THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 3

THE DAIRYING INDUSTRY

PROSPECTS FOR THE SEASON. THE IMPRO VEMENT OE THE HERDS. The prospects of the dairying season, just beginning, are very hopeful. These who are able to speak with authority predict that should the growth ol grass be even a fair average one, the output of dairy produce will considerably exceed that of last year. Stock generally are in excellent condition, as the winter lias been mild, and dairy farmers are confidently expecting a success!til season. While tho prices obtained in England for New Zealand dairy produce are not likely to read: the high level attained two or three years ago, the view taken by those whose business it is to watch tiie London market is that then; is no reason lor alarm on this .score. The quality el New Zealand butter lias earned it a commanding reputation at Homo, as recent cable messages have shewn; and in -spite ot the competition from tho Argentine and other quarters, this reputation ought not to suffer whilst tho valuable system of grading established by the Government. coni nines in force.

‘•'Our advices show that there is an unlimited demand at Home for New Zealand butter at Is. Tins means that .so long as producers arc willing to take Od cash f.o.b. at Wellington, they will have an unlimited demand for their Initur.” 'Thus Mr J. G. Harkness, secretary' of the National Hairy' Association, in conversation with a “Times ’ representative yesterday.

There is one question of vital importance which has for some time engaged tho attention of those; who wish well to the dairying industry—namely, the necessity for the .systematic improvement of tho dairy herds. All authorities seem to be agreed that tho time has arrived when this question must lie faced in earnest by dairy farmers. Some farmers have already set about this duty—the men who conduct their business on scientific principles—but the great majority have so far neglected it.

“It must be remembered, when wo foel inclined to blame farmers in this matter,” said Mr Harkness, “ that tile industry lias grown so rapidly that tlio people concerned in it have had to emnloy cows of any kind showing a profit. For instance, about 100,000 cows are being milked daily in tho Taranaki province, and you will see what that means when yon realise that this is an industry which has grown up within eight or ten years. But, admitting all this, it must be recognised that tho farmers ought now to sot about improving their herds on some systematic plan. If this were done, the output of daily produce could ho increased by at least onethird of the present quantity without any increase in expenses. The farmer ought to test every cow in his herd, anil it is only tlio man who does that who gets the best results. If you want to see tho effects of the present system, you have only to compare the number of cows supplying any particular factory with tlio total number of pounds of butter-fat paid for during the season at that factory, and this will at once show what tho average is for each cow, and that it is considerably below tho standard.”

While congratulating the Government upon what it has don© for tho colony's herds by the importation i f purebred stock, Mr Harkness is of opinion that the system of placing these cattle in various districts for the us© of breeders in those localities is wrong. Ho suggests that the - animals should be kept at the State farms, and that the Government should breed stock and sell it cheaply to the farmers. Tlio first shipment of this season’s dairy produce to tho Home market will probably be made about the middle of this month.