SEASONAL JOTTINGS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 5

SEASONAL JOTTINGS

Value of Potatoes For

Pig-fattening (By “Cultivator.”) Experiments carried out in England recently indicate that for feeding value potatoes are quite a useful substitute for barley meal in pig-fattening rations. Provided the ration is properly balanced, steamed potatoes provide as great nutritive economy as a balanced ration of meals alone. For the purposes of trials carried out at the Kirtou Agricultural Institute, England, it was calculated that 41b. of potatoes were equivalent to lib. of barley. » * * Owing to the possibility of their containing harmful qualities when fed to pigs, especially breeding sows, farmers would be well advised to leave mangels alone as a pig-feed, unless, of course, a complete shortage of other foodstuffs exists. There is a definite opinion abroad that mangels will cause abortion, while it is also declared that there is something in them which, when used at a certain stage, renders boars impotent. One writer stated recently that it was impossible to expect pigs to do well on mangels if fed in any quantity, as they have a moisture content of 95 per cent., and consequently carry an amount of water which, if fed in excess, must cause digestive trouble.

» » • Farmers possessing any land infested with foxglove should now be taking steps to make provision for the necessary labour to clear the land. In most districts the beautiful flowers of this weed are in evidence, and the seeding period is not many weeks off. Birds and wind are the two best transferring agencies. Farmers should, however, regard it as a duty not only to themselves but to their neighbours to see that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent any spread of the seed. The most successful method of accomplishing this is to have existing plants pulled out by the Toots. A method more commonly in operation is the cutting of the plants at the ground level. ♦ « » Bidi bidi has for many years been a

curse to farmers, and more especially to flockmasters on account of its contamination of the wool, and a consequent depreciative effect on the value. There is decided promise of the sawfly parasite, imported from Chile in the hope that it would prove effective in the control of bidi bidi, proving a success as a burr destructor. This particular parasite has been so successful in Chile that it is now difficult to find extensive areas of bidi bidi. The sawfly grub attacks the burr in the flower stage. Slowness of supply has unfortunately retarded the development and liberation of the parasite in this Dominion. It is to be hoped, however, that eventually sufficient supplies of the sawfly will be available, and that it will prove the success in this country it undoubtedly has been in Chile. realised from 15/10 to 16/-. Other lines made 13/6 to 14/6 for medium woolly lambs; cull lambs. 10/- to 12/-; shorn lambs, medium, 10/4 to 12/2; cull shorn lambs, 7/-; Southdown lambs, medium, 13/6; wethers, 4 and 6-tb., 19/9 to 20/3; mixed ages. 18/11 to 19/3; 280 small 2-th. ewes, 20/-. A large proportion of the yarding was purchased by Taranaki buyers, whose limits were generally above those of local graziers. Sale at Levin At the lievin sale on Tuesday, Abraham and Williams offered a good yarding, which sold well at the following prices: —Bigs: Slips, 12/6 to 17/-; porkers, 25/6 to 35/-; choppers, £2/10/- to £2 12/6. Cattle: Fat cows, £2/2/- to £2 5/-; dairy cows, £3/17/6 to £3/12/6; vealers, 25/- to 32/6; heifers, r.w.b., 37/6 to £2; bulls, 20/- to 30/-. The prices for porker pigs were well up on the last sale, while the demand for others iu the same line were quite firm. The beef market was a little easier, while sheep were firm. Marton Sale At the Marton sale on Tuesday the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Distributing Co., Ltd., offered a small yarding of 300 sheep, 60 pigs, 20 cattle. As thia was the first sale of the year considerable interest was taken in the store lamb market; competition was exceptionally keen and prices were considered satisfactory. Prices were: Medium w.f. wether lambs, 11/1; medium ewe lambs, 14/6; small woolly wether lambs, 9/3; email woolly ewe lambs. 11/9; small m.s. lambs. 9/4; weaner pigs, 6/- to 9/-: slips, 11/6; stores, 16/- to 17/6; dairy cows to £3; Jersey bull, 6/6. Values at Dannevirke Dominion Special Service. Dannevirke, January 9. A large yarding, comprising mostly lambs, which met with. a ready sale, was offered by the Hawke's Bay Farmers’ Cooperative Association, Ltd., at the last fortnightly Norsewood sale. Pigs were slightly easier, but most vendors met the market, while the small entry of cattle brought forward, sold at prices in buyers’ favour. Following is the range of prices: Sheep: Lambs. 8/7, 10/-, 11/2, 13/1, 13/6, 14/8, 15/- to 15/9. Pigs: Mixed, 7/6 to 12/-; porkers, 20/-. Cattle: Springing heifers, £2; fat cows, 21/-; bulls, 5/-. Lambs offered at this sale by Williams and Kettle, Ltd., also met with a keen market, a total clearance being effected at satisfactory prices. Cattle and pigs, however, were a little harder to sell, the prices realised being below late rates. Prices were:— Sheep: Medium b.f. lambs. 12/-, 14/1 to 14/10; wether lambs, 13/4; medium wether lambs. 10/10: small lambs, 10/aud .10/1. Cattle: Springing cow, £2; empty Jersey cows, 13/6 to 25/-. Pigs: Light porkeg. 14/- to 19/6; good weaner pigs, 10/6 to 12/-; small weaner pigs, 5/to 8/-.