MANUFACTURE OF RENNET.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15773, 14 December 1916, Page 2

MANUFACTURE OF RENNET.

AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Mr L. P. Symes, acting-hop. secretary. Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, has received a reply from Mr D. Cuddie. Director of the Dairy Division. to the Institute's letter asking for information with regard to tho manufacture of rennet in New Zealand. Mr Cuddio writes : — Beyond giving assistance -to tho dairy farmers towards the saving of calves' veils for rennet making, the Department of Agriculture has not done anything further towards the preparation of a supply of this material. - The assistance rendered, however, has resulted in the saving of a large number of veils, and it is estimated that some 30,000 of these will be available this season. The work has been carried 011 in conjunction with the New Zealand Co-operative Rennet Company. Tins company has been formed from amongst the various co-operative dairy companies manufacturing cheese in New Zealand, and the majority of tho latter have taken up shares in the concern. After a careful investigation and obtaining information from England and the Continent, the Rennet Company decided for the time being to export the supply of veils to England, where the rennet is to. be made by one of the established firms in this line, and returned to New Zealand for distribution amongst the shareholding companies. This step was. deemed advisable when it was found that great difficulty was likely to be experienced in securing the services of a competent rennet maker, together with the lack of knowledge regarding the necessary requirements in establishing a factory/ for this purpose. It lias been ascertained that the process. and more especially the fortifying of the'rennet, is more or less a secret known.only to those who arc engaged in the business"! Until such time as more information has been obtained 011 the subject, the making of rennet by the New Zealand Company will not likely materialise. With regard to your second enquiry, several attempts have been made by private persons in New Zealand to prepare a suitable rennet for cheese-mak-ing, but so far the efforts have not been attended with much success. In fact, some of the samples tested by this Division have been found quito unsuitable for the coagulation of milk. A private company in Hawke's Bay, however. now claims that it can supply rennet in quantity rmd of a standard strength, and we have been asked to test samples of it and to report thereon. These tests have, however, not.yet been carried out. Mr John Sawers, manager of the Edendale Dairy Factory, has also been experimenting for some time with a view to furnishing a supply of rennet for his company. Some 32,(t00 gallons of this material are required for the manufacturing of cheese in New Zealand for one season. Any shortage in quantity wil| likely be made up by the use of pepsin for the current season, supplies of the latter having been procured by quite a number of the dairy companies. Some trials carried on by the Dairy Division have proved conclusively that pepsin can be successfully used along with rennet for tho coagulation of milk for cheese-making.