HEBE IM THERE.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 152, 30 September 1926, Page 3

HEBE IM THERE.

GENERAL NOTES AND JOTTINGS. In common with Wanganui and the districts closely surrounding, parts further afield have fared very well durling the winter, and prospects for the lambing season are considered bright. One farmer living a few miles this side of Feilding estimates that he will get about 130 per cent., and many others arc almost equally optimistic. The exceptional mildness of the winter season has had its effect on the stock, and , ewes have done very well throughout the district. Losses of ewes and lambs have not so far been any greater than is usual, and if fine weather is experienced for a few weeks, the farmer will have little enough to complain about. It is stated however, that some dairymen have lost cows at calving time, there being a number of cases of milk fever. * ‘Britain imports 10,000 tons of bacon each week, and little of it comes from New Zealand, ’’ said Mr L. B. Beale, British Trade Commissioner, at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. “If you can increase your production and maintain ) the quality there is room at H*ome for your goods. Britain is still the centre ) and envy of the world, and with loyal support from her dominions she will continue to hold the position she has had for generations past.’ ’ The following figures will give some idea of the wholesale price of meat in England. The carcase prize at Birmingham Fat Stock Show for cattle went to a crossbred Shorthorn, which sold for 10-id per lb. For best sheep, a Kerry-Rycland lamb realised la 3id per lb., with a weight of 701 b. A cross from a large White sow and a Large Black boar won the light-weight pig carcase prize, live weight being 2291 b., j and dressed weight 1891 b. In the heavy class a Berkshire-Middle Whito cross scaled 2491 b., and dressed to j 2071 b. The latter made 13d per lb., and I the former 134 d. Of the large exporting countries, New Zealand has been the largest ship- r per of cheese in the world for many years, with the exception of 1920, when 1 the Netherlands exported more cheese than any other country. The most noticeable feature in the London buttei market recently has been the very small difference between the New Zealand and Danish prices, whereas usually at this time of the year the difference is very substantial.

Considerable quantities of skin milk are now being allowed to go to i aste on the dairy farms about Waihi 0.. : ng to the shortage and consequently 1 gh prices of weancr pigs. For well bred weaners—Berkshires, Tamworths ; id good cross-breds —breeders are ask mg from 30s to 36.° per head, and farmers seem disinclined to buy at these figurps on the ground that when the pigs are ready for the bacon market in five or six months the margin of profit is not sufficient to warrant the labour and time involved in bringing them to that stage, especially as there is always the risk of some of the high priced animals dying. Some nice young Tamworths were offered for sale at the Waihi Municipal yards last week, but while there were several inquiries, farmers declined to go to the sellers’ reserve of 30s, the best offer being 255, and the litter had to be taken home again by the breeder. An increase of nearly 100 per cent of the area under wheat in North Canterbury is expected this season, and farmers arc being advised to go in for extensive spring sowing. In the Ashburton district an increase of about 30 per cent is expected. Yet it is predicted that it will be necessary to import 3,000,000 bushels of whciat to meet the people’s requirements.

The Poverty Bay district is gradually assuming greater importance as regards dairying, and the factories in that district have steadily improved the quality of their butter. A big improvement in the quhlitv of the Okitu factory’s output was registered during the season that has just closed, the grade going up by 1.569 points. It is expected that there will be a still further improvement during the present season as suppliers arc being urged to I give careful attention to their cream and endetavour to send forward only the best quality article. Owing to the prolonged dry spell experienced in the Poverty Bay district last season a strong demand exists there for beef cattle from tho'Riangitaiki area. It is believed that the shortage of such cattle in Poverty Bay will continue for some months. "However, ias the Whakatane district has gone in extensively for dairying, stocks of fat cattle have not increased and necessarily the numbers for disposal are limited. Owners of fat cattle arc pleased with the prospect of disposing of their stock to advantage, but are afraid that they will not have sufficient stock to meet the increasing and insistent demand. There has been abundance of feed on the Rangitaiki Plains land throughout the Whakatane County as the result of a mild and dry winter, and the fat cattle are in excellent condition. A mild win'er has been experienced in the King Country district, and has been* favourable 1 to dairymen, niost of whom had prepared for worse conditions. Sheep have come through the winter splendidly, and are in good condition. Lambs have made their appearance in most flocks, and very fCw deaths are reported, even from the higher country to the south-east and on the range towards Kawhia. Plant, growth is livening, and pastures look green, while the warmer weather is sure to stimulate the grass into luxuriant growth. In the dairying industry prospects look bright. The 1 dairymen all round the district report that cows are coming to profit in numbers, without the percentage of loss that has obtained at the beginning of the season in other years. One feature that shows no improvement is the continued killing of so many calves, but so loug as casein and milk-powder manufacture obtains in this district only the bestbred calves will be retained by dairy(Continued in Next Column.)

men for eventual inclusion in their herds. Most dairymen elect to depend upon pigs as tlicir chief side-line, confident in the expectation that there will always bo a steady market for porkers and baconcrs that have - been reasonably well done. The Jersey heifer, Ivondale Golden Rainbow, is putting up a remarkable production record for a senior two-year-old in New Zealand. She 1 had produced 6511 b butter-fat in 303 days when last returns wore published, and with two months to go to complete her test period of 12 months, she appeared almost certain to break the breed’s record for senior two-year-olds, which is at present held by Marshlands Stylish Princess, with a record of fat from 99271 b milk. Ivondale Golden Rainbow was sold recently to Mr. Truby King, of Stratford, for 510gns. Another senior two-year-old, Wairere Countess, has returned well over 5001 b fat in her first eight months. Next in order of merit is Prie Dieu, whose production for 234 days is 10,6241 b milk, yielding 5121 b hutter-fat. Her average for the 24 days is slightly better than Ivondale Goldefl Rainbow’s for the same period.