The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 1942 NO DAIRY DECLINE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 99, 2 September 1942, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 1942 NO DAIRY DECLINE

AT the beginning of August certain fears were expressed by writers in this paper that the dairying- industry on the Rangitaiki Plains'was showing signs of an ominous decline. Grounds for the opinion were based upon the lessening number of bobby calves collected for the season up to that date. Figures now available however give the position in a new perspective and, show in an immistakeable manner that far from declining the industry in spite of all its setbacks due to war-time difficulties, is actually expanding. The reason for shrinkage a month ago was due directly to the fact that the season,was this year later than usual. The figures for August show the true position in an undeniable manner. For that period 83*12 calves were collected, against 7180 for the same month last year. The total collections for the year to date is 10,927 calves against 10,654 for the same: period last year. The fact that August this year included one extra trucking day would assist the improvement slightly, but not to the extent of indicating a taper off in production. The peak collection which occurred in mid-August, realised this year 1332 calves against 1179 calves last year—a further indication of the improvement. The position however may be safely said to be even better than that for one has to consider the steady trend towards herd testing which is noAy being undertaken by all progressive farmers. By this method less cows are producing as much and even more to-day than did the larger herds of other days. This fact when borne in mind affords even greater grounds for assessing the industry's expansion when increased bobby calf collections are considered.