DAIRY STATISTICS.

Southland Times, Issue 19172, 16 February 1924, Page 10

DAIRY STATISTICS.

THE PROGRESS OF THE INDUSTRY REVEALED BY OFFICIAL FIGURES. Current dairying statistics, culled from the 1924 Year Book just issued by the Government Statistician, will be of interest, particularly as indicating the growth of the industry. In an introductory paragraph it is explained that any farmer can apply to the Department of Agriculture for advice regarding his soil, have seed examined for germination capacity and purity, milk tested for butter fat content or for the presence of disease, plants identified, and diseases of either plants or animals described and remedies suggested—all these services being rendered free of charge. PERSONS EMPLOYED J For the year 1922-23 there were 78,564 persons employed cn holdings used principally for dairying purposes. The figure includes working and managers. The total in 1921-22 was 68,661, therefore the increase for the year was 9.903. Detailed figures read: —

DAIRYING MACHINERY. The number of milking plants shown in the returns for 1923 was 13,553 as against 12,468 in 1922. Cream separators numbered 40,916, being an increase of 2055 over the number shown for 1922 (38,861). Some 49,606 cows could be milked simultaneously by the machinery in use in the Dominion on the 31st January, 1923, as against 45,819 in 1922. The approximate number of cows machine-milked on 31st January, 1923, was 611,287, as against 533,345 in 1922. The provincial totals are:—

Southland 3341 HERD TESTING. KING COUNTRY RESULTS. The following are the herd averages and yields of individual herds and cows in all herds tested with the Kaitieke Herd Testing Association for the 30-day period ending January 18: Total number of herds tested, 140; total number of cows tested, 3175. Association average: 3175 cows, 704.91bs milk, average test 3.74 per cent., 26.411bs fat per cow. Highest herd, 29 cows, 1114.61bs milk, average test 3.58 per cent., 39.931bs fat per cow. Lowest herd: 9 cows, 291.61bs milk, average test 4.04 per cent., 11.801bs fat per cow. Highest individual cow: 11401bs milk, test 5.6 per cent., 63.841bs fat. Lowest individual cow: 1501bs milk, test 4.0 per cent, 6.001bs fat. CATCH CROPS. VALUE OF EMERALD RYE ITS GREAT FEEDING VALUE. The value of a good catch crop has not been fully realised by Southland farmers. These crops are valuable in many ways, and will always provide a. good supply of fodder when pastures are bare. Mr G. Chewings has recently been making inquiries about emerald rye, and received a letter from Mr W. E. Edwards, Edievale, who experimented with this crop last season. Mr Edwards states: With reference to particulars re emerald ryct I sowed out 8 acres. The ground sown in rye had a crop of turnips taken off it with no results, as it was very bad with couch. I ploughed this up in December,, working it well with a cultivator. I then left the ground until February 1, again working it with the cultivator. It was sown out at the end of February at the-rate of 24 bushels per acre with 1 cwt of manure. At the end of March I put 1,400 lambs on to fed it off. These were in three weeks and then shifted on to young grass. In a fortnight's time these lambs were put back bn the rye for another two weeks. I kept rye fed off iii this manner until June 28, when the sheep were put on to turnips. The winter being a mild one the rye continued growing, and I again started feeding on August 20 by putting 45 rams on. These remained until the middle of September, but on account of the rye getting away from them I had to put the 1,400 hoggets back again to keep it down. These were on three weeks before the rye got another spell of a fortnight. I carried on this method of treatment until the end of December, when I shut the crop up for cutting. It was cut in March and threshed 95 bags, an average of 5 bushels to the bag. I find this is the only catch crop that will give good results and stand a vost amount of feeding just at the time when the grass is done. If rye were sown say in September this would fill the gap after turnip rotation and give an abundance of feed for ewes and lambs. This would allow young grass paddocks to get well away before stocking. On land such as yours at Makarewa which has had such good treatment rye should do remarkably well, and could be sown any time from August to the end of February. One advantage I find is thae: That putting lambs on rye before breaking on turnips, they seem to do well and take more readily to turnips. It also has another advantage that hoggets can be put on when their teeth are going. lam quite satisfied that not enough of this crop is grown. You must not let it get away, but keep it well stocked. As soon as my oats are in stook I am sowing the ground out again in rye,

(Continued from Previous Page.) just for a catch of spring feed. ■‘A good catch crop,” said Mr Chewings, •‘would assist greatly in producing better quality lamb. If rye were provided for the ewes and lambs in the spring it would give them a good start. The rye would always be available to put the ewes and lambs on the moment feed got a little bare. This would prevent the lambs from receiving ‘a check.’ Once a lamb receives a check it is difficult to start again, and requires much more feed to fatten it than if t progressed steadily from lambing to drafting. As stated by Mr Edwards rye requires heavy stocking to keep it from going to seed, and anyone sowing it would have to watch it carefully. Tliere is no doubt about the stock rye will carry an.l it is a crop well worth trying.” AYRSHIRE PROGRESS. ENGLISH COMMITTEE APPOINTED. The Council of the Ayrshire Cattle Herd Book Society, in their annual report for 1922-23, state that 37 new annual members and eight life members joined the Society. The total membership, including those last mentioned, now stands at 856. They say that home trade has been better on the whole, if not in prices, at least in the. demand for cattle. The successes achieved at the London Dairy show last year were followed by an increased number of Ayrahires being sent to various counties in Pingland. The even greater successes at this year's London Dairy show have stimulated a good deal of interest in the breed, and have led to a number of inquiries in Regard to the capabilities of the Ayrshire. TUBERCULOSIS. The Council have appointed an English ••Ayrshire” Committee to look after the interests of Ayrshire cattle in England. A grant of £250 has been voted to this committee for advertising purposes. The committee has raised in addition to the grant the sum of £72 12s amongst English breeders. The Council have had under their conlideration a scheme of tuberculosis eradication from herds, and a small committee has been appointed to go into the matter, which will report in due course. In connection with the general method in which tuberculin testing is caried out on cattle prior to any sale taking place, a communication has been received from the Certified Milk Producers’ Association. This Associations points out that many tests are not caried out in the method required by the Ministry of Health, and. -in consequence, producers of certified and Grade A milk are prevented from purchasing such cattle, as they would require to be isolated for a specified time and re-tested before being brought into the herd. The Council, therefore. urge upon all those who may be selling nested cattle the desirability of having the tests carried out as required by the Ministry of Health.

An analysis of -jhe accounts shows that the entry fees received for Volume 46 exced the cost of production by £436 10s Bd. The average sum received for each entry >n Volume 46 is abo‘*t 5s 63d, whereas the cost of each entry works out about 4s 2d. For the previous volume the cost of each entry was 3s 11 Ad. Subscriptions and other income come to £646 Os Sd. being an increase from the previous year of £ll2 5s 2d. Against thki. special prizes and other expenditure amount to £384 17s Id. leaving a clear gain of £261 3s /d. Special advertising and freight charges on exhibits to ind from the “Highland” and London Dairy .hows cost the Society £5lO 7s sd. There s a profit of £7B 10s lid on the new show m February' last. After debiting all costs, there is a net gain on the year’s working of £350 Ils 4d.

DAIRY INDUSTRIES DISPUTES. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A case of interest to the dairying community was heard before the Dairy Industry Disputes Commitee on Saturday last. There were present Messrs A. H. Mackrell, J. Smith and J. Fisher, representing the South Island Dairy Association and Messrs T. O’Byrne. J. P. Gardiner and N. Gallagher, on behalf of the Dairy Assistants’ Union. The first business was the consideration of a dispute between the directors of the Aparima Dairy Factory Company. Ltd., and the Union, regarding the interpretation of Clause 1. four to six-vat factory. Mr Cormack, a director, was present on behalf of the Aparima Factory, and stated that his directors considered that wages were payable on the vats actually in use, and on this basis when the factcry opened they paid their assistant £3 16/- per week, working up to £4 14/6 per week when the fourth va? was entered on. They intended working bark the same way. Mr Q'Byrne claimed that assistants’ wages should be based on the number of vats in use at the height of the season at the rates " n’t out in the Award. Considerable discussion ensued, as a result cf which the following conclusion was arrived at: —“That while the legal interpretation of the words at the commencement of each grade of wages requires clearing up the Committee considers that the accepted practice has been for factories to take the previous year's number of vats in use as the basis of engageing assistants, beginning with the first assistant at the rates set out in the various divisions on Section 1 of the Award. While the Com- f mittee is of opinion that the practice followed has been in accordance with the spirit and intention of the Award, members desire to refer the matter to the Inspector of Awards for his ruling.'’ All representatives on both sides’ agreed to accept his decision. It was resolved that the secretaries cf the South Island Dairy Association and Assistants’ Union mutually arrange to submit jointly the foregoing to me Inspector. A further matter was referred to by the chairman of the Mabel Dairy Factory’. His complaint was that under No. 2, Examples of the Managers’ Award a grave injustice was inflicted upon factories failing to reach 1200 gallons, and bis directors were anxious that in any subsequent Award provisions should be made for the last worker engaged in such a factory to be a learner. It was resolved that it be a recommend- ' ation to the Dairy Association to invite recommendations from all factories as to improvements which might be embodied in any new Award, factories to be communicated with some time prior to the Award bring considered .and requested to submit lheir recommendation in writing.

Males. Females. North Auckland .. .. 10,190 4981 Auckland .. 12,445 5808 Gisborne .. 1,122 389 Hawke’s Bay .. .. 1,824 765 Taranaki .. 7,736 3,691 Wellington .. .. 7,584 2,840 Nelson 1380 398 Marlborough .. .. 3S1 229 Westland .. 650 324 Canterbury .. 3,647 1,641 Otago 2,664 1,610 Southland .. 3,607 2,658

NUMBER OF MILKING PLANTS. North Auckland 1790 Auckland 3895 Gisborne 173 Hawke’s Bay 526 Taranaki 2611 Wellington .. t 2163 Nelson 249 Marlborough .. .. 189 Westland 103 Canterbury 767 Otago 315 Southland .. . 772 NUMBER OF CREAM SEPARATORS. North Auckland 7028 Auckland 6270 Gisborne .... 1178 Hawke’s Bay 1806 Taranaki 1 6 T Wellington 4166 Nelson .. 1635 Marlborough .. ., . .. .. 1101 Westland .. .. .... 486 Canterbury 7752 Otago 4500