RENNET MAKING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2961, 27 December 1916, Page 8

RENNET MAKING

'AN OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. "*3ix. L. P. Syi tfes, noting lion, sccrotary, Philosophical. Institute •of Canterbury, Las received a reply from ]\lr. J). Cuddie, Director of tho Dairy Division, to tho institute's lottcr asking for information with regard to tho manufacture of rennet in JTew Zealand. Mr. Ouddie wrote: —

Beyond giving assistance to tho ■dairy farmers towards tho saving of ■calves' volls for rennet making, tho Department of Agriculture has not dono anything further towards tho preparation of a supply of this material. TJto assistance rendered, however, h»3 ro sulse3"ih tho saving of a large number of veils, and it is estimated that somo 30,000 of thoso will bo . available this Tho work has been carried on in conjunction with tho Now Zealand Go-operative Rennet Company. This company has boon formed from amongst the various co-operative \ dairy companies manufacturing cheese in Now' Zealand, and, tho majority of .the latter have taken up shares in tho concorn. After a oareful investigation and obtaining information from England and ; the Continent, the Rennet Company decided for the timo being to export tho supply of veils to England, where tho rennet is to bo mado by ono of tho established firms in this line, and returned to Now Zealand for distribution amongst tho shareholding companies. This stop was deemed advisable when it was found that great difficulty was likely to be experienced in securing the services of a competent rennot paker, together with the lack of knowledge regarding tho necessary requirements in establishing a factory for this purpose. It has been ascertained that the process, and more especially the fortifying of the rennet, is more or less a secret known only to thoso who are engaged in the business. Until such time as moro information lias been obtaine3 on tho subject, tho making of rennet by tho New Zealand Company will not likely materialise.

-. With regard to your second inquiry, sevoraT attempts have been mado .bv .private persons in New Zealand to prepare a- suitable rennet for cheese-mak-ing, but so far tho efforts havo not fteen attended with much success. In fact, some of .the samples tested ly •this Division have been found quite

unsuitable for the coagulation of milk. A private company in iiawko's Bay, liowovor, now claims that it can supply rennot iu quantity and of. a standard strength, and wo have askod to test tho samples of it and to report tiieroon. Tliose tests have, however, not yet been carried out. Mr. .John Sawers, manager of tho Edendalc Dairy Factory, lias also been experimenting lor some timo with a view to furnishing a supply of rennet for his. company.

Some 32,000 gallons of this material are required for tho manufacturing of cheoso in Now Zealand for ono soason. Any shortage in quantity will likely roatto up by tho use of pepsin for tlio current season, supplies of tho latter having been procured by quite a numoer of the dairy compauios. Somo trials carried on by the Dairy Division have proved' conclusively that _ pepsin oan be successfully used along with rennet for tho. coagulation of milk for chenso-iuaking.