FARM AND COMMERCIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9577, 31 July 1923, Page 2

FARM AND COMMERCIAL

XEW ZE A LAND DA 1 HYING. I! EMAR K A OLE DEVELOPMENT. The extent to which dairy farming had developed in New Zealand during i tlie past ten years was very striking, remarked Dr. C. J, 15calces. DirectorGeneral of Agriculture at the opening |of the Taranaki A. and P. winter show.' Taking the whole of New ZcaI land, it was found that the total but-ter-fa l produced this year was 31 pdr cent in excess of last year, and as compared with ten .years ago the increase was no less than 180 per cent. Taking Taranaki alone, the increase on last year was 19 per cent, and as compared with ten years ago G 9 per I emit. On first sight tlie.se figures might appear unfavorable in comparison with the rest of the Dominion, but it had to be remembered that ten years ago Taranaki was already a big dairying province. The increase, ho said? had been brought about by methods of farming, and by. the keeping of better qualUv cows. This matter of the quality ol the cow and its capacity to produce butter-fat was one which farmers must hear in mind. The Department of Agriculture bad been doing its best to assist farmers to get rid of their scrub cows- by means of herd-testing associations, the growth of which, had been very great during the past year or two. Last year 45,501 cows had been tested by associations, but for the year ending March 31, 1923. the total had increased to 84,800. He hoped next year there would be a further progressive increase in tiie same ratio.

Dairv farming was one of the most ■valuable occupations which Now Zoahinders concluded, and lio was sure ‘.hat there would be a very big expansion in the industry during the next few years. Now Zealand was already the biggest exporting country in butter-fat products in the world, and be would like to'see her hold that position for many years to come. In conclusion, ho pointed out that last year New Zealand had exported 1; 10. COO worth of dairy cattle, and" seeing that it was named the dairy farm of the Empire, he did not see why it should not become a country of tlie highest class cf dairy stock, and a country to which buyers from outside would come to purchase their reciuirernents.