“DAIRY FARMING WILL BE DIFFICULT TASK”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28618, 21 June 1958, Page 15

“DAIRY FARMING WILL BE DIFFICULT TASK”

“We are proud that the Jersey breed represents 75 per cent, of the dairy industry,” said Mr L. A. Higgins, retiring president of the New Zealand Jersey Cattle Breeders’ Association, in his report to the annual meeting in Christchurch. “It appears that whatever has been undertaken in London to rectify the dairy situation hasn’t borne much fruit,” said Mr Higgins. “Whatever the outcome, it is obvious that the economy of the country will have to be adjusted to bring it more into line with the inevitable reduced income for our exports. “Because of having received a high figure in the past for our products, costs have risen too. Land costs have risen and it is likely that dairy farming will be a difficult task for young persons just starting out, especially with borrowed money. *

“If the price for dairy products is to be sustained, the money has to be found, perhaps by taxation —I can’t see any better way Established farmers and producers would be able to contribute something to those starting out. , “With better returns from wool and lamb on costs of production, there has been the temptation to divert from dairy farming,” Mr Higgins said. Membership and registrations had shown some decline, he said, caused no doubt by the more difficult times now being experienced with the abolition of the special quality bonus for town supply herds. The heavier low testing breeds had gained some ground and this, too, had had a detrimental effect. “Membership of the national association now stands at 3433 as compared with 3731 last year. Figures for the 1957 Herd Book show that 25,905 registrations were handled as against 27,105 for the previous year. A very satisfactory angle, however, is that breeders are culling more heavily and thus.

registering only their higherquality animals. i “Most town milk supply districts are now controlled. by monopolistic bodies backed by Government subsidies and whilst every endeavour is made to boost the sales of milk, no encouragement is offered to supply high quality milk rich in solids-not-fat content,” he said. “It is not so many years ago, in the days of individual marketing, that it was the dairyman supplying the top testing milk who had the best market, and the most satisfied customer, and, in fact, where ’ there was competition, low testing milk with a correspondingly reduced solids-not-fat content would not have been acceptable. “I appeal to fellow breeders not to get downhearted at this passing phase as in the past many changes have been made, but always it has been the quality product that has won out in the long run,” Mr Higgins said.