DAIRY PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 265, 5 August 1937, Page 16

DAIRY PRODUCE

Cheese and Butter Prices

(By

H.A.S.)

Cheese, on a Cree market, would have beaten butter handsomely this season. Reference to reports shows that for months past cheese would have returned from 2Jd- to 3d. a lb. of butterfat more than butter manufacture. . Under the guaranteed price, the first season of which has just closed, there was allowed for a lid. a lb. butterfat premium ou cheese supply. The final returns have not worked out as anticipated. It is understood that for the coming season a premium of 2d. a lb. is to be provided for. This will be about in keeping with relative returns, had both been sold on a free market. Strangely enough, for the last 10 years of free marketing, cheese returned little better than a Jd. Ib. premium. Yet most dairy-farmers would state that at least lid. was needed, and many considered 2d. was too little. It has been an accepted axiom of the diary produce trade that cheese values were largely influenced by those of meats and that cheese was a meat substitute. Dietetically, that is so, but there has been no pronounced rise in meat values as compared with a year ago, but cheese has risen 20 per cent. Then, too. on short term movements cheese has moved closely along with butter. As a trade article, cheese Is dairy produce. On the consumer's table it is a “meat.” As a market commodity this product appears betwixt and between. Latest quotations are:— Butter. N.Z. Finest — This week .... 118/- to 119/Last week .... 116/- to 117/A month ago .. 108/6 to 109/A year ago ... 116/118/6 equals 14.94 d. a lb. butterfat payout. Cheese. N.Z. White— This week 75/Last week 74/- to 74/6 A month ago .... 72/A year ago 62/- to 62/6 75/- equals 19.10 d. a lb. butterfat payout. ’