NOTES AND COMMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20920, 27 September 1939, Page 13

NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Stock Centre Paeroa promises to become an important stock centre in the near future and the completion of the new railway line should help considerably. Last week Messrs G. W. Vercoe and Company, Ltd., held the first of the regular sales that they intend to hold at this centre and they report that excellent entries were forward in all sections. Successful Bull Fair The annual bull fair of the Waikato Combined Breeders’ Association last week at Claudelands was altogether very successful and the association is to be congratulated on the high standard and success of its fixture. The fair has grown enormously since it was inaugurated 24 year ago when it was very small affair indeed and when the auctioneers did not have a quarter of the facilities they have to-day for the handling of the bulls. Bigger and Brighter The executive of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association is determined to spare no effort to make their next month’s summer show bigger and brighter than ever. They have arranged for added attractions at the show which should make it, from the public point of view, one of the most successful exhibitions yet staged by the association. Although the attractive schedules have been out for only a short space of time, already the inquiries from intending cxliibitors Indicate t.iut entries again [lns ye«u' will be very substan tir-i.

Large Litters Most Waikato pig clubs aro being very successful with their club sov. s. The Berkshire sow of the Te Pci *. lub has farrowed 13 piglets aad ail of them are reported to be doing well after 10 days. The Te Poi C:uo lias made good progress since its inception and now has 15 members, the president being Mr C. Lansdowne, and the secretary, Mr G. Bellamy. The Kereone Club, which, it will be remembered, had a Large White sow which farrowed 39 pigs in three litters, now has a Large Black sow, which is rearing 11 pigs out of the 14 born. This pig was purchased for the club by the district supervisor, Mr C. P. Harington, from the Ongahape Stud of Mr W. McGilL Value of Records Not very long ago the show-win-ning performance of a pedigree bull would be quite sufficient to bring keen competition for him in the selling ring, but nowadays buyers want to see good butterfat backing behind their purchases. This was strikingly indicated at the annual bull fair of the Waikato Combined Breeders’ Association at Claudelands last week when top-priced entries were usually animals with close ancestors having high production records. In some cases, however, it was rather surprising to see buyers bidding animatedly on sires that had practically no butterfat backing. Exports of Porker Pigs The statement was made by one of the delegates present a recent meeting of the Auckland Executive of the Farmers’ Union that regulations had been introduced by the Government restricting the export of porker pigs to Britain. Since the system adopted by a great many farmers in the province did not permit of their fattening the whole of their pigs up to bacon weight, such a restriction would affect them seriously. It was decided to communicate with the Government, asking them whether any action along these times has been taken, or is under consideration; and whether they will consult with the. union before making definite arrangements to cut down the quantity of pork-meat exported. British Milk Policy The aim of the British Government’s milk policy, according to Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, must be to increase the consumption of liquid milk while safeguarding producers from disastrous fluctuations in the price of milk surplus to liquid requirements. In moving the second reading of the new Milk Bill, he told the House of Commons that the Bill which would cover the period to September, 1940, was meant to encourage, by Exchequer contributions, the production of quality milk to enable the schemes for milk in schools to be continued, and milk to be provided free or at reduced prices to maternity and child welfare centres. Refrigerated Meat Shipment of refrigerated meat wrapped in rubber is now being experimented with. A parcel of frozen beef wrapped in rubber was shipped from Brisbane in May, and advice regarding the outturn of the parcel is now being awaited. Recently a small consignment of lambs went forward from New Zealand wrapped in rubber, and reports at Smithfield regarding the outturn were quite enthusiastic. The wraps, which were pioneered in the United States, are made of latex rubber and are said to leave no odour or taste. After being expanded the rubber containers are slipped over the meat and made to shrink tightly about it, forming a close protective and transparent skin, which is said to be very tough under low temperatures and to afford protection during shipping. Value of Manure After careful observation, it has been calculated that the year’s manure from thirty cows contains fertility equal to that found in the following commercial fertilisers: 9 tons sulphate of ammonia, tons superphosphate, and 41 tons sulphate of potash. If, however, the droppings are not harrowed regularly after each grazing, they produce patches of rank growth which are left by stock throughout the entire season. This condition increases with each successive grazing, and results in the loss of a large proportion of valuable grazing area; it may even happen that much of this manure-covered land, if not harrowed, will not be available for years unless the dropcings are ploughed in or removed in some way.