DANISH FARMING PROSPECTS

Southland Times, Issue 24106, 20 April 1940, Page 14

DANISH FARMING PROSPECTS

OUTPUT LIKELY TO FALL EFFECT OF BRITISH BLOCKADE The complete dependence of the farmers of Denmark on supplies of cattle cake food and fertilizers from overseas and the devastating effect of the British blockade on the country’s production of butter and bacon were explained by an Auckland breeder who was formerly the managing director of one of the largest oil cake and cattle food manufacturing companies in Great Britain.

In the course of frequent visits to Denmark he gained an intimate knowledge of the methods and success _ of the Danish farmers. He held the opinion that, as a result of the stoppage of imports of cattle food and fertilizers, the Danish dairy industry would be so severely crippled that there was the possibility that, instead of Germany drawing food supplies from Denmark, she would have to help to feed the Danish population. This breeder said that Denmark was an extremely closely settled country and a farmer who had 20 cows was regarded as a rich man. This herd would be on a farm of not more than 30 acres, which carried buildings and piggeries. In consequence of the smallness of the holdings, the cattle were not allowed to roam, but were tethered to a length of rope. They were thus confined to a small area of grass at the discretion of the farmer and moved from day to day. USE OF OIL CAKES In addition to this the cows, as well as the pigs, were given a ration of imported cattle food. This was obtained through the farmers’ co-operative purchasing organization. Every month the experts of the organization drew up a balanced ration for the guidance of the farmer, on the market value of the respective elements. Thus, if linseed cake was dear at the time the quantity in the ration was reduced and some other food, of lower price but of equal food value, was substituted. Large quantities of this type of food were imported each year into Denmark, said this breeder. The high yield a cow, which was 3801 b. of butterfat a cow a few years ago, when he was familiar with the Danish industry, was almost entirely brought about by the use of these foods. Linseed cake from the River Plate, Germany and England, cotton oil cake from Egypt and other oil from palm seed, copra and sesame were largely used. The oil from these seeds was used largely in the manufacture of margarine, and the cake produced in the crushing used to feed the cattle. CONSUMPTION OF MARGARINE “The Danish farmer never eats butter—he is much too economical,” said this breeder. “He gets 1/6 per lb. for his butter, and he figures that for every pound of margarine that the family eats he makes a profit of lOd per lb. on his butter. Millions of pounds are expended annually by the Danes in the importation of food for the cows and pigs, and in addition large quantities of fertilizer are imported, as the grass is intensely fertilized.

“In consequence of the British blockade, Danish production is bound to fall when the stocks of food and fertilizer now held are exhausted, so that Germany may eventually have to supply food to Denmark, instead of the contrary being the case.” Speaking of the further opportunity presented to the New Zealand producer to supply the British market, this breeder said that in addition to the enormous quantities of butter hitherto shipped from Denmark the Danes also furnished weekly quantities of the finest bacon. He mentioned that to him one of the most interesting sights was the thousands of sides of bacon hanging in the cooling chambers. They all appeared to be of exactly the same size, length and breadth. This was an eloquent demonstration of the success of the breeding and feeding methods of the Danish farmer.