Dairy Returns Up On Normal Season

Northern Advocate, 2 September 1947, Page 7

Dairy Returns Up On Normal Season

BEARING out the indications apparent in the first month of the 1947-48 dairying season, production figures from Northland dairy factories for August and for the first three months of the season show substantial increases compared with last year. Returns so far to hand show that outputs from factories between Maungaturoto and Kaitaia are, in most cases, above those for the corresponding periods of a normal season.

Everywhere production is gaining pace and during August the output from butter factories increased from 5 to 31 per cent compared with the same month last year. For the first three months of the new season, gains of up to 39 per cent have so far been recorded. When returns from other factories are available, these figures might be eclipsed. In any case there is ample proof that this season has started particularly well and, with a continuation of favourable weather conditions, the butter makes from various factories can be expected to reach high levels. An indication of the encouraging commencement was given by a Bay of Islands dairy company executive, who said today that the make for the three months June to August had only been exceeded twice during the past eight years.

Other dairy company officers stated that the output so far was better than normal.

An important factor is that a number of companies are already on daily cream collections in spite of the early stage of the season. Companies which are not at present making daily collections will be introducing them within the next two or three weeks.

The Hokianga company expects to start collecting daily in a fortnight, and even then it will be at least a fortnight earlier than usual. Warmer weather conditions throughout Northland during the latter part of last month saw production figures rise rapidly. It is reported that cattle are in remarkably good condition for this time of the year, while feed is generally plentiful.

With the worst of the winter over, dairymen can regard with some satisfaction the fact that feed supplies are relatively good. A strong contrast with conditions last winter is evident. At that time the amount of hay available was pitifully inadequate and few farmers were in the happy position of having sufficient fodder to maintain their cattle in reasonable condition.

Cold spring conditions held production back and the cattle, when growth eventually started to come away in October and November, put condition on their backs before the buckets benefited.

As good supplies of hay were saved last summer, farmers were able to feed out liberally during the recent winter months and the condition of cattle did not deteriorate to any serious extent.

Consequently, they are commencing to produce well now, and butterfat returns are proof of this point.

Given reasonable conditions during the next two months dairy farmers throughout Northland will have a good opportunity of recovering fully from the setback they received as a result of the drought and the unfavourable season which followed it.

Details available at the time of going to Press were:

Make

August ’47 ’46 up Season ’47 ’46 Up Factory (Tons) (Tons) *7c 106 93 14 132 124 16 Kalkohc .... 27 23 17 42 35 20 M’turoto 123 94 31 166 119 39 Hokianga ... 45 37 22 GO 48 25 Bay of Islands 55 50 5 90 76 17 Hikurangi 104 91 14 159 134 18