CALVES AND SHARK OIL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1741, 16 October 1917, Page 2

CALVES AND SHARK OIL.

WHILE on a “fishy” subject, we are reminded by an article written by Mr T. R. Roydhouse, in the Sydney Morning Herald, that the shark can be made a benefactor to the dairy farmer. Mr Roydhouse writes: “Last summer I cruised about the North Auckland Peninsula, New Zealand, and there I learned a good deal about sharks in relation to calves. It seems unlikely that the information is widespread,. or the shark would be having a more exciting time than usually befalls him. The manufacturer would have his hooks into him right through the season. I came to a place in a secluded bay, where there was what I concluded to be an abandoned fish-canning factory. Enquiry, however, elicited the fact that it was formerly a shark-oil factory. It produced oil for ealyes. That was its business. A side-line was fertiliser. It had been run for some years, and then had to be closed down owing to 'the difficulty of getting men to catch the sharks. I was informed that the oil (refined) was sold at half-a-erown a gallop and then 3s, and was freely purchased by farmers for use as a calf feed. When the factory closed down for the cause stated, there was much regret on the part of those who had tested the oil. A few who were conveniently situated by the waterside determined not to be without it. They proceeded to catch sharks for themselves. Removing the livers, they placed them on sheets of corrugated iron over a fire built in the open, and in this primitive way'secured the oil. Being interested, I proceeded to interview farmers who had used the shark oil as calf food. ‘I only wish I could get a supply now,’ said one with whom I was personally acquainted as a thrifty and successful dairyman. ‘lf it becomes obtainable again I will always keep a reserve. I was quite satisfied with it. Calves that would have otherwise died were kept alive, and developed into first-class beasts, solely on account of shark oil. I fed it to them a tablespoonful in a bucket of separated milk —well stirred into it, and less to start with. To begin with, the calves did not think much of it; but later they liked it. Calves fed with shark oil did much better than calves fed in any other way, developed .quicker, and when sold brought better prices.’ He quoted figures of actual sales in support of his statement, and adds: ‘And it puts a splendid glossy coat on them. Calves fed with shark oil are healthier. They don’t suffer from the troubles that so many calves have. You’ll raise more calves by feeding them with shark oil, and they will be better calves, and give you much less trouble. In fact, you are real pleased to look at them as they grow. It’s dead cheap at 3s a gallon. I only wish I could depend upon getting it regularly.’ ”