CHEESE-MAKING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 68, 20 March 1916, Page 2

CHEESE-MAKING.

SHORTAGE OF REWITET. The cheese-making industry is threatened by a shortage of rennet—the curdled milk found in the stomach of unweaned calves. It is estimated that 30,000 gallons is required annually in connection with the making of cheese in New Zealand, and as far cc can be ascertained little more than half that quantity has so far been contracted for. Before the war our factories obtained their supplies from European countries like Denmark. With the dislocation of industry in that part of the world a difficulty has arisen with regard to orders. Attention was drawn to this matter in a report supplied recently to the Agricultural Department by the Dairy Commissioner (Mr. D. Cuddie), and now a warning is being issued to farmers. The Auckland Executive of the New Zealand Farmers', Union is considering the matter. This- involves the problem of finding a practical way of dealing with the rennets of the many calves that are killed by the farmers. The comparatively small value of the rennets and" the length of time that a calf mnst be milk-fed before it is of any value for cheese-malang seriously affect the question. At the present time the value of a calfe rennet would be about 3d. The young animal would first have to be ied on milk for not less than seven days, and after killing a considerable time would be occupied in salting and winddrying. It will thus be seen that the trouble of making it marketable makes it difficult to offer fanne-s sufficient inducement to produce rennet. Representatives of dairy factories in various parts of the province hay« expressed their pleasure at the prospect of the farmers taking the matter tip. On the other hand, some fanners have pointed out that in order to make it worth their while to treat young calves for rennet there must be an increase in the price. Local production is very different from production in European countries, for there the factories have large quantities to handle, and also up-to-date machinery for production. "It is deplorable," 6aid another farmer, "that whole herds of calves weTe killed in this province last season (and probably will be again this year) without saving the rennet. In Taxanaki thousands of calves are killed annually." A solution of the difficulty is * bein" awaited. " "