Increased Northland Dairy Production

Northern Advocate, 3 October 1944, Page 5

Increased Northland Dairy Production

Although it is too early in the season to give definite figures, as all dairy herds and cows have not yet come to production, the consensus of opinion is that more cows will be milked in Northland this season than the past season and that there will be more herds in production. Dairy factories generally report an increase in the number of suppliers, principally those with small herds, while in many of the larger herds, more cows are being milked. This is due largely to the return of many farmers and farmers sons from overseas who are bringing in properties, which, for the past two or three war years have been out of dairy production. Pasture Growth During August there was a slight growth in the pastures but with the cold weather of September and the absence of warm rains, pastures then were practically at a standstill. The warm rains at the beginning of this week should bring along pasture growth and the initial prospects for the season are bright.

Comparing the figures of some Northland factories, butter production has shown an increase of up to 20 per cent, The Whangarci factory's output for last month was 293 tons, an increase of 39 tons over September of 1943, while for the season to date production is 476 tons. 43 tons up on the like period of last season. The Maungaturoto factory shows the greatest increase with an output to the end of September of 327 tons.' representing an improvement of 67 tons over the same period of last season.«. Last month the factory manufactured 186 tons, 30 tons more than in Septembei\ 1943. Hikurangi Not So Advanced In the district from which the Hikurangi butter factory draws its supplies, the season is not so forward as that in other areas, nor are the pastures so advanced as they were at this time last year. This position is reflected in the output of the factory which is only up 6J per cent from that at the same time last season, representing an increase of 20 tons. For the month of September, the increase is 12 tons, representing about the same percenatge increase as for the first period of the season.