TURNIP FEEDING AND CHEESE MAKING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12040, 11 May 1901, Page 2

TURNIP FEEDING AND CHEESE MAKING.

!Fkom Oi'R Owx Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, May 10. A leaflet on the turnip-feeding question Jus juat been issued by Mr J. A. Kinsella, dniry commissioner. In the course of seasonable hints to factory suppliers and cheese producers, the CoinmisEioner says;—"As t!io season advances the nil-important question of turnip flavour in the winter make of cltceuo again conies into prominence. The feeding o! turnips to milking cows in the autnmn and spring has in the past been a serious black murk agninst the reputation of our cheese. This isa mutter which should not only receive the careful consideration of ninnufnctmcrs, but also demands prompt action on the part ol suppliers, who should he Equally interested in upholding the reputation of New Zealand dnirj produce on the Home markets, and whose duly it is to take immediate steps towards stamping out the evil. AVhile the proportion of Now Zealand cheese made from turnip-fed milk is comparatively small, it is sufficiently largo to arrest the attention of the Dritish buyer. During the season now closing I have received . several reports from leading buyers in (ha United Kingdom making serious comment on the nronounced turnip flavour existing in a number of brands of our autumn and spring made cheese. This applies more especially to a number of i-outhern factories, which turn out a fine a'ticle. during the summer months. If immediate remedial steps are now taken I om of opinion (hat heforo many yptirs this (rouble will have a marked effect on the sale of Xew Zealand ehrese on the liritish mil Australian markets. So serious is this question in other countries where winter milk is produced lorgeljr from different kinds of lotldcr crocs, including turnips, that in Canada, for instance, at n recent largo convention of dairymen it \va« urged by exporters and others interested in the trade that special legislation should be crnifted lo deal with tho turnip question in its rclntion to butter nnd cheese for escort. I tnut Hint a fpw such siurpestions as are here thrown out will meet with the snpnort of milk producer?, and that sudpliers Hint. mu«t feed turnip through the winter will co-operate with factory managers by having all turnips topppd and tailed and pulped and fe:l imincdmlely after milking: also ro feeding on tons allowed. If these small hut important details are carefully attended to if cannot tint assist materially in overcoming some of the trouble such as existed las) winter.