More Meat, Butterfat

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1947, Page 7

More Meat, Butterfat

(Special.) WELLINGTON. This Day

New Zealand should aim at increasing meat and butterfat production to the maximum, as it is in livestock farming that New Zealand possesses very definite natural advantages. Mr R. 13. Tennent, acting-Director-General of the Department of Agriculture. says this in the department’s annual report, which was tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Tennent points out that, although cereal supplies may become adequate during 1948, the shortages of dairy produce and meat arc likely to continue for a further two or three years. In addition, if the great industrial countries can maintain full employment. there should bo no difficulty. in selling all the high-quality meat and dairy" products New Zealand can produce for many years to come. SEASON FORECAST

Stating that dry weather has again affected production, the report gives the following forecast figures for the 194(1-47 season: Butterfat, 175,000 long tons for the year ended July 31; meat, 520,000 long cons for the year ended September 30: wool. 155,000 long tons for the year ended June 30.

It points out that the 140,000 acres of wheat sown in 194 G-47 is the lowest acreage since 1920.

Dairy and meat production should be assisted during the coming season by increased fertiliser supplies, adds Mr Tennent.

New Zealand’s allocation of rock phosphate for the manufacture of superphosphate has been raised from 300,003 tons to 420,000 tens for the 1947-48 rationing year, and arrangements have been made to import about 50.000 tons of basic slag and North African phosphate.

In praising the British Phosphate Commission for the rehabilitation of Nauru ana Ocean Islands after the Japanese occupation, Mr Tennent states that the commission forecasts that by 1949-50 the total output of the two islands will reach 1.000,000 to 1.209.000 tons. WINTER FEEDING

The increased fertiliser supplies will be most effective if accompanied by closer attention to providing supplies of winter feed. This in turn would increase butterfat production more than any other factor, and in meat production would greatly lessen the high winter mortality rate, especially of breeding ewes. Only by adequate provision for winter feeding of breeding animals can New Zealand fulfill her obligation to produce the greatest possible quantities of meat and dairy produce during the coming season, adds Mr Tennent. INTENSIVE FARMING Any increase in production must depend on more intensive farming of the improved lands of the Dominion, as shortages of some essential imports, such as fencing wire, preclude any major effort at extending the production area through land development for the next season or two. Mr Tennent also draws attention to the need for paying greater attention to certain other factors leading to increased efficiency.

These are reduction of loss through plant and animal diseases, improvement of pasture and crop production by the use of better plant strains, fertilisers and lime, and increased mechanisation in farming.