THE VALUE OF CATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1917, Page 7

THE VALUE OF CATTLE.

IMPROVING THE LAND. To one who travels considerably about the country districts of the North Island, the question often arises to him as whether the sheep farmer fully appreciates the value of judicious stocking of cattle a3 a factor in; improving the pasture on his farm.

How often do you lifer a practical farmer in criticising another farm, remark, "Yes, a good farm, 'but spoilt! through the lack of cattle." How many farms do you notice" about the country, a mass of biddl-bid (utewal), while right next door, on his neighbor's farm, there is hardly a plant to be seen? Think of the properties you pass in the train, covered in fern, while in adjoining properties there is not a bit visible. The uninitiated auk for the remedy—the practical fanner will tell you straight away, "Stock judiciously with cattle in conjunction with sheep." Some farmers will tell you of farms that they purchased in Hawke's Bay being, at the time they were bought, covered in native' grass; to-day the bulk of the pasture is rye grass, and not a seed has been artificially sown. They attribute the result to crushing with cattle. The fact remains that apart from the profit one .ought to derive from grazing cattle, the pasture is improved, therefore the sheep do better and likewise the wool clip i 3 increased. There is always the cry, "Yes, we 'mow we could do with cattle, but where can wo buy them worth the money? After the war, prices may drop,"' and so on. Think for a moment of the conditions relating to this subject, on tho other side of tho world— Europe is practically depleted of live stock, such as cattle and sheep; America (that is, the 'United States) is already finding a difficulty of growing enough meat for herself. Look in the papers ( Mid see what the Argentine meat (inferior to New Zealand grown) is making in London-ithink what a time after the War it will take to demobilise, also hear in mind that, previous to the. war, Britain never exported a, single pound of meat to foreign countries, while after ,this terrible war is over she will have to feed and build up stricken Europe once again. There are other arguments which might he commented on, but are too lengthy to go into here. Weigh those foots given carefully in your mind, and it lool(£ as if the moat market in the future will moro than hold its own. Farmers, some, in fact a great number of you. want cattle badly; don't wait till your farm depreciates, your hoggets start that deathly cough so well known to some, who don't clean their paddocks from rank grass, change your hoggets on to short clean feed frequently, and that cough will seldom ho heard. "Roll up to 'Pahiatua on Thursday,. Way .1, when you will see a fine yarding of over 2000 cattle of all classes—cattle bred 'and reared in this district, cattle that will thrive well anvwhere you like to take them, and mainly cattle that can he "bought worth the money. Marl" this date on your calendar, and remember tho fair starts at 10.30 a.m. share.