DAIRY HERDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 6

DAIRY HERDS

Depletion In New Zealand SMALLEST FOR 11 YEARS Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, February 14. Not only did the 1942-43 dairying season in New Zealand provide the lowest butterfat production, with one exception for the Past ten years, but at the close of the season on July 31, 1943, the cow population of the Dominion was the smallest since 1931-32. Judging from the plethora of reports received from dairylit" districts, particularly the Waikato, Taranaki and North Auckland, the trend toward smaller herds, combineo with lower production, is becoming even more marked. No official figures of the present cow population are available, but an in terim return for last season, as issued by the Government Statistician, showed that the number of cows in milk at July 31, 1943, had dropped by 64,744 since the end of the previous season. This followed on a previous announcement from the same source that the total number of dairy cows and replacement stock in the Dominion at January 31, 1943, was 2,474,377, or 115.952 fewer than a year before. The loss to the Dominion of almost 65,000 cows in milk in one season is viewed with the gravest concern by members of tlie industry. There is no doubt that Ministers and other responsible officials are seized of the importance of more intensive farming to provide muchneeded food, but, in spite of all their appeals the number of cows is allowed to become fewer and fewer. Demand After the .War.

Apart from present needs in the Pacific. it is generally agreed that there is every prospect of an unsatisfied demand for dairy products for at least two or three years after the war, and already the Allied Governments are tackling the problem of supplying foodstuffs to the peoples of occupied Europe. Leaders of the dairy industry in New Zealand are strong iii their views that production should be maintained, or, better, increased. during the war period, in order to minimize the .difficulties of a return to peacetime conditions and to meet immediate post-war demands as fully as possible. As part of its rehabilitation measures the Government intends to settle returning soldiers on the land. Ample farming areas are available, but they will be useless without the necessary stock. Breeding is a slow process, and herd replacement cannot be achieved overnight. If the present alarming trend is allowed to continue unchecked, this may well be the major problem of soldier land settlement.

The following table shows the changes in New Zealand’s cow population and total butterfat production over the past 12 seasons:—

•Interim return by Government Statistician. (Interim return by Department of Agriculture.

The total butterfat production is based on all butterfat in milk “at the pail.” Allowance is made for milk consumed on the farm and fed to calves, separator losses, etc.

Production Aver, yield Cows in milk Butter-fat per cow Season Number lb. (lb.) 1931-32 1,582,664 339,820,000 214.71 1932-33 1,723,913 307,070,000 230.33 1933-34 1,816,402 426,700,000 234.91 1934-35 .1,827,062 409,040,000 224.26 1935-36 1,823.358 425.290,000 233.25 1936-37 1,805,405 442,390,000 245.05 1937-38 1,763.775 419,870,000 23.8.34 1938-39 1,744,478 376,700,000 215.94 1939-40 1.739,874 415,220,000 238.52 1940-41 1,779.603 448,820,000 252.20 1941-42 1,777,239 422,730,000 237.86 1942-43 1,714,859* 393,740,0001 225.51