FARMING TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 5

FARMING TOPICS

Lower Dairy Output

How extensive has been -the reduction in Australian dairy output may be gauged from -the fact that for the 11 months to the end of May last the butter output was only 151,000 tons, compared with 175,000 tons in the previous year and almost 190,000 tons in the year before that, a drop over the two seasons of 40,000 -tons, almost 20 per ceu.t Cheese production, despite an endeavour to step it up on New Zealand lines, amounted to only 27,500 tons for the 11 months, an increase of only 2300 tons upon that of the previous year. Actually Australia produced 2000 tons more cheese in the 1939-40 season.

Contagious Abortion Vaccine. A vaccihe, culled "Strain 19," has -been evolved iu the United States to provide immunity from contagious abortion to dairy stock. This is evidently of sufficient promise to cause the official organ of the Victorian Graziers’ Association and of other bodies to devote a leading article -to it. In that article it is urged that the Department of Agriculture should develop its use in Australia. It is stated that "though American scientists are not satisfied that this vaccine is all that could be desired, the results from its use have been satisfactory enough to permit widespread practical use in that country.” The vaccine has been introduced to' Australia ami certain tests carried out at the Glenfield Research Station. The department of agriculture there is criticized for adopting a -too cautious policy. I won'der if any research is being carried out. in this country upon this promising development. The subject is one of very real importance to our dairy industry.