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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 26 November 1927, Page 12

Clover is already one of the most valuable of our crops. It is so, not merely because of the fodder that it supplies to cattle, but because of its peculiar power of enriching the soil with nitrogenous matter. » • * Constitution in a cow is shown by a number of things, among which a large breathing capacity may be placed first.. Since oxygen is essential to the proper purification of the blood, a large breathing capacity is an assurance of the requisite amount of air. This is indicated by large and distended nostrils and good lung capacity. • » • . The rearing of a bull calf that is intended for a stock bull is somewhat different from th e rearing of ordinary calves, such as are meant for lhe commercial trade. With a bull one must get growth, strength of constitution, and plenty of line, strong bone. This all has to be achieved at an early age, and thus, in the most famous burl breeding herds the bull calves run with their dams for a long time. Heifers fed scanty rations a bred too early are usually stunted anu are generally finer in bone than those not bred until more mature. From the time the heifer is bred until calving she should receive considerable attention m order to assure her future success as a dairy cow. Kindly treatment, frequent handling and abundant feed are necessary. The feed should be nutritious, and at tlie same time bulky in nature. Some meal should be added during the last few months. The heifer > should come into milk in good flesh and with udder large and full. As parturition approaches the feeding of the heifer should bo plain without stimulating or heating feed.

Soiiflidown rams were in demand at the sheep sales in England during August. Over '350 rams of this old Sussex breed sold in one day averaged £l5 19s. Lady Ludlow’s ten averaged £53 13s Id, and included the top-priced ram of the sale- lot) guineas. Compared with last year, more rams were sold, yet the average is higher, for in 1926 the 322 rams averaged £l5 Ils 2d. which wn s considered a great sale for so large a number.