On the Land

New Zealand Tablet, 28 December 1911, Page 2655

On the Land

It is noted in the farmers' column of a weekly contemporary that, according to Professor Silas Wentworth, of Los Gatos, California, his experiments with electric influence on animal and vegetable life at his experimental farm on a ranch near Roseville during the past year have proved that electricity will more than double the production of lambs, and greatly increase the yield of wool. A flock of 2000 sheep was divided, one-half being placed in a field under the power wires of an electric power company, while the other was removed from electric influences. In the field under the electric power line the production of lambs averaged a fraction over two lambs to each ewe. In the adjoining field where electrical influence was lacking, the lamb average was less than one to each ewe.

At Burnside last week 140 head of fat cattle were yarded, the quality being mostly middling. There was a brisk demand, with prices 10s to 15s higher than the previous sale. Prime bullocks sold at £ll 10s to £l2 ss, extra to £l3 15s, medium to good £9 10s to £lO 15s, light £7 5s to £8 10s. As a rule the Christmas yarding of fat sheep is below the average, but this year 3600 were penned. There were several lines of splendid sheep, with a small proportion of indifferent. The supply was far too heavy, consequently competition was slow, with prices Is to Is 6d down at the start. Towards the finish the demand improved. Prime wethers (in the wool), 22s to 245; extra, to 26s 6d ; medium, 18s to 19s 6d ; best shorn wethers, 20s to 225; medium, 17s. The quality of the 2082 fat lambs penned was far below the average of previous years. A fair proportion were prime, but a large number were not up to trade standard. For prime there was a brisk demand at good prices. Pigs, 200 yarded; most of these were porkers

and light baconers, and a few pens of heavy baconers, with a small balance of suckers, slips, and stores. All met strong competition and late prices were fully maintained. Suckers, 10s to 16s; slips, 17s to 225; stores, 25s to 35s$> porkers, 35s to 455; light baconers, 48s to 555; heavy, 60s. .;•■

At Addington last week there were ■ large entries . of stock in consequence of it being a double market. The demand for fat stock was good to meet the butchers' requirements for the Christmas and New Year trade. Fat lambs were firmer. Store sheep sold briskly, and there was a sharp decline in fat cattle. Fat wethers sold well, but ewes were easier. Store cattle and bacon and store pigs were in good demand, while porkers were easier.. The yarding of fat lambs was a heavy one for the time of year, totalling ,3266, and the quality was exceptionally good. The best lambs ranged from 15s to 19s, and lighter 12s 3d to 14s 9d. The yarding of fat sheep was a large one, and consisted largely of ewes with some good lines of wethers. The sale opened a bit slack, but afterwards improved. The range of prices was: Prime wethers 17s 6d to 22s 6d, others 14s 9d to 17s, prime ewes 15s to 17s 6d, others 10s 9d to 14s 6d, merino wethers 15s 6d. The yarding of fat cattle totalled 412, and included a large proportion of North Island lines. The sale was a very dragging one, and prices fell to the extent of 3s 6d per 1001 b for steer beef, the supply being considerably beyond requirements. The range of values was 25s to 28s per 1001 b. Steers made £8 15s to £l2 10s, heifers £5 17s 6d to £ll 10s. There was a large yarding of fat pigs, and baconers met with a good sale and fully maintained their values. Porkers were, however, easier. Choppers made 50s to £4, large baconers 60s to 71s 6d, lighter 47s to 55s (equal to Bid and s|d per lb), large porkers 34s to 38s 6d, smaller" 27s to 32s (equal to s|d to s|d per lb).