the above method, being simpler, is generally adopted. Skins not properly stretched in the beginning lose a great deal in value, taking impressions in shrinking that can never be removed. " LAMBING-TIME. Lambing-time in the North Island of New Zealand begins early in August. If intended to catch the early market lambs will have to make their appearance a feAy weeks earlier. Generally speaking it is not a profitable practice to breed early lambs. It frequently happens that inclement weather causes such mortality among them that the extra price expected will not compensate for the higher death rate. On the whole it is preferable to have a goodly number of lambs coming at a time when favorable weather can confidently be expected, even though they should be ultimately sold at a reduced price as store lambs, than to have a considerably smaller number which, from the fact that they are earlier, are more matured, and can be disposed of when higher prices are ruling. Besides the question of humanity should be considered; the shepherd should always be solicitous for the comfort of the animals committed to his charge. Even from the economic standpoint, it pays. Indeed it would be well if those engaged in farming pursuits paid greater attention to the comfort of animals. In higher mountainous districts, the lambingtime should be later than in warmer districts. j The lambs generally appear only as a small sprinkling among the flocks during the first week or fortnight of the lambing season; after that they in large numbers, and again dwindle down towards the end of the season, so that the majority come in two or three weeks. During this period, therefore, the ewes should be in a paddock as much sheltered as possible, and one in which they will be little likely to be disturbed. As far as possible, the paddock * selected for this purpose should be neither too wet nor too rough, nor should the sheep be too closely pastured together. The shepherd should go round them at least daily, raising any that are cast, and rendering, any assistance that may be necessary. Ordinarily only about 2 , per cent, of the ewes will require assistance in lambing. In making his rounds the shepherd frequently finds a lamb through the fence on the opposite side to its mother. Such lambs are often lost unless put back with their dams. To catch them it is well to have a dog at handone that is well under control, and can be depended on not to bark when required to be silent. A dog which is too rash or too noisy may do a great deal of mischief in scattering the sheep and mis-mothering the lambs. Any dead ewes should be skinned at once and the skins stretched on the nearest fence to dry. c v (To be continued.)