DAIRYING PRODUCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21509, 5 June 1933, Page 12

DAIRYING PRODUCTION

YIELD IN THE PROVINCE

INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR FIGURES FOR 10 MONTHS Although there was a sharp fall in tho production of butter-fat in the Auckland Province during April, tho output for the month was considerably higher than in April, 1932, the increase amounting to about 48 per cent. With the output for only two more months in tho current season to bo recorded, production for the 10 months to. tho end of April is 22 per cent higher. It is estimated that the total output for the season will be 20 per cent higher than in 1931-32.

The beginning of cold weather conditions in April was a factor in checking production, which shows a normal wane after February and March. However, thoro has not been an unduly heavy decline this season, being about 30 per cent lower than March's output, compared with 40 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in tho previous two seasons. Generally favourable conditions for an extension of the season have prevailed during tho past few months. Tho quantity of butter-fat produced in April was 14,610,0001b., against 19,247,0001b. in tho previous month, and 18,449,0001b. in February. Compared with April, 1932, thoro was an increase of 4=,715,0001b. For tho 10 months of tho current season, from July, 1932, tho total yield was 166,595,0001b., compared with 136,001,0001b. in tho July-April period of 1931-32, an increase of 30,594,0001b. The advance over tho 1930-31 total is 40,778,0001b.

Particulars of tho monthly yields for tho 10 months of the current season and thoso of tho preceding two seasons are as follows:

1932-33 1931-32 1930-31 lb. lb. lb. . July .. 2,096,000 1,676,000 1,360,000 August . . 6.323,000 5,096,000 4,766,000 September 13.160,000 10,822.000 11,029,000 October . 21,227,000 18,190,000 16,473,000 November 25,530,000 19,853.000 19,076,000 December 25,112,000 23,133,000 21,362,000 January . 20,811,000 18,829,000 17,864.000 February 18.449,000 14,455,000 15,036,000 March . . 19,247,000 14,022,000 10,880,000 April . . 14,640,000 9,925,000 7,971,000 Totals 166,595,000 136,001,000 125.817,000 Of April's output, 12,937,0001b. was used in the manufacture of butter, and 1,703,0001b. for cheese. GROWTH AND PROBLEMS EXPORT RISE OF ONE-FIFTH NATIONAL CONFERENCE SURVEY The 39th annual report of tho National Dairy Conference which will meet at Hamilton on Juno 21 states that if normal conditions prevail for tho remainder of the season dairy exports will show an approximate increase of 20 per cent over last year, which was itself a record period. Butter has advanced to a greater degree than cheese. Gradings for the nine months ended April 30, 1933, totalled 113,392 tons (salted), and 4327 tons (unsalted), which in the aggregate is an increase of 22.35 per cent on the corresponding nine months in 1931-32. The cheese figures for the last nine months were 25,685 tons (coloured) and 65,259 tons (white), or an increase of 13.73 per cent in the aggregate.

The report adds that a satisfactory feature is that the present season will show a substantial advance in the average production per cow. Although reports from Great Britain indicatod a measure of improvement in quality, much remained to bo done if New Zealand was to improve her position on the overcrowded market. This applied to cheese in particular. "General regret will be felt that it was not found possible to include universal farm dairy instruction in the new regulations, as this has always been regarded as a very necessary adjunct to milk grading," says the report. "While the expense of such a measure unfortunately makes it somewhat more difficult to bring it into operation at a time like the present, when every item of expenditure must be carefully scrutinised, its introduction at the earliest possible moment must be regarded as an urgent necessity." The report states that some definite action is required to place the sale o£ butter for domestic consumption on an equitable basis. Schemes of ,a voluntary nature have proved inadequate in preventing severe losses through indiscriminate price-cutting. "Some form of compulsory control appears to be the only alternative, although it is lamentable to think that compulsion should have to be considered to save a section of the industry from the results of its own folly," the report adds. "The general position is so unsatisfactory that producers cannot continue to regard with equanimity the sacrifice of a large portion of their output to satisfy inter-district and inter-factory jealousies. It is quite certain that an equitable marketing scheme would meet with the hearty approval and co-opcration of the grocery trade."