IN A spring season that has refused to warm up we are still seeing moderate frosts near the end of October.
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Cattle producers have managed bloat and pulpy kidney threats as their stock grazed on some of the best clover pastures for many years.
Sales of bloat blocks must have set a few records and all the historic bloat remedies have been used.
Quite a number of long-term cattle producers have added diesel or kerosene to water troughs and many are convinced of its effectiveness.
Lamb breeders have marked and mulesed big, shiny lambs without applying any fly repellent but the risk of problems has always been present from about mid-September.
The cost of a repellent product is cheap insurance when hot weather finally arrives.
Early harvest
FARMING contractors are well on the way with production of first cut lucerne, a few standing cereal crops and some early pasture hay.
The paddocks that have been harvested already have obviously produced big volumes of wrapped hay and much more will be made shortly, particularly if periods of warm, dry weather occur into November.
This spring and early summer could be an excellent chance to fill hay sheds and replenish fodder supplies.
Moment in time
A SNAPSHOT of our rural industries in mid-October 2016:
- We’ve lived long enough to see “the dams all bywashed and the country fully dressed”.
- Auction sales of Speckle Park cattle have demonstrated the popularity of this Canadian breed.
- Major special sheep sales at Corowa, Wycheproof and at Auctions Plus all feature Gudair and mules. Times have certainly changed during the last 15 years.
- The percentage of wools for auction that are declared pain relief or non-mulesed has risen to almost 60 per cent. This includes crossbred wools.
- We must wonder where John Keniry’s report into proposed compensation for the greyhound industry has found a home.
Hogget sale
THE annual sale of Fosterfield Finewools hogget rams was held last Sunday with a top price of $1200 for a Roseville Park sired ram with average 15.4 micron test.
This ram went to Graeme, Wendy and Simon Ross at Evans Plains.
These young rams were well grown and noticeably deep-sided with 28 poll and 14 horned merinos offered.
White wools with excellent character are always a highlight at Fosterfield.
Landmark auctioneer David Gardiner conducted the sale before an interested group of district wool producers.
Wild dog attacks
LOCAL Land Services officer Alistair Gordon-Smith was interviewed on ABC Rural radio early this week when he discussed the serious problem of attacks on livestock by wild dogs.
The area in question ranged from south of Oberon through Hampton, Tarana, Lowther to Lithgow and beyond.
Landholders in that area have appreciated the assistance of several rangers of the former Rural Lands Protection Board with Josh Parr and Elwyn Wolfenden being highly regarded for their ability and willingness to assist landholders.
Alistair’s work is greatly appreciated by the producers who are experiencing wild dog problems and he is right at the coal face of CT LLS service to its ratepayers.
Vote of thanks
A LARGE scale sheep producer from the north-west corner of Central Tablelands LLS asks me to convey his thanks to the board and staff for the assistance that his area has received from the blue collar board employees.
His main problem has been the organised group measures that are specifically aimed at wild dog and fox control across broad areas.
The producer is impressed by the cross border co-operation of biosecurity staff from both Central Tablelands and Central West LLS and many of his family’s neighbours and peers appreciate the value that they are receiving for their LLS rates.
As a board member I’m always pleased to hear of the real services that our organisation is providing to ratepayers.
Sheep whisperer
FURTHERto last week’s paragraph on Backyard Shearing: Tributes on Facebook refer to Andrew Parkes as “our sheep whisperer”.
He can be contacted on 0422 174 382.
Play it safe
A REMINDER for users of angle grinders: three well-known local workers have suffered nasty injuries from 9 inch grinders and we all know what great tools these are.
WorkSafe staffers often emphasise the need to assess the use of these heavy, powerful tools when perhaps a 4 or 5-inch machine would do the job a bit slower and a lot safer.
Wool market report
MERINO prices continued to rise this week with the fine wools gaining around 10c/kg.
The medium wools gained around 15c/kg while the XB wools lost around 10c/kg as the northern market indicator finished the week on 1372c/kg, up another 13c/kg.
A lack of supply and strong demand out of China is driving the market and from all accounts the market should stay strong in the coming weeks as supply is not going to rise significantly.
Next week will see an offering of 43,879 bales on offer in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle
- Mark Horsburgh, TWL Landmark
Diary dates
- Saturday, October 29: Bowyer and Livermore Rockley Rodeo.
- Wednesday, November 2: Windy Hill poll dorsets, 70 rams at Carcoar Showground.
- Saturday, November 5: Mount Bathurst poll dorsets, 70 rams at 270 Dog Rocks Road, Black Springs.
Laugh lines
A SHEEP cockie is trying to make friends outside of Facebook, using the same principles.
He strolls down William Street telling everyone what he has eaten, how he feels, what he did last night and what he’ll do today and with whom. He gives them photos of his family, his dog, his garden, at lunch and in front of landmarks.
He listens to their conversations, gives them “thumbs up” and tells them he likes them.
And just like Facebook he now has four followers – two policemen, a psychiatrist and a doctor.
***
THE wealthy couple received two tickets to a great show at the Lyric Theatre and were dismayed that there was no enclosed card or donor’s name.
The couple spent two nights at The Star and loved the show but returned home to find her mink coat, jewellery and his diamond cuff links were all gone.
A note on her pillow said: “Now you know.”