DAIRYMEN'S INTERESTS.

Mataura Ensign, 28 January 1911, Page 6

DAIRYMEN'S INTERESTS.

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. THE INDUSTRY IN SOUTHLAND. The annual conference of dairy-far-mors, under the auspices of - the South Island Dairy Association, was held at Allen's Hall, Invercargill, on Friday evening (says the 'Times'), the principal item of the proceedings being an address given by Mr D. Cuddie (the Dairy Commissioner). Mr John Gray (president of the Dairy Association) occupied the chair. The chairman remarked that the system of co-operation had Hot been generally extended to the association in the. matter of the sale, of the cheese. A start had been inado with 18 factories consigning through the association, and he hoped that mat number would be largely increased beior-e another season. As it was, four agents in England were acting for the association, but their efforts were neutralised by some 30 or 40 other agents also di aling in Dominion cheese, otherwise exported. He assured the factories that the directors aimed a.t doing their best for the dairying industry and he accordingly appealed to them for their whole-hearted support. Mr H. E. Bacon (Gore) advocated support being given to the association and considered that usually the advice given the factories by agents was diametrically opposed to the factories' best interests. Mr' Bacon also remarked that it would be of advantage to the factory companies if information was furnished fortnightly or monthly as to the respective shipments of light and colored cheese so that they might know how to regulate their makings. Mr Cuddie (Dairy Commissioner) promised that the information should be furnished through the Dairy Association. In reply to a question the chairman stated that with only four factories agreeing to the auction scheme the Directors considered they could not carry the scheme through. Mr Hunter (Edendale) wished it to be known that the Island, Seaward Downs, Tokonui, and Edendale factories were the four factories who supported the auctions. ' Mr J. Prentice (Aparima) raised the question of moisture in cheese, and questioned whether the existing method of grading led to the best marketable cheese being produced. He stated that a leading English merchant had.informed him that a softer-bodied cheese would be more saleable. Mr Bacon agreed with Mr Prentice, and thought the tendency was to make the cheese too dry and too firm. Mr Jas. Sawyers (Government grader) differed from Messrs Prentice and Bacon remarked that a soft, pasty cheese was not wanted "At Home," but rather a meaty" cheese. He believed that the grading was perfectly correct, and was in the best interests of the producers. IMPORTANCE OF COW-TESTING. COMMISSIONER'S ADVICE. Mr Cuddie, who was warmly received, said he believed that the general outlook | of the dairying industry of New Zealand . was never brighter or more hopeful than | at the present time.—(Applause.) The prices were profitable, and the demand was good. Further he was in a position to say that there was now a better quality of cheese being exported than previously, and the exports were steadily increasing. The country in Southland was eminently adapted for cheesemaking; it was capable of carrying dairy stock and the climate was favourable. He believed that Southland was securing the best results by making! cheese rather than butter since cheese in the English markets was faced with less competition than butter. Canada was really their only opponent for cheese in the English markets, and that country's exports were not maintaining an increase because its product was being more required for its own consumption. So long as the cheese sent to England was what was required by consumers he predicted that progress would continue. He thought it a very pleasing feature of the industry that in the past two years no less than 22 new factories had been established in Southland. He had viewed many of the new factories, and he thought their construction reflected great credit on all concerned in the work, as they were models of what factories ought to be, and could hardly be improved upon. That they were so' well designed was in a large measure due to the avluable advice given the promoters by Mr James Sawers, and he considered that Mi- Sawers was deserving of congratulation on the; point.— He (Mr Cuddie) was bound to say, however, that oil inspecting both the old and new factories he did not find the surroundings in every case what they ought- to be, and he urged that more attention should be given to cleanliness in various ways. Mr Cuddie then dealt with the pasteurisation, of whey, and stated that some 50 or 60 factories, out of a total of 200 in the Dominion, had adopted pasteurisation, and all had experienced its advantages. Pasteurised whey had not only a better feeding value then whey not so treated, but it destroyed disease germs, and be hoped to see more factories adopt the principle.. In regard to the matter of moisture in cheese, he had given the subject very careful consideration, and when in a few years since he made it his business to get into touch with the best, .judges of cheese. He believed that it was quite erroneous for it to be thought that they were making their cheese too firm. The cheese, which graded the best in New Zealand, was, he was certain, what was wanted in. England. Watering the cheese might be good business for the producer but it would probably result in the buyer watering his price.—(Laughter.) He had no fear but that they in their system of grading were on the track.—((Applause.) Cow-testing (continued Mr Cuddie) was one of the greatest matters for serious and careful consideration by dairy-farmer;!, end he advocated it being adopted on the, co-operative principle. Tim Dak'field Association was started in the North Island in I'JOS), and now there were three other testing associations in operation. The results of the tests were published -every month, and suppliers thus knew which cows were paying them best. The tests had proved that while there were very many tep-notcher cows yet- there were many which did not pav for their keep. He was satisfied that the Scales and Babeook test were the only true telltale's in cow-keeping. Mr Cuddie proceeded to give figures of results of 1

tests, and remarked that the experience had shown that farmers' ideas of the best cows in their herds liad been proved to he quite inaccurate. He strongly urged Southland farmers to form testing associations' for their respective districts. On the proposition of Mr McCall, seconded by Mr T. Mac Gibbon, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Cuddie for his address. Questions. Mr Hunter asked whether the testing, referred to by Mr Cuddie, furnished information as to casein and other cheese constituents of milk, which for cheesemaking, he thought, would be more valuable than butter-fat statistics. Mr Bacon agreed with Mr Hunter, and pointed out that although Jersey cows were great animals for butter-mak-ing they had not the same value for cheese-making. Mr Dunlop (Pine Bush), mentioned that the great curse to Southland was the way culled cows were sold. If testing, he said, resulted in herds being culled it would be no advantage if the culled animals were retained in the district. Mr Cuddie replied and stated that ho favoured the culled cows being speyed and prepared for the fat market. In regard to Mr Hunter's question, he mentioned that a casein tester could also be used, but the principle he advocated, he reminded Mr Hunter, showed not only the quality but also the quantity of the milk supplied.