DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16780, 23 April 1926, Page 9

DAIRYING INDUSTRY.

REPORT FROM ARGENTINE. FALL off in production. The New Zealand Dairy Produce Board has received the following' reporl, from ils representative in the Argentine:— “There is somewhat a falling off noticeable in the production of milk, due to lack of rain in the western part of this country, although one cannot call it a drought as yet.

Butter. Shipments of blitter to the United Kingdom show a slight diminution for the second half of ths month (January). partly due lo shrinkage in the production, and also on account ot several important parcels, in all. about 15.000 boxes have been deviated to Ihe United States. These shipments to the U.S.A. arc firm sales, f.0.b., Bu.cnos Aires, and not consignments.

Casein. The production runs inlo about 15.000 tons per year, counting on a fair average season. This year wo are having normal production, and same is finding a ready sale on the U-S.A. and European markets. Germany has entered this last year as an important buyer, and especially unground casein is shipped to that destination. Oil account of the great variety in quality of Argentine casein, the German market gives preference' to the unground product, which enables them to prepare their own special mixtures. The bulk of Argentine, casein, however, is still ncing exported in grupnd state, under the denomination of ‘Argentine Standard.’ which type is ground 32 mesh. Casein prices to-day arc rather low and equal to about £43 per ton, _ c.i.f., Europe, and 91 cents per lb, c.i.f., U.S.A. At these "prices the Argentine producer considers that it, hardly pays him to continue producing casein, and prefers to hold for higher prices, while other farmers dedicate themselves to cheese making of the Italian types, such as Romano, Roggiano, for home consumption.

Cheese. Export of cheese is practically nil. The Argentine Ministry _ of Agriculture is giving special attention to inducing production of the Cheddar type, but so far has met with little success. Small parcels have been shipped occasionally to the United Kingdom, but results were discouraging. Captain Redcliffo, a wellknown Britisli exporter, has some time-ago been appointed by this Government to run an experimental farm down South, in the Tandil dairy district, but one hears very little about if. It appears that ihe time is yet far distant before the Argentine will produce a Cheddar type which wilt iie able lo compete with, the Canadian or Now Zealand similars.

Freight Rates on Butter. It will interest you to know that since Sol ember i last the rate of freight on’ butter has been reduced lo 7-Stlis of a penny per lb on all butler shipped per steamers belonging io the Allied Carriers, which comprise the ltoyal Mail, Nelson, llouldor, Donaldson, Lamport and Holt and french lines. There is furthermore a movement on foot, which goes out from a number of shippers to obtain some guarantee from steamship owners for the carrying of butter under specified temperatures, as also the refusal of accepting any butter on board a steamer which exceeds a certain temperature at time of .loading. However, nothing definite lias as yet been attained in this respect, but I shall keep you informed once definite arrangements should be come to, and will give you exacL details. It would appear that Vcslys have laid down ilic construction of a number of refrigerating vessels lo ply between the United Kingdom and South American ports, and Ycsloys had made some verbal promises to the Argentine butler shippers, which the hitler used as a lever lo .obtain more favourable conditions from the Allied Carriers as regards rale of freight, which used to be Id per lb.

Exports from the Argentine. First quarter, 1026: Biillev, 8275 tons; cheese, 9 tons; casein, 5700 tons. Second quarter, 102.': Butler, 7707 tons; cheese, 17 tons; casein, 10.30 tons.”