DAIRYING IN THE NORTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16021, 13 September 1915, Page 5

DAIRYING IN THE NORTH.

LAST YEAR'S OUTPUT.

INCREASE ON PREVIOUS SEASON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] Dargaville, Sunday- j The annual returns of the 23 dairy companies manufacturing butLer and cheese in North Auckland show that, despite the drought, the operations of the past season were of a satisfactory magnitude. The butter output was 2761 tons, which realised an average price to suppliers of Is 2d per lb, the total amount disbursed being £360,670. The output of the 1913-1914 season was 2464£. tons, valued at £276,124, so that the increased manufacture of 295£ tons represents an increased production value of £84,546. The cheese output of the past season was 118 tons, as against 87 tons of the previous year; its value was £7080, an increase of £860. Altogether the sum of £367,670 was distributed amongst 2316 dairymen. Cream suppliers for the previous season totalled 2102, so that the advent of 249 more farmers into the industry denotes steady development.

No agricultural or pastoral statistics have been compiled by the State since 1911, and departmental details regarding pastoral growth in the North are not obtainable. The livestock census of 1911 shows that in the nine northern counties there were 50,450 dairy cows,, and expert pastoralists now assess the number at 55,450. Herd-testing associations have during the past few years been responsible for thousands of cows being converted into beef, and it is safe to assert that fully half the beef consumed in the North, is furnished by low-grade cows which have failed to provide satisfactory butter-fat returns.

In 1907 the factories manufactured only 832 tons of butter, in 1913 the output was 2293 tons, and suppliers had increased from 722 to 1888, so that this year's figures are cheering. It should also be noted that in addition to the cream supplies to the factories, bulk quantities of milk are daily consigned to the city from Rodney and Waitemata Counties. The value of the cows in commission is placed at £443,600, and 150,000 acres are utilised solely for their pasturage. The following were the butter outputs for the 1914-1915 season:—

Tons. Bay of Islands ... ... ... 90 Hakaru ... 19 Herekin > _. ... 45 Hikurangi 320 Hokianga 161 Helensville - 332 Knitaia .*. 151 Matakana 39 Maun gata pore 208 Maungaturoto 131 Northern "Wairoa ... ' 627 Whakanirau ... 53 Oruru-Fairburn 108 Parua Bay 40 Port Albert 21 Waikiekie .12 Waitemata 58 Waipu 94 Whangarei 169 Whangaroa „ -.. 60 2761 Of the cheese output, Waimamaku furnished 63 tons, Ruawai 25, and Northern Wairoa 30 tons.