THE SHEEP FLOCKS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2892, 3 October 1916, Page 10

THE SHEEP FLOCKS

FINAL RETURNS. The interim.'returns published on Juno 29 showed a decrease of tho total number of sheep in tho Dominion M '293,553, as compared with tho previous year. The filial return,, now published iu tile Journal of the Department of Agriculture shows that the- real dooreaso is only 36,244. Breeding owes are not involved in this decrease, and it is very satisfactory to note that these show an increase : over last year 'of 298,942 in flock breeding ewos, while stud breeding, ewes show an increase of 15,000. Tho small , total decrease can bo accounted for by the drouglit conditions which.prevailed'in parts of the Dominion" last year; and but for this drought' • there is' good reason to believo that an increase would havo been, shown. .Canterbury and tho northern portion of Otago suffered particularly, and Canterbury. this' year shows- a total decrease of 571;300, ivliilo Otago shows a;.total decrease of 54,969. ■ All other districts show a more or less well marked increase. . '

As notified in our advertising col-umns,-the old-established business of Messrs. W;.,, Dimock. and: Co.-, Ltd., Wellington, has been purchased bv tho Now Zealand Farmers' Co-op. , J&acou and Meat Packing Co;, Ltd.- 'This organisation also takes over the businesses .carried on by the South Talranaki" Bacon CoLtd., ' the Waikato Farmers' Co-op. Bacon Co., Ltd.,'and by tho Auckland Bacon Company. The amalgamation has been formed for, the purpose of more economically working tho ham, .bacon; and .meat-packing industry. It already has some of the largest dairy-factories-in the North Island as- its-shareholders, in addition to a. very large number of producers. It. is considered.that the new company should do a great deal towards placing the industry on a much sounder footing. '

. The special attention of all those interested in high-class pedigree Holsteins is drawn to the dispersal 'sale to bo'hold at the Willowvalo Stud Farm on Friday next, by Mr. Newton King. One special feature about the "Willowvalo" Holsteins is their persistent qualities, and, as is well, known, ■ they have been largo prize-winners at' all' the leading showß throughout-the Dominion, There are a large number of prize-winners in the catalogue, which comprise cows. and heifers in calf or'in milk, empty heifers, yo>u'n" bulls, and the champion bull, King Fayne Segis 2nd. Mr. James, the farm manager, is leaving Mr. King, and the farm has been sold, so that the whole catalogue will go to the highest' bidder. Conveyances will run from Mr. King's offici to the farm throughout the day.