OUT AND ABOUT

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 13

OUT AND ABOUT

THE WEEK IN OTAGO. Seasonal climatic conditions continued throeghout the week in Otago., the mild temperature, with bright sunshine a daily experience, being generally appreciated by farmers engaged in stock fattening operations. BURNSIDE MARKET. - The fat stock entries at the Burnside Metropolitan Market were only of moderate dimensions, following upon the double sale a fortnight ago. The demand in most sections was fairly good from the usual export buyers and local butchers. The yarding of fat cattle totalled 168, compared with 385 the previous week. Although there was a considerable decrease in numbers, values, except for prime animals, were not too bright. Secondary and plain classes met with a dragging market, while inferior sorts were difficult to move. The quality generally was indifferent, only a few extra prime bullocks being yarded. Early in the day prime cattle were 7-s 6d to 15s better than at the previous sale, but the demand slackened off ere the close of the sale to the rates ruling at the end of the double market. Prime bullocks may be quoted as making up to 27s per 1001 b at the best stage of the sale. The supply of sheep was fully adequate for the somewhat brisk demand experienced, the entry totalling 2300, compared with 4000 at the previous sale. A considerable proportion comprised ewes and fine-woolled sheep, together with severe! penning® of heavy wethers. The demand opened with light and medium ewes 2s per head in advance of rates ruling a fortnight ago, with heavy ewes and wethers from par to Is better, the market being firm throughout. Butchers’ wethers made to and around 3d per lb. Some 1500 fat lambs (1100 last sale) met with a good demand, and values were a shade better, but the quality was very mixed, but included a number of extra heavy weights, some nice consignments, and a big sprinkling of half-finished lambs. Light prime lambs sold to fid per lb.

The store cattle submitted for sale comprised good sorts of three-part fat cows and others, together with a few pens of young steeis. Prices were much the same as at the previou sale. There was a good entry of fat pigs, 200 (79 last sale), and a very fair demand ensued, baeoners maintaining recent values, also the pick of the porkers yarded. Medium porkers, however, receded 5s per head, while small stores, 113 (51 last sale) changed hands,- for best sorts, at recent values. A number of the stores were of medium merit, and for these values were weaker. N.Z. ROYAL SHOW. According to the annual report of the Royal Agricultual Society of New Zealand for the year ended March 31, 1931, the membership of the society stands at 358, but as each affiliated A. and P. association and each breed society is entitled to nominate two members of the society, the total membership is 478. The following breed societies are o n the membership list of the Royal Agricultural Society. During the year the following donations were received:—

The number of A. and A. Association affiliated to the Royal Agricultural Society is 49. Each affiliated association has the right to (a) nominate two of its members to receive all the privileges of this society, and (b) send a delegate to the conference. During the. year annual subscriptions were paid by the following A. and P. Associations:—Ashbur-

ton, Auckland, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury, Clevedon, Dannevirke, Feildmg, Flaxboume, Franklin, Gore, Hawarden, Hawke’s Bay, Helensville. Hikurangi, M’Kenzie County, Manawatu, Marlborough, Marton, Masterton, Methven, Morrinsville, Northern North Otago, Nuhaka, Ohura, Opotiki, Otago, Oxford, Rodney, Southland, Temuka, Timaru, Waiapu. Waimate, Waipukurau, Wairarapa. tVavcrley, Whakatane, Whangarei, Wyndham. The amount received from the A-. and P. Associations as annual subscriptions was £lBO 15s Id. RUSSIA WANTS SHEEP. Instructions for the Soviet to launch a campaign for the removal -of the Commonwealth Government’s embargo on the export of -stud sheep from Australia are stated to be responsible for the presence in Sydney of a Russian who cannot speak English (says the Victorian Weekly Times). Naturally, he cannot approach the Labour Government direct, but his plan of campaign will be to work from the background, with the aid of Communist forces, in an endeavour to bring pressure to bear in the Caucus. Abolition of the export ban would leave Australia’s wool industry open to further serious competition from overseas countries. The ban was directed chiefly against Russia and South Africa. Moscow wants to grow and manufacture its own wool. And, once its flocks have been built up. it is suggested, it would dump its wool like its wheat. Sheep could be purchased in Great Britain and in the United States, and, for that matter, in South Africa: hut these clips are not equal in quality to those in Australia. The Soviet wants the best, so it looks to Australian studs. BUTTER AND CHEESE GRADINGS. A total of over 182.000 tons of dairy produce—94.4B9 tons of butter and 87.526 tons of cheese —was graded for export during the ten months of the season ended May 31. The figures of the Dairy Divi.-ion of the Department of Agriculture show that the salted butter graded for May, 1931,

wag 4114 tons, and the unsalted 80 tons, a total of 4224 tons, compared with 3448 tons salted and 55 tons unsalted, a total of 3503 tons for May, 1930, an increase of 20.58 per ’Cunt. For the ten months ended May, 1931, the respective quantities were 90,899 tons and 3590 tons, a total of 94,489 tons compared with 92.020 tons and 1591 tons, a total of 93,611 <ons for the corresponding period of the preceding -season, an increase of 0.93 per cent. The cheese graded for May. 1931, comprised: White 2556 tens, coloured 1606 tons, a total of 4162 tons, compared with 3222 tons white and 2052 tons coloured, a total of 5271 tons for May, 1931, a decrease 0f.21.08 per cent. The quantities for the ten months ended May, 1931, were: White 58,941 tens, coloured 28,585 tons, a total of 87,526 tons, compared with 56,094 tons white and 28,239 tons coloured, a total of 84,333 tons for the corresponding period of the preceding season, an increase of 3.78 per cent. Converting these figures into butter-fat equivalent there is an increase of 2.24 per cent, in butter-fat production for the ten months as compared With the corresponding period of the 1929-30 season. Stocks held in the grading ports of the Dominion as at Maj' 31 compare ns follow: — May 31, 1930. May 31.1931. "Tons. Tons. Butter. . . 11,437 13,944 Cheese . . 13,381 10,877

COUNTRY STOCK SALES. BALGLUTHA. The yarding of sheep at the fortnightly sale on Friday numbered 3000. In sympathy with the rise elsewhere, the market for fats was a good one, but the Store pens housed a number of poor quality sheep, and these made low prices. Heavy fat lambs sold at 16s to 18s 3d. fat wethers 14s 9d to 17s 3d, fat ewes 10s fid to 13s 6d. Very forward lambs realised Ils 3d to 12s 7d; average quality, 7s to 9s fid; small lambs Is 4d to 3s; wethers, 12s to 13s sd; sound-mouthed ewes, 9s to Us; cull ewes, 6d to Is 3d; failing-mouthed ewes, 4s fid to 6e fid Fat cows brought £4 to £6; young bullocks, £2 15s; a line of three-year-old Hereford bullocks (offered qp behalf oi Messrs Telford, Gtanonomo’) sold at £6 10s. £7 ss, and £9 Is; young Jersey steers, £1 16s. Dairy cows sold at from

£3 to £8 15s. the latter price being for cows just at profit. Small, weedy sucker pigs brought 6s to 8s; better , quality, 16s fid to 20s.

CLYDESDALE NOTES. The Kilmarnock Farmers’ Society—instituted 130 years ago —held their annuel open summer show recently in the Rugoy Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland. Entries were actually up on those of last year, and there was a representative muster of good quality stock, but the attendance Was rather disappointing. This was uo doubt partly due to conflicting events in the country of Ayr on the same day—the Newton-Mearns Show and a gathering of people interested in dairying at the opening of the Hannah Research Institute at Auchincruive, preceded by a public luncheon in Ayr in the early afternoon. The championships were won as folClydesdales. —- Female — Robert Park. Brunstane, Portobello, with yeld mare Brunstane Phyllis. Reserve—J. E. Ker,, of Harviestoun, Dollar, with brood mare Harviestoun Alauna. -Male —James Clark, Windlaw, Carmunnock, with two-year-old colt Windlaw Marcellus. Reserve—Messrs _T. and M. Templeton, Sandyknowe, Kelso, with three-year-old stallion Benefaction. Clydesdale Horse Society’s silver meda. for best yearling or two-year-old colt or filly—James Clark, with two-year-old colt Windlaw Marcellus. Reserve—G. M. Beck, Ravenstonedale, with two-year-old filly lane Lucky Girl. The eleventh annual report dealing with the registration of stallions in Victoria contains some disquieting facts, which merit the serious consideration, of all interested in tlie horse-breeding industry. In a striking sentence it is pointed out that, “ so far as the standard is concerned, it has become progressively worse, tire percentage of rejections on that ground tor the last three seasons having been 9,28, 11.21. and 15.41 peY cent, respectively,” During 1930-31 there were_7s7 stalhors registered, compared with 787 for the preceding year. As usual, draughts predominated, their number having been 567 or 10 more than previously. . z Mr James Picken, of Craigie, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, a well-known breeder and exporter of Clydesdale horses, died suddenly at the age of 72, while on a vis’t to Aberdeen. He recently retired from the office of president of the Clydesdale Horse Society. The best work horses are in strong demand in spite of reduced arable cultivation in Scotland. Good geldings appeir to be scarce. There have been many prices of £66 to £75 at Perth and Aberdeen during the past month. The demand for farm horses in th ß northern part of Victoria is improving In Bendigo, competition has been keen in the market for good young animals, and satisfactory prices have been realised. If length of service can be taken as a guide, the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain is particularly fortunate in its executive officers. The late secretary. Mr Archibald MacNeilage, who died a few’ months ago, filled the post for s>l years, and now he has been succeeded by Mr Samuel Mackenzie, who has been on the staff of the society for over 40 years. PURCHASE OF CATTLE. Messrs W. J, Kenst and A. J. Robertson, both of whom attended Mr Copland’s dispersal sale of, Friesian cattle, were successful in securing five head of highlybred females for the purpose of establishing purebred herds on their respective properties. Mr Keasts purchases include Gleniffer Princess Sylvia Daphne and Gleniffer Corona Queen. Gleniffer Princess Sylvia Daphne is distinctly’ of Rosevale breeding, and is descended from some of the highest butter-fat producers in the Dominion. Her grand-dam is full sister to Rosevale Oueen Sylvia Triumph, who produced 19541 b of butter-fat in 365 days, while her g.g. dam has produced 8051 b fat in the same period. She is sired by that great butter-fat bull Bam-

field King Dell, twice winner of the butterfat shield at the Oamaru Show, and whose two nearest dams average 8551 b fat. Gleniffer Corona Queen is of Cordyline breeding; her dam being that great cow Corona, which has produced 6261 b fat at two years old, while her g. dam produced 5971 b fat. She is also sired by Bainfield King Dell. The pick of Mr Robertson’s purchase is the well-bred heifer Gleniffer Echo Sylvia Pietertje. Maternally she is of • Bainfield breeding, while paternally she is of Rosevale breeding— a good combination. She is out of Bainfield Sylvia Pietertje, a daughter of that well-known and outstanding sire Rosevale King Sylvia, and out of a full sister of Westmere Princess Pietertje, which produced 9391 b fat. Mr Robertson also purchased Gleniffer Lottie Poscli. by Bainfield King Dell, and Gleniffer Echo Madeline Posch, by’ Gleniffer King Sylvia Daphne. There is no doubt this is the time to get in on the purebred market, as any dairyman who is to succeed in future must specialise. Those selections have been wisely made, and the new breeders are to be commended for their enterprise at this depressing time, JOTTINGS. The business in stock, apart from the seasonal transactions in fat lambs, ewes and wethers, continues slack in Otago, with small indication at the moment of any marked appreciation in values. For the past week the Balclutha freezer has averaged 3000 sheep and lambs daily, with a board of 36 butchers. This promises to be a record season for the works. The total killings at the South Otago works to date is over 250,000, or, to be exact, 258,320 sheen and lambs. This is 36,144 ahead of the same period last season. In addition 1430 head of cattle have been put through. A movement is being made to establish a herd testing association_ in the Middlemarch district. The Dairy Division is being approached with a view to holding a meeting to discuss this important matter, and it is hoped that some progress may be reported. Fat lambs are realising to-day the same values for light prime lambs as last year in June, but wethers suitable for the local market were making around s<l per lb last year, compared with 3d per lb to-day, a matter of. say, 10s per head •decline on the 1929 rates.

Last year 11,684 sheep were exported from the Isle of Man, compared with 3066 in 1921. Sheep-breeding is gradually becoming one of the mainstays of the Manx farmer, says an exchange. The surplus lambs, not sold for consumption during the summer holiday season are shipped for sale at Carlisle. It is reported that Russian sugar is now being dumped in Holland, where serious alarm has been caused - among sugar traders. At a meeting of protest it was unanimously decided not to accept the Soviet sugar on the Amsterdam exchange. Thousands of -tons, it is Stated, have already been landed. Station owners will be pleased to learn from Mr J. E. Robb, a well-known Indian horse buyer, that'the Indian Government would purchase all light well-bred horses that Australia could offer. South Australian pastoralists and horse breeders would have'to pay more attention to the breeding of light horses if they wished to command this market. Fat cattle rabies at- the Burnside Metropolitan Market continue to .be sticky’, the maximum paid at the recent sale being in the neighbourhood of 27<for primest quality of average weight, and only at times was this figure reached at auction. At this time last year beef was v realising up to 39s per 1001 b. a difference of approximately £4 10s per head on an -average weight bullock. . . The quantities of stock killed at the StnlLland freezing works to date are in ex<es«. of those for the same period last year, and the manager (Mr Alexander

Derbie) aays there is every indication that by the time the freezing works at Mataura and Makarewa are closed down, the grand total will exceed that of x last year, which was a record for the company. For some time rumours have been heard that negotiations were proceeding in the direction of the Government taking over the Cromwell Development Company e works and land. The fact that three representatives of the Lands Department Messrs Rodgers, O’Donnell, and M Donald —were in the district last week, and spent a good deal of time on Ripponvale, can be taken to indicate that the proposal isT being seriously considered. On the occasion of the marriage of the Crown Prince of Italy, the International Institute of Agriculture has decided to establish a prize of a good medal and 10,000 liras (about £108) to be awarded annually for the best original work on agricultural economics and statistics. ton tributions (says an exchange) have to be submitted not later than September 30, and the award will be notified on December 31.

The famous Ayrshire cow Millantae lif ay flower, bred and owned by Mr John Johnstone, Millantae Lockerbie, dropped her fifteenth calf in March. Although now 14 years old, she can still put up a good fight in the show ring. In her last nine lactations she has averaged 1390ga1, which is over 5u tons of milk. On four occasions she produced twin calves and she has won almost every important trophy it is possible for an Ayrshire cow to secure.

Indicating that the Russian butter campaign in the British markets might be renewed, a Riga correspondent stated that the Soviet authorities were planning further action because Russian production at May 20 had reached only 35 per cent, expected for the month. The butter districts of West Siberia and the Volga Provinces as well as White Russia, have an output of only about 28 per cent, of the fixed programme. If tins is to continue, it will be impossible to continue exports at the rate planned. Five thousand acres will be added to the softwood forests of Victoria by this vear's planting, which is in full swing. Most of the work is being done with grants from the unemployment relief fund. About 500 men are employed in the planting and other forestry work. The chief species being planted are Douglas Oregon, Western yellow pine, and Corsican pine. They are being planted in the high rainfall areas, chiefly the Ayr Valley in the Beech Forest, and the Alpine regions in the Bright and the Ovens districts. The trees are for milling purposes, and will mature in about 30 years.

Outlining the methods which were employed for more than 100 years to retain the purity of Jersey cattle in the country of origin, an official of the Jersey Herd Society stated that in 1789 the Jersey was established as a distinct breed, and the importation of stock was prohibited. One hundred years ago there were records of cows yielding 171 b of butter weekly. The controlling body on the island never slackened its efforts to retain the P url ty of the breed and improve it. In 18bb nine head were shipped to Melbourne, and their immediate success resulted in a popularity that had never waned.

Prices at the winter series of wool auctions, which were begun in Melbourne on June 2 were easier than at the Easter sales. The catalogues were for the most part made up of crutchings, oddments, and lambs, as well as some held-over and autumn-shorn clips. The sellers . were Younghusband Ltd., Goldsbrough Mort and Co Ltd. Australian Estates- and Mortgage Co.,’ Ltd., and the Victorian Producers’ Co., Ltd., whose catalogues totalled 5600 bales. Many lots were passed in. The highest prices in the early part of the sale were: JP/Foster, 15d; vale/Glenroy/S.A., 141 d; CF/Bucknals/ Heywood, 14Ad; CCK/Cadzow, 12jd; 88/Won, 12Jd; Y in diamond, 13d. Sheepmen in the Clutha district are elated because of the new schedule of export prices that commenced last week. Lambs under 361 b now bring 6Jd per lb on the hooks, 37-421 b 5Jd, over 421 b 5Jd, seconds (up to 36’s) sd, over 36’s 4£d. Ewes also have gone up id. per lb for all grades, but wethers remain unchanged. District farmers who make a specialty of raising good lambs claim that they have done better by sending to the local freezing works than by’ accepting the prices offered “ on the hoof,” notwithstanding that the grading is said to have been pretty isevere this season. One farmer received 17s 4d for his general run of lambs, and in the case of a few extra heavy Romney lambs the return was 24s 6d. Tobacco culture in Victoria can be traced back 75 years, when the Chinese, after the decline in mining, began raising the leaf on the rich soils of the north-east. A tobacco factory operated at Wangaratta in the ’sixties. The industry has had many vicissitudes, what with disease, low prices, and crude methods of curing. In 1896-97 there were 233 growers in the State, but over-production that season led to many men abandoning the industry. During the last four or five years, however, increased attention has been given the crop. In 1926-27 1154 acres were planted, and produced 3454 cwt; 1927-28 1176 acres, 9055 cwt; 1928-29 1317 acres, 9375 cwt. The area in 1929-30 was 1822 acres, and the total yield was very satisfactory. Last season a record of 2734 acres was devoted to the leaf, and notwithstanding that blue mould was very prevalent in most districts, preparations are being made for a greatly increased acreage for the next crop.

“Many farmers running cars to-day cannot afford to do so—it is time they got back to the old horse and cart,” observed Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., during the hearing of a case in the Palmerston North Magistrate.’s Court.

N.Z. Jersey C.B.A. £60 0 0 N.Z. Friesian Association .. .. 50 0 0 N.Z. Romney-Marsh S-B Association 50 0 o Clydesdale Horse Society of N.Z. . .. ». 30 0 0 Southdown Sheep Society .. SO 0 0 Aryshire C.B.A. 21 0 0 Hereford C-B Association 20 0 0 N.Z. Milking Shorthorn Association . > .. 15 0 0 Aberdeen-Angus C-B Association 10 0 0 Corriedale Sheep Society ». ». 10 0 0 N.Z. Pig Breeders’ Association 5 5 0 Lincoln S.BA. .. .. .» ,. 5 0 0 N.Z. Sheep Breeders’ Association ' .. .. ». 4 10 0 Milking Shorthorn Association (Manawa tn) 3 3 0 Shorthorn Society of New Zealand 2 2 o Ryeland Sheep Society of New ■ Zealand •• .. .. » » »» »■. 2 2 0