On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 4 May 1911, Page 838

On the Land

+1 First take a general look at a horse before buying; then his hocks should be examined, at the same time watching the flanks. A study of the head is essential. In the hock and in the wind will be found the most common defects, Those puffy enlargements about the hocks indicate spavin. If the animal has the heaves this can be detected in the flanks. An unusual expansion and contraction of the nostrils will prove that there is something wrong with his wind. Wrinkles back and above the nostrils will show very clearly the degree to which he is affected. One can tell a horse s wind by placing the ear to the windpipe. The horses forehead should be wide and the ears well apart. The animal should have a bright eve. If the ears have short points bent forward and carried back and close together the indications are that he is balky and a kicker. It is commonly supposed that the milk produced by cows in the morning is larger in quantity and poorer in quality than the milk produced in the evening. This fact is due to the longer period which elapses between night and morning milking, and the shorter period between morning and night. It has been shown, however, that as the periods between the milkings approximate in length, so does the milk approximate in quantity and quality. In a public test made by a public authority ten cows were divided into two lots of five, and specially milked for eighteen days. Five cows were milked at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and five at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. The result was precisely what is usual. The cows milked twelve hours apart gave nine pints of milk daily more than those which were milked at varied intervals. Again, the milk produced after regular intervals was richer than the morning's milk produced at unequal intervals, for it contained 4 per cent of fat, as against 3.6 per cent., and was therefore 1 per cent, above the standard. The age of a cow can be determined, with certain exceptions, by an inspection of either the teeth or the horns. With regard to the horns, the exceptions are when the cow is quite young or under three years old, when the horns have been doctored, or when, as in the case of certain polled breeds, the horns are absent. Then it may be necessary to examine the teeth; but after all the permanent teeth have been cut, and well-bred and well-fed stock have a full mouth at about three and a half years old, the age can only be approximately gathered from the teeth. Men of experience, by examining the teeth as to the amount of wear they have undergone, may form something like a reliable opinion; but there is nothing certain indicated by the teeth when the full thirty-two incisors and molars have been cut and attained their full growth. The horns, when not tampered with, afford a very accurate indication of the age. The first ring shows three years, which may be taken to mean one calf, and every additional ring another year. About 160 head of fat cattle were yarded at Burnside Inst week the bulk being medium to good bullocks and heifers. or all sorts there was good competition, prime bullocks ranging from £ll to £l3 15s, and medium, £8 lUs to £lO 10s; best cows and heifers, £7 to £9. There was a record yarding of fat sheep (7800). Ewes formed the bulk of the supply, but there was also a number of pens of good to prime wethers. Best wethers and heavy ewes met with a fair sale, but a considerable number of sheep had to be passed in. Although prime wethers and heavy ewes sold well up to late values, medium to good ewes suffered a decline of 2s to 2s 6d per head. Best wethers, I S «o t a , 225; I medlum to £°od, 15s to 17s; best ewes, 15s to 22s 3d; medium to good, 10s to 14s. Fat lambs were also in full supply, and prices were about equal to those ruling at previous sales. Best fetched from 13s to 16s 9dmedium, lis to 12s. ' There were large entries of stock and a good attendance at Addington last week. Fat cattle were firmer Store sheep sold at about late rates. Fat lambs showed little change, but if- anything were easier. Prime fat sheep were firmer, and owing to an extra large yarding pigs met with a poor sale. The yarding of store sheep showed a falling off in numbers. Six and eight-tooth crossbred ewes made 10s to lis, and six and eight-tooth halfbred lis to 12s. Close on 5000 fat lambs were penned prices ranging from 9s to 15s 6d for freezing, a few sold as hiszh as 18s 6d. There was a large varding of fat sheep. Extra prime wethers fetched up to 255; prime 16s to 19s; prime ewes, 13s to 17s lOd. There was an entry of 216 head ot tat cattle, including some prime show animals J he quality throughout showed an improvement, and there was a better demand, though the sale was somewhat irre-' ftl ii \ J- our prize bull °cks made £l4 to £l6. Steers sold at £/ 15s to £l2 12s 6d; extra, to £l6; heifers, £5 } os JS S .% extra ' to £l ° 5s >' and cows, £5 7s 6d to £b Its 6d. There was a very large yarding of pigs or all classes, the supply far exceeding the demand, and the consequence was a dull sale and a sharp decline in values. Choppers sold up to 60s. Large baconers made 4os to 50s; smaller, 32s 6d to 42s 6d (equal to Sjd.and 3|d per lb): large porkers, 25s to 30s; smaller, 18s to 22a 6d (equal to 4d per lb).