BOBBY CALF MARKETING

Chronicle (Levin), 20 December 1947, Page 4

BOBBY CALF MARKETING

RECORD YEAR IN OPERATIONS The N.Z. Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Ltd., 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, and the balance in the North Island. Owing to the increase over last year in the total number of cows milked, and also the beneficial res'ult of inoculation for abortion, the number of calves which "reached khe freezing works was* • substahtially higher than that of last year, while the number of calves saved for the replenishment of dairy herds was gfedter than for some years past. Both these features'of the past calf season are, in respect of the Aid for Britain Campaign, very pleasing indeed. The liett overall ca'sh return to producer's at farm ga'tes 011 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 ou't as early as possible in the New Year. Condemnations at works for underweight calves showed a considerable improvement on the result obtained last year, resulting 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 Qalves over the minimum weight varied up to 31s 9d 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.