PRODUCTS OF WHEY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 January 1928, Page 4

PRODUCTS OF WHEY.

UTILISATION FOR RATIONS. ANIMAL FOODSTUFFS. NEW ENGLISH PROCESS. For the purpose of meeting the executive committee of the Taranaki Dairy Federation and making arrangements with a view to the introduction to New Zealand of a new English process for the utilisation of whey, Dr. Leonard Harding, Ph.D., of Manchester, arrived in Hawera to-day. ■ . Interviewed on his -arrival a “'Hawera Star’’ reporter, Dr. Harding explained that the aim of the process is the extraction of the nutritive solids from whey- and their manufacture principally for the purpose of providing balanced rations as animal foodstuffs. He explained that for many years the disposal of whey had been a problem of considerable importance in. England, particularly since the establishment ot local depots for handling milk for the manufacture of dairy produce. Under those conditions the whey became a waste product and, as had been shown in other industries, the utilisation of such wastage for the manufacture ot by-products wa s essential to the success of the dairying industry. The nuisance caused by ivhey in England had been very great. If it were allowed entry in the town drainage systems it destroyed the useful bacteria in the filter beds of the sewerage systems and seriously interfered with the sanitation measures. If turned direct into streams ’pi* rivers the whey had a similarly destructive effect on fish spawn. ••' ••••.. • Its use for raising pigs had been tried, but unsuccessfully for bac.ou purposes in. comparison with the solid foodsftuffs usually employed. In some centres experiments had been tried with areas of land over which the whey had been poured, with the object of allowing it to percolate and thus filter through the soil before reaching the streams, and at one place in Staffordshire a huge tank had actuary been built to hold the supply, as a freshet of a neighbouring stream would ivxish the contents out to sea. The former process had to be discarded, while in the case of the tank, it was found, impossible to cheek the seepage with the consequent contamination of the streams and number, less complaints from fishing societies. It would be seen, therefore, that any remedy for the nuisance and particularly one which might turn it to profitable account, would be welcomed throughout England. The Ministry of Agriculture was fydly cognisant of the seriousness of the problem and in 19'20 j had set up a research factory near Crewe, but though considerable information had thus been secured, the problem had nott been approached in a satisfactory manner in the light of local conditions, practically nothing in the light of a practical solution having been proposed beyond the manufacture of milk sugar direct . from the whev supplied at the various depots. As. the whey was not available in sufficient quantities at the respective centres this manufacture could not be carried on profitably. . i Over a period of three years the Ministry had spent about £30,000 in connection with the research work and at the end of that time the factory had been closed with a satisfactory solution still lacking, scientists in England having expressed dissatisfaction with the report. . In the meantime, the Royal Agricultural Society bad decided to make independent investigations. Lord Bledisloe, chairman of the research committee, and who was latterly appointed as Minister of Agriculture, had requested Dr. Harding to take charge of the investigations and the latter had pursued inquiries with a view to securing enough whey at a central manufacturing point to make the use of the solids a profitable venture. 'On the expiry of six months Dr. Harding’s report had been presented to the society, and as a result he was asked two year s later to re-open the research factory at Crewe, the Treasuryfunding another £IO,OOO to carry on with the work. Briefly. Dr. Harding’s scheme was to install plants at various centres where the solid content could be reduced to a syrup .and this was conveyed to a central manufacturing point whene the nutritive ingredients could be extracted and used for the production mainly of balanced rations for stock. The principal solids were milk sugar and. albumen. but while the former could be utilised in the production of eugar of milk, there was not an unlimited demand for that product, and thp whole could not be used for that purpose. Tne investigations .showed that profitable use could be mad© of the whey, and the p ! ant was .purchased from the Department of Agriculture by Dr. Harding and several others, including Sir William Pope, professor of chemistry at Cambridge, and one of the world’s greatest chemists, Mr. Dampier-Whethan, and Mr. Eustace Smith, of Smith’s Banks, now the National Provincial Bank, of London. The factory was now being run as a small private company, and was engaged in developing the industry of whey conversion on a minimum private seal".

It was proposed to extend operations over the whole of the British Isles—* only a portion was now being worked—and to New Zealand. The doctor said he had come to the Dominion to make preliminary investigations into the possibilities for the enterprise here, it being recognised that New Zealand could possibly give a permanent supply of whey * They would need to raise from £1,100,(300 to £2,000,000, the main part of which would Le required for developing the business in New Zealand. He wanted to discover whether the process would be. applicable here, and, if so, to obtain concessions for the disposal of the whey from factories for lengthy periods, in order that the capital could he obtained without difficulty in London.

The doctor said he could not at present discuss figures definitely, but it appeared that. Id per gallon could be paid for vvhey and it was possible that receipts on tnat basis would lienefit the New Zealand farmer to a greater extent than the present revenue derived from pig-raising with whey Dr. Harding, who will remain in the Dominion until Mfarch 33, expects to spend some considerable time in the Taranaki district. Following his interview with the executive of the Dairy Federation to-day lie left with a member of the executive to visit several of the factories of the district and during the next few days is to make further trips throughout other portions of the South Taranaki area.