300 GUINEAS FOR BULL CALF.

Shannon News, 2 March 1923, Page 3

300 GUINEAS FOR BULL CALF.

RECORD AVERAGE FOR N.Z

Messrs Wright, Stephenson ahcl Co., Ltd., report that the fourth annual sale of surplus stock held at Invercargill, on Friday on, behalf of Mr W. D. Hunt, attracted a record attendance of breeders from all.parts-of the Dominion. Although there was no competition from Australia this year from, the Friesian cattle, owing to the slump and the fact that many parts of that country are suffering from drought, a wonderful sale resulted. It may, therefore, be taken for granted that the popularity of" this breed within the Dominion is rapidly extending. Figures were supplied at the sale showing the wonderful produe--tive powers of the breed —26 Friesian cows and heifers have* given over 800 lbs of butter-fat in the year, seven hate given'more than 900 lbs, and the best cow created a world’s record by producing 1145 lbs of butter-fat in the year and giving birth to twin calves 16 days after -finishing her test.

' The top pricy of the sale was paid for the live months ’ ol’d bull calf, Bainfield King itoznuybred by Mr W. H. Hoskin, Mangatoki; Taranaki. This is the champion butter-fat bred bull .of Australasia. The records of his four -nearest dams averaged 818 lbs of- butter-fat. This dam- gave 810''lbs "of. butter-fat, his grandam 820 lbs; and his sire’s two. •nearest dams’ records average 82.1 lbs of fat. A half-sister tested as a heifer gave 806 lbs of fat, liis grandam 983 lbs, and lie, has ; also a strain of breeding similar, to that of the cow, which gave 1145 lbs of fat in 'the year. ■ Other of the bull calves^ made up to lOOgns., and the 22 calves averaged £66 \l2s 6d, the buyers representing the Auckland, Canterbury, Otago and Southland pro-

vmces.. Last year Mr Hunt offered a selection of his well'bred heifers and these averaged £lO5, at that time a record average for heifers. This record was easily beaten this year as the line of heifers, most of which.were yearlings, averaged £l3O 6s. The. top price was 255 guineas, paid by Mr' F. Smcdley, of ‘‘ Sunnyhurst, ” Auckland, for Bainfield' Woodcrcst Sylvia Pauline. Other high-priced heifers were sold to Messrs Binglov Bros., Papatoetoe, Auckland, at 170 guineas; Mr P. F. Boucliior, Kumeu, Auckland, at 170 guineas; Mi W. Y. Dickie, Southland, at 150 guineas; Mr T. Sherrill, Canterbury, at 130 guineas; and Mr C. J. Payne, Dunedin, at 102| guineas. .

The annual draft of stud and flock : Romney rams was also, as usual, sold without reserve and the prices received were fifty per cent, in advance of last year. The draft- comprised 305 two-tooth rams and these averaged £8 7s. The average price for the ten stud rams was £32 16s 3d, Mr A. H. Wright, of Russell, Bay of Islands, paid the top price of 64 guineas and othe prices paid were 61 guineas, 524 guineas, 45 guineas, etc. A large number of the flock rams were again bought for the North Island, the buyers being Messrs C. F. Baker, North Auckland; G. Jury, Wairarapa; Ray Sutherland, Wanganui; H. Groves, Masterton; W. Darcy, Wanga- ( mii; K. Hammond, Wanganui; and Dal- \ gety and Co. i As already, stated the sale was a most j successful one, the total received being i £5445. This was an increase over last year of £ISOO. Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ltd., are also able to announce that the average price for the heifers is Tecord for all breeds for New Zealand.