THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 15

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY

REMARKABLE EXPANSION. SCOPE FOR FURTHER GROWTH. The present condition of the dairying industry in New Zealand is highly satisfactory, especially in view of the fact that there is an uncertainty as to the prices of some of the dominion’s agricultural and pastoral products (states the N.Z. Herald). The high price of 2s 6d per lb now being paid by the Imperial Government for New Zealand butter, and the still extremely satisfactory prices ruling for cheese, added to the steadv increase of small settlement, raise the dairying industry to a position it has never before occupied. It is probable that, at the present time, the dairy herds of (ho dominion, which comprise nearly 800,000 cows in milk, will produce for the current season a total sum of about £17,000,000. This estimated figure includes butter and cheese and other products for export, and local consumption of butter, cheese, and fresh milk, thus placing the dairy cow in the first rank of wealth producers. The high price of butter and the fact that there is likely to be a continued demand for it abroad at a payable price, is likely to give a great stimulus to this already progressive industry. That there is still scope for enormous increases in the dairying output is borne out by the fact that there .are yet great areas of land suitable for dairying in Nev. r Zealand, which are at present lying idle, or being devoted to other purposes. Another indication showing tho possibilities for the growth of the industry is the fact that the dairy cows of the dominion arc still low producers of butter-fat, the average per cow being only something like 1641 b a year, while it is easily possible to raise the general average up to considerably over 2001 b, and it is not at all improbable that in the future tho general average vrill be nearer 3001 b. FACTORS IN DEVELOPMENT. Together with the facts noted are tho possibilities of increasing the carrying capacity of tlxe land, which now requires roughly from two to three acres to carry a cow, under the present methods of grass farming, but whioh could readily be made to carry an average of a cow to 1} acres by extra cultivation and cropping. It will be seen, therefore, how great are the opportunities for expansion in the dairying

industry. By increasing cultivation it would be possiblo to double the number of cows on the existing areas, and by improving the quality of tho dairy cows it would be possible to double the present output of butter-fat. Then, of course, there is the very large area of land which can still be devoted to dairy farming. Another highly important feature in the development of the dairying industry which has been prominent of recent years, is the manufacture of dried milk, and the utilisation of the by-products. These, with the economical methods of manufacturing now in vogue, add greatly to the total yield, or rather to the profits, of dairying. At present a considerable change is proceeding in dairy farming. Many of the factories are now manufacturing cheese are changing back to butter manufacture. GREATEST GROWTH IN AUCKLAND PROVINCE. By far the greatest developments in dairying have taken place in the Auckland province. Fifteen years ago tho number of 561 b boxes received in cold storage for export at Auckland was 108,267, while in the past six months alone no less than 445,221 boxes have been received. Again, as regards oheese, eight years ago the quantity received here for export was 14,777 crates of 1601 b each, while last year the total was 164,891 crates. These figures, however, do not by any means represent the capacity of the Auckland province as a dairying country. It must be remembered that out of the 14,500,000 acres in the Auckland land districts only about 3,000,000 acres are in any state of cultivation, and, included in the still unused areas are large tracts of swamp country, some of it in the course of reclamation, which makes some of the finest dairying land in the world. Besides this, it _is being found that in certain light soil areas, which a few years ago were considered unsuitable for dairying, the growth of legumes and the provision for winter feeding is turning this class of soil into very profitable dairying country. INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF DAIRYING OUTPUT. As showing the growth of the dairying industry in New Zealand the latest statistics for the five months, August to December, 1920, reveal an increase in value of £4,236,237 for butter and cheese, as compared with the corresponding period of 1919. In the last five months of the year just closed 17,259 tons of butter were received into the grading stores, as against 9532 tons _ in the corresponding period of 1919, an increase for the latter period of 7718 tons. The values were, in the 1920 period, £4,830,000, and in the 1919 period, £1,725,282. an increase for the five months just ended of £3,104,718. In the same period of last year 28,713 tons of cheese were received into the grading stores, as against 25,548 tons in the corresponding period of 1919. an increase for tho later period of 3165 tons. The value for the 1920 period was £3.694.835 as compared with £2,563.316 for the 1919 period, an increase of £1.131,519. The butter in store in the North Tsl and at January 1 last totalled 226,500 boxes. The following tables showing the total number of boxes of butter and crates of cheese received in Auckland for cool storage and export for the present season to date, and for 15 years and eight years past respectively, illustrate in a striking way the growth of the dairying industry in the Auckland province. The annual figures given are for the periods July 1 to June 30 in each ease, this season’s figures being computed up to January 8: — BUTTER. Boxes

1912-13 14,777 DEVELOPMENT IN THE WAIKATO DISTRICT. At the present price of butter' —namely, 2s 6d per lb, or £7 per box of 561 b, the output from the Auckland district for the current season to date as given above shows a value of £3,116,547, as compared with £2,225,263 for the output of the whole of the previous year, when the price averaged £4 10s 6d a box. There is already revealed, therefore, an increase in value of the output for this season amounting to £891,284. Computing the present price of cheese at Is per lb, the output from ilie Auckland district for the current season to date, as given in the table, shows a value of £791,144, as against £1,181,718 for the whole of the previous season, when the price was 10 Jd per lb One of the largest contributors to the output for the Auckland province is the Waikato. An example of the remarkable development of the dairying industry in that district is the amalgamated concern known as the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, which lias absorbed tho Waikato Co-operative Dairy Company, the Waikato Co-operative Cheese Company, and the New Zealand Dairy Association. The new- corapanv has about 5000 suppliers, and receives tho product from about 100,000 cows. It has eight butter factories, 10 cheese factories, three dried milk factories, and 16 casein factories, besides a large number of creameries. The output of butter for this season is estimated at 8500 tons, of cheese at 2000 tons, of dried milk at 2000 tons, and of casein at 300 tons, involving a turnover of something like £2,500,000. Last season these combined companies exported about one-third of tho total New Zealand exports of dairy produce, and about one-twelfth of the total imported into England from all sources. At the present time there are about 12,000 cows beinjj milked ill the Waikato to supply the dried milk

factories. Without that industry, therefore, some 1200 extra tons of butter could be produced in the district. TARANAKI’S PROGRESS AND OUTLOOK. Taranaki, owing to its favourable climate and soils for grass, has long been recognised as one of the finest dairying districts in New Zealand. In proportion to other agricultural and pastoral industries, dairying has developed there more than in any other part of the dominion. It is not to be supposed, however, that Taranaki's full capacity for dairying has in any sense been reached, because the same conditions apply in regard to _ the possibilities of improvement in the yield of cows, and, to some extent, to the improvement of the carrying capacity of the land. The Taranaki dairy farmer has, in recent years, made great progress in the growing of extra crops for his herds, and has also found the benefit of top-dressing for his pastures. Besides this, there are still in the north and west Taranaki districts considerable areas which will make good dairying land. Progress in dairying is also being made in Hawke’s Bay, and in the Wellington district, and what has been said of Auckland and Taranaki with regard to the possibilities of further development applies likewise to these parts of the dominion, particularly to Wellington. DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH ISLAND. The South Island, which has somewhat lagged behind the North Island in dairying, is beginning to devote more attention to the industry. The cutting up of large estates into small farms, and the expansion of lucerne growing, is likely to give a very great impetus to dairy farming in that part of New Zealand. Of course, there is the fact that the South Island is not so favourably situated as regards climate for dairying as is the North Island, but it still has great possibilities in that direction. The figures for the past three years’ exportations, made up to the latest date possible on the returns available, show that in butter the Auckland districts easily head the list, with Taranaki second. As regards cheese, the position is reversed, Taranaki loading, with Auckland second, and the combined districts of Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Nelson in third place. Both commodities show a falling off in the last 12 months tabulated, as compared with the previous 12 months, but the present season is almost certain to produce an increased output. THREE YEARS’ EXPORTS PROM LAND DISTRICTS. In the following tables are given the exports of butter and cheese respectively, in cwt, from the various land districts of the dominion for the 12 months ended October 31 in each case. The principal exporting months of the year are included, so that the figures may be taken os typical of the actual annual exportations BUTTER.

Season. (561b). July, 1920. to Jan. 8, 1921 ... 12 months ended June 30— 445,221 1920 491,771 1919 490.699 1918 489.920 1917 572.463 1916 517.921 1915 455,428 1914 455.000 1913 387.991 1912 335,045 1911 276.275 1910 278.343 1909 210,597 1903 164,727 1907 183,414 1906 108,267 CHEESE. Crates Season. (1601b.) July, 1920 to Jan., 1921 98,893 1919-20 164,891 1918-19 136,208 1917-18 111,007 1916-17 106,761 1915-16 63.243 1914-15 20,379 1913-14 18.522

1920. 1919. 1918. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Auckland 191,417 261,111 214,510 Taranaki .... Wellington, Ilawke’s 55,209 73,429 93,432 Bay, Marlborough, and Nelson 17,943 26,694 24,462 Westland 3,354 6,505 6,874 Canterbury 15,375 20,521 17,604 Otago and Southland 4,241 10,921 7,975 Totals for N.Z. 288,139 399,181 364,857 CHEESE. 1920. 1919. 1918. Cwt. Cwt. Cwt. Auckland 250,073 262,248 111,802 Taranaki Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and Nelson 618,945 708,575 473,888 219,095 272,388 174,065 Westland 3,569 4,608 4,013 Canterbury 35,798 44,856 25,634 Otago and Southland 148,129 205,843 136,591 Totals for N.Z. 1.275,607 1,498,516 925,993