Record Year For Bobby Calf Trade

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 11, 9 January 1948, Page 5

Record Year For Bobby Calf Trade

The N.Z. Co-operative Pig Marketing Association Limited has concluded a record year in its Bobby Calf operations. Altogether a total of 372,052 calves was collected and marketed on consignment on behalf of 78 Bobby Calf Pools associated with the Company. Of the total of 78 pools, 14 were located in the South Island, while the balance was spread over all districts in the North Island. Owing to the increase over last year in the total number of cows milked and also the beneficial result of inoculation for abortion % the number of calves which reached the freezing works was substantially ■higher than that of last year; while the number of calves saved ior the replenishment of dairy herds was greater than for some years past. Both these features of the past cJalf season are, in respect of the Aid for Britain Campaign, very pleasing indeed. The nett overall cash return to producers at farm gates on these operations amounted to £473,535. Of this amount £145,304 was distributed by way of an advance payment in September last while the balance in final settlement on all collections to November 30 will be paid out as early as possible in the New Year.

Condemnation at works for underweight calves showed a considerable improvement on the result obtained last year and resulted in an appreciable rise in the quantity of this class of meat for export to Britain. The average price paid to all pool members for all calves over the minimum weight varied up to 31/9 per head at the farm gate.' These prices represent a very pleasing improvement in the returns to producers last year and are due entirely to a more favourable export market for freezer skins.