CHEESE GRADING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 143, 21 May 1925, Page 3

CHEESE GRADING.

TOO MUCH BUTTER-FAT REQUIRED. DAIRY FARMERS’ PROTEST. An emphatic protest against the percentage of butter-fat in cheese required by tho Government standard was voiced last night at the annual meeting of the Rangiotu branch of the Dairy Fanners' Union. Mr W. H. Gimblett, president of the branch, who presided, stated that a remit had been sent by them to tho provincial conference concerning the amount of but-ter-fat in cheese. All knew, he said, that at present factories put an unnecessary amount of butter-fat into cheese and that, when no extra price was realised, mOant a serious loss to the dairy farmer. The herds were being improved and better butter-fat was produced, yet 4 or 5 points of butter-fat were put into New Zealand cheese without proper payment for it. The average amount of butter-fat in Danish cheese was 3.33 to 3.6; in Canadian cheese 3.5 and in New.. .Zealand 4. He thought that the Government should no longer ask for so much butter-fat in cheese. The speaker read a' letter from Mr Singleton, of the Dairy Division, stating that it was unlawful to send' cheese fOF grading unless it contained 50 per cent, of solids. It was an offence to attempt to export cheese not coming up to the high standard. The Government regulation might have been all right 30 years ago, but now they used richer and better milk and tho industry was unnecessarily penalised. Ho advocated fighting the attitude of the Government very strongly and to pursue the matter through the winter. Replying to Mr If. C. Raikes, tho chairman said that it had been stated that 75 per cent, of the New Zealand dairy farmers were going in for Jerseys and if they were goinj to produce the richest milk, and yet be asked to make cheese of such high butter-fat content, the industry could not stand it. The competitors of New Zealand were not making cheese of such high butter-fut content, yet got 10s, 15s, and 20s more for it. New Zealand cheese stood high in the world’s market and was regarded as better than Canada’s. Air Ferguson said tlmt, if cheese was properly stored, 3.5 was an adequate test. “We are in a now age now and things must alter—the Government must not adhere to old standards,” said the chairman, adding that if they could not succeed to a great extent in influencing the Government they could do a vast amount by advertising their cheese. A visitor to England said that all sorts of cheese but New Zealand’s were advertised at Home, where tho Dominion’s product was sold as “English cheddar.” They now had the Dairy Control Board to act for them and New Zealand eheeso would sell on its merits if given a chance. “On a 3.5 test you get the highest yield and the test would vary at certain parts of the season,” said Mr Beard, who advocated the standardisation of milk and added that a test for solids might meet the position. It was agreed by Mr Dixon that standardisation was desirable and the chairman commented that the best cheese and the best keeping sort was that with 3.6 but-ter-fat. Cheese witli a greater proportion than that was not regarded as the best on the market. The discussion then lapsed. At the conclusion of tho annual meeting, the matter 1 was again discussed and it' was decided to ask a Government officer to address the local farmers on the question of the amount of butter-fat required in cheesp. It is explained that the standardisation of milk referred to above means separating tho rich milk of the fall of the year to bring its butter-fat content down to the required average.

ADDINGTON MARKET. SMALLER YARDINGS OF FAT LAMBS Per Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, May 20. At the Addington market there were smaller yurdings of fat lambs, sheep and cattle penned to-day than last week, but all other classes were well represented. Store sheep.—A large entry came forward. Sales were on a lower basis all round than last week, with the exception of the more forward wethers. Forward crossbred wether larnb3 made 24s lOd to 265; ordinary, 21s to 23s 6d; small, 18s 8d to 20s; good lialfbred, 23s 4d to 25s 3d; small lialfbred, 17s 6d lio 19s lOd; twotoothed lialfbred ewes, 24s 2d to 355; twotoothed Romney cross ewes, 33s 8d; four, six und eight-toothed Romney cross ewes, 38s to 395; five-year-old crossbred ewes, 31s 6d to 38s; aged, 14s to 19s; good aged lialfbred ewes, 24s 6d to 30s; forward four, six, und eight-toothed lialfbred wethers, 34s to 35s 7d; ordinary, 28s to 31s 6d; twotoothed three-quarterbred wethers, 28s 6d; aged merino wethers, 10s 3d to 15s. Fat lambs. —A i small entry of 1630 compared with 2000 head last week. The quality was fair and prices were well up to schedule rates. In some cases .the price per pound was up to 12d. Extra prime lumbs sold at 43s to 465; extra special heavy lambs, 40s; prime lambs, 37s to 41s; medium, 33s 6d to 36s 6d; light, 30s to 335; store, 26s to 295. Eat sheep.—Ten races were penned, a good proportion of which was poor stuff. Too many ewes were present and not enough wethers. There was also too great a proportion of rough sheep. Extra prime wethers made 52s 7d; prime, 32s 6d to 46s 6d; medium, 38s 6d 41s 9d; light, 33s bo 37s 3d; extra prime ewes, 445; prime, 35s 6d to 365; medium, 32s to 34s 9d; light, 27s to 31s 6d; aged, 21s 9d to 25s Bd. Fat cattle.—so2 head were forward, compared with 650 last week. The proportion of good cattle was not heavy. Bidding at the commencement of the sale was moderately brisk und throughout was decidedly brighter with an advance of practically 2s per 1001 b for good-class animals. Extra prime beef made to 395; prime, from 35s to 375; medium, 32s to 345; light, 27s Od to 31s; rough, 20s upwards; prime steers, £l4 to £ls 12s 6d; medium, £ll 10s to £l3 15s; light, £8 10s to £ll ss; rough, £6 15s to £8; prime heifers, £8 10s to £lO ss; medium, £5 to £8; extra prime cows, £l2 7s 6d; prime, £7 15s to £11; medium, £5 10s to £7 7s 6d; light, £4 to £5 ss; aged, inferior, £3 to £3 17s 6d. Vealers. —A lurge entry was forward. Runners, £6 10s; good vealers, £5; medium, £3 to £3 10s; good calves, £2 to £2 15s; small, 10s to 255. Store cattle.—Best cows made £3 to £3 10s; medium, £2 to £2 15s; old, £1 to £1 15s; bulls, £2 to £6 10s. Dairy cattle. Best 2nd, 3rd and 4th culvers (springing) realised £lO to £l3 10s; medium sorts, £6 10s to £9 10s; best springing heifers, £8 10s to £l2 10s; jm'dium sorts, £4 to £7 10s; poor conditioned cows and backward calves, £2 to £4. Fat pigs.—A large entry came forward. Prices all round were easier than lato rates. Choppers niiide £2 15s to £6 15s; light baconers, £3 10s to £4; heavy, £4 5s to £4 15s; extra heavy, £5 5s (average price per lb, 6£d to 7|d); light porkers, 44s to 50s; heavy, 55s to 635; extra heavy, 67s 6d (averago price per lb, 6d to 8d). Store pigs.—A medium entry, but the market was dull. Weaners, 9s to 14s; small stores, 18s to 255; medium, 28s to 355; large, to 48s.

LONDON WHEAT MARKET. LONDON, May 18. Wheat cargoes aro firm, following better American cablegrams and confirmation of smaller world shipments. Quotations ranged from s?e 3d to 60s 3d. Parcels are firm, with good business at 6d to Is iJer quarter advance, at 59s to 60s 9d. —A. and N.Z. cable. LONDON APPLE MARKET FIRM. LONDON May 18. Apples are very firm, largely owing to strong Continental demand. Uhe Somerset's consignment of New ZeaJands brought: Cox’s, 26s to 32s per ease; Cleopatra’s, 18s; Delicious, 19s to 21s; Dunns, 17s to 18s; Jonathans, 17s to 19s; London Pippins, 15s 6d to 16s 6d. For pears, trays of Winter Nelis brought 4s to ss; Winter Cole, 2s 6d to 4s. —A. and N.Z. cable.