THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 18

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE'S VIEWS.

In the annual report of the Department of Agriculture the Minister in charge of the department (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) says the general expansion of the industry continues, and not only ie the output from the settled milk-producing areas on the increase, but as fast as new country can be prepared for grazing the production of milk is taken up. Had the past season been of a more favourable character from a climatic standpoint the output would have shown a much larger increase in butter, as well as a big increase in cheese. The lesson of the past season has led to increased attention being paid to the provision of special green fodder for the diner months of the year. This awakening, together with the increased attention being paid to the culling of herds and the use of a purebred bull, must have a marked effect on the future pi-ospects of the industry. —Quality Improving.—

It is gratifying to be able to report that a steady advance is being mad©, by the majority of factories in the quality of the butter and cheese manufactured. Unsatisfactory work has'been noticeable in a number of cases, but, as the sources of this weakness are known, the Minister says there is every reason to believe that, with tha assistance of officers of the department, these "troubles will be rectified.

Again this yeajr certain adverse criticism of our butter and cheese on the Home market has been made, principally by agents handling rival butters. As it has been practically impossible to reconcile these reports with the expert opinion of the graders of the department at this-'end, the need of a qualified New Zealand expert on butter and cheese quality to safeguard the reputation of our dairy produce and' the interests of producers has been more urgently emphasised than ever before. Such an officer has been appointed. His duty will be to examine our butter and cheeee- as it reaches the Home market, to note exactly how it opens out in London, and to provide an authoritative com parieon with the grading at this end and the quality of the produce as it reaches the market. Great benefit should accrue to the butter and cheese makers of the Dominion, and through them to the dairy-farmers, as a result of this appointment.

—Cow-testing.—■

One of the most important movements for the advancement of milk-producing interests yet -undertaken by the department was the formation of cow-testing associations. Although the associations are as yet limited, so enthusiastic has been the support of the farmer that the movement bids fair to rapidly extend throughout the Dominion, and to exert a far-reaching influence on the welfare of the industry. Realising all that this movement means to the settlers, and to New Zealand, the Minister says he intends to do all in his power to encourage its development. Another movement essential to dairying progress which he is anxious to see extended is the pasteurisation of the by-pro-ducts of dairy factories, in connection with which he has had carried out a thoroughly exhaustive demonstration, the results of which must largely influence farmers in adopting this vital means of stamping out that dread scourge tuberculosis from their herds of cattle and swine. The total number of factories, etc., registered under the Dairy Industry Act is now 824, as against 752 in 1910. The increase is made up as under: —Creameries 8. cheese factories 27, private butter dairies 25, private cheese dairies 7, and packing houses 5.