FARM INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 15

FARM INDUSTRY

ACHIEVEMENTS SURVEYED RECORD DAIRY PRODUCTION SHEEPOWNERS' BETTER YEAR RAPID GROWTH OF PIG-RAISING [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Friday The principal features of the farming industry in the year 1933-34 are outlined in the annual report of the Department of Agriculture, which was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day. Chief among these were the substantial increases in production of both dairy-farming and sheep-farming, yields of grain that were above the average, and a marked increase in pigkeeping. "There is a series of gratifying developments," states the report, "which perhaps not of great significance taken singly, but, when taken together, constitute welcome evidence that, in spite of difficult, and, at times, discouraging circumstances, the farming community is consolidating. and sometimes strengthening its position." The satisfactory season could be attributed to a continuous improvement in the standard of farming efficiency. The relative increase in the use of fertilisers was a recent movement worthy of commendation. This was due essentially to more top-dressing on the part of sheep-farmers, although that carried out by dairy-farmers had declined. Sheep-farmers had taken advantage of the improved returns for their produce to strengthen their (locks and to put their holdings into better repair." Local Butter Consumption The records in dairy produce were the result of an increase of nearly 8 per cent.-in butter-fat production, combined with the substantial increase of 81,000 in the number of dairy cows. The increase of 100,000 freight carcases of boneless beef indicated a probable reduction of dairy herds during the present season. The record butter-fat production was largely due to favourable weather conditions, which compensated for the decreased use of fertilisers, and to the better provision of reserves of supplementary feed. A steady increase in the local consumption of butter, a feature of the past ten years, has been maintained and had risen to 38.91b. a head, the highest in the world. The DirectorGeneral of Health had stated: —"The average consumption of butter should approximate one pound a week for each individual as a fairly liberal estimate." Larger Breeding Flocks In commenting on the buoyant condition of the sheepfarming industry, the report points out that there had been a marked increase in the number of breeding ewes in the flocks. Although the 1933 lambing had been a record one, there had been a falling-off in the number of lambs killed for export. The realisation of capital stock to meet a depression by the killing of sheep that had been a feature of the period 1930-32 had fortunately not been continued into the 1933 season. The success of the industry's latest venture, the export of chilled beef, was indicated by the fact that 16.000 quarters had been shipped without a single loss. Considerable research work was necessary to determine the best types and the cost of feeding. Use oI Horses Increased recognition of the place of the horse in agriculture had lead to a strong market for draught types. Generally, the demand was improving with the increase of tillage for supplementary crops, and the outlook for the breeder of good draught horses was encouraging. The breeding of light horses, of which there was a scarcity, was at a low ebb. Pig-raising, the returns from wjiich were enabling dairy farmers to reinforce their present unsatisfactory position, was increasing substantially, and there was at more widespread interest in the best available knowledge relative to feeding and breeding. While dairy products would continue to be the major constituent of feed for pigs, more attention was being given to the growing of special crops for that purpose. Improved feeding was the keynote of successful pig-rearing.