RECORD DAIRY OUTPUT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19810, 3 December 1927, Page 14

RECORD DAIRY OUTPUT.

PRODUCTION FOB AUCKLAND GAIN OVER LAST SEASON. % ■" ABOUT 19 PER CENT. INCREASE. # HEAVY SHIPMENTS CONTINUE. i Dairy production in the Auckland province continues at a record level in spite of the somewhat dry weather conditions which have marked the past two months. The increase in the output of butter-fat for the first five months of the season amounts to 18.76, or nearly 19 per cent., compared' with tbe corresponding months of last season, which previously held the record. In terms of butter-fat, production this season has so far reached the great total of 40,587,4951b., against 34,175,6181b., an increase of 6,411,8771b.

That increase expressed in sterling amounts to £454,175, allowing Is 5d per lb. for butter-fat. Actually the gain as compared with last season is much greater as both butter and cheese are selling at considerably higher prices. The following table shows the monthly receipts of butter at the grading stores for the first five months of the current season and its two predecessors:— 1927-28. 1926-27 1926-26. Botes. Boxes. Boxes. July .. . . 20.202 9.853 9,fr>6 August .. 63.109 48.497 43,466 September 157.355 125.383 111,226 October . 237,013 209,097 183,459 November .. 304,666 258.099 220.950 Total .. Since the beginning of the current season on July 1, 787,345 boxes of butter have been received into the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's stores, compared with 650,929 boxes at this stage last year, an increase of 136,416 boxes, or about 21 per cent Last month 304,666 boxes were received as against 258,099 in November, 1926, an increase of 46,567, or 18 per cent. Lower Hainfall Checks Output. ~ The check in the rate of increase is notable as an indication that the low rainfall of October and November is beginning to affect production. A heavy downpour is badly needed at the present stage to stimulate production in December, usually the "flush" month of the season.

Cheese is a much less important item than butter in Auckland's dairy industry, as tho figures show. Crates of cheese received into store sinoe July 1 total 55,112, against 55,107 at this stage, last year, an increase of only five crates. The figures for November actually show a shrinkage, 24,035 crates against 25,104 last year, a decrease of 1069 crates. This may be accounted for, not by a decrease in butter-fat production, but by those factories possessing dual plants changing over to butter-making as the season advances. A very satisfactory feature of the returns is that, in spite of greater output, th«e was less butter and cheese in store on November 30 than on the same date last year. Butter on hand totalled 98,414 boxes, against 193,830, a decrease of 95,416 boxes, and cheese totalled 10,617 crates against 18,126, a decrease of 7959 /»rnl nc Earlier Shipment. c These returns prove that the Dairy Produce Board has vigorously pursued its policy of early shipment this year to benefit by tho a favourable London market, and that the shipping companies have made available the necessary refrigerated space. The benefits from t this policy should be more apparent later in the season when the London market will not be burdened with such heavy arrivals from New Zealand just as the productive spring season in tho Northern Hemisphere is opening. Shipments fron> Auckland since July 1 total 838,975 boxes of butte' anr? 51,759 crates of che&se, against 559.305 and 46,129 respectively at this date last year.