On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 14 December 1911, Page 2558

On the Land

At Addington last week there were moderate en-, tries of stock and a good attendance. Store sheep values were firmly maintained. Fat lambs and fat sheep sold at advanced rates, and fat cattle were easier. There was practically no change in pigs, and store cattle met with an improved demand. There was also a small mixed yarding of fat sheep, the quality being mostly medium. The market opened rather firm, and prices showed an advance, of fully Is per head. The range of prices was: —Prime wethers, 17s fid to 22s 3d; lighter, 15s to 17s; woolly ewes, 15s lOd to 18s 9d ; prime shorn ewes, 16s to 20s 3d. There were 520 fat lambs penned, and they were of good quality. Owing to the small yarding there was good competition, and' prices were firmer than previous week by Is per head. There was no business done for export.’ The bulk of the lambs made 15s to 18s, and smaller 11s to 14s 9d. There were 250 head of fat cattle penned, of which a large portion were from the North Island. The tone of the market was easier, values ranging from 25s to 33s per 1001 b. Steers made £8 17s fid to £l2 12s fid; heifers, £5 15s to £9 7s fid. A medium entry of fat pigs sold at about the previous week’s rates, porkers if anything selling rather better. Choppers made 50s to £4 18s, large baconers, 60s to 725; lighter, 50s to 57s fid (equal to 51d to 5Jd per lb), large porkers, 37s fid to 475; lighter, 30s to 35s (equal to fid per lb). Grease is a very common skin affection of horses, which attacks the heels and fetlocks, especially of the hind feet. It is usually due to neglect, in not keeping the feet and legs clean of mud, urine, watery dung, or leaving them to dry themselves after washing. In many cases, however, it is constitutional, and horses ' of a sluggish temperament are predisposed to it. 'Old age is a contributing factor, as is also want of exercise. Exciting causes are, sudden changes of diet, improper food, too much grain food without exercise, etc. The removal of the cause, with a dose of physic, such as aloes, will usually prove effectual in this case. The inflammation of the skin is followed by an exudation of a greasy and foetid nature. By washing with soft soap, and applying an ointment of zinc sulphate and vaseline this can usually be overcome. 'Sometimes the disease is so severe as to crack open the flesh, and blood oozes out. A crust then forms, and becomes painful and disagreeable. In this case a poultice ,of bran, or linseed, changed two or three time a day, will remove the scurvy part. At each change of poultice the part should be washed with warm water and carbolic acid. After poulticing, an ointment of four tablespoonfuls of oxide of zinc and eight tablespoonfuls of vaseline should be applied. A saturated solution of bluestonei.e., as much Milestone as the water will take up, is a good application for indolent grease. At the Burnside stock sales last week 272 head of cattle were yarded, this being the largest number for some considerable time past. There were no extra prime animals penned, the yarding being one of medium quality. Best quality bullocks brought up to £l4 per head. The sale (says the Otago Dally Times ) opened with prices showing a reduction of 10s per head as compared with previous sale, and as the sale' progressed Y values receded to the extent of £1 per head. This was due to the large yarding and the fact that several of the local butchers had purchased their requirements outside, and were not operating. A total of 1692 sheep were yarded, and at the commencement of the sale there was a sharp rise of from Is fid to 2s per head on the previous week’s prices, but the sale weakened somewhat toward the close. The bulk of the sheep were shorn. Unshorn wethers made up to 245, shorn wethers up to 21s, and shorn ewes up to 225. There was a yarding of 350 lambs, of fair quality, and they, made up to 17s fid per head, and although for the greater part of the. sale prices showed an, advance equal to Is per head on previous sale they receded towards the close. In In consequence of a small yarding, pigs brought high prices, porkers making equal to over fid per lb. "