THE LEADING INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 10

THE LEADING INDUSTRY.

BUTTER-FAT PRODUCTION.

LARGE DRIED-MILK FACTORY.

It is conservatively estimated that there aro 40.000 head of cattle in the Te Awamutu district, of which over 20,000 comprise dairy herds. Roughly two-thirds arc Jerseys, tho majority of the remainder being Shorthorns, while Friesians and Ayrshires aro also represented. One of tho principal agencies through which tho district has prospered is the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, which extends its operations throughout tho whole of the Waikato, and produces more butter than all the other similar organisations of the Dominion together. In Te Awamutu the company has established a dried milk factory, which has a capacity for handling 8000 gallons of skim-milk daily when running at full pressure. The cost of tho building and plant when completed will bo in the region of £35,000.

At presont the cream from tho district goes to tlio company's factory atr Hamilton, but it is understood that tho company contemplates erecting a butter factory alongside tho dried milk factory, and therefore in tho near future tho wliolo of the cream and skim-milk from this district will bo treated at Te Awamutu. Some of (lie best cheese manufactured in Iho Dominion is turned out from the Knkcpuku and Hairini factories. Te Awamutu has t.ha largest slock saleyards in the Waikato, ana certainly tho largest weekly cattle sale. The muni-cipally-owned yards, erected in 1909 at a cost of £3800, cover 4} acres, and they aro most convenient yards to work, solidly built, with concrete floors and flushing channels. There are accommodation pons for at least 1500 cattle, and though sheep aro not seen in large numbers, the pens are ample in number for tnem. Periodical horse sales aro also held thero, the lines accommodating 400 horses.