The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12th, 1925. DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12th, 1925. DAIRYING IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

A brief review of the past year’s work in the dairying industry of New South Wales was made recently by the Stats dairy expert (Mr L. T. MacInnea). For the first nine months of the year, he sr-hl, dairymen had an es-

tremely had season, as it proved one oi the lowest producing periods on

record on the coast; For the last three months, however, the position had been completely reversed, and production in all dairying districts, both oil the coast and inland, had never been exceeded. Prices were bolding at a fairly ler-sonablc level, but it was probable, in view oi the enormous production throughout Australia and New Zealand, and the large quantity arriving in England from the Argentine, that values there would leceile. Australia’s main dairy pioblem at present, -Mr Machines continued, was to organise the industry sa that the price of the (1(1 per cent, of the total production, which was the portion sold for consumption mi the local markets, could he stabilised. This would enable the price to be lixed at import parity ii necessary, so that the return received by the dairyman for the average of liis focal and export sales would lie sufficient to give him an adequate return for his labour and invested capital. During the year special efforts had been made by tile dairy branch to enable manufacturers to improve quality. and the result was mnv apparent in the increased percentage of the highest grade ol butter placed on the market. As factories now under rceonstru tan, completed their programmes, the proportion of ihoicest would he still lurlher incicascd. The testing of both ptlre-ijrcd and ordinary herds l.;. Inam a big advance. About

|iure-hretl cous were continually on compare,L with about 300 in 1023. lit regard to testing ordinary herds, the tendency was to transfer the control from the local cooperative bodies (aided hy Government subsidy) to the Department. In the Tweed-Uich mci id area the actual testing was now being conducted under the direct control ot the resident senior dairy instructor. At present 10 units were controlled hy the dairy l.ramli, totalling about 12.000 cows, while outside of this there were eight units, representing about 8000 cows. The prospects for the coining months were, lie considered, remarkably good, hut in a country of extreme weather vicissitudes it was advisable that full advantage he taken ol the present prolific season, and as much fodder as possible conserved for future use-. During the shortage there were evidences of a commendable tention to erect silos on many of tl dairy farms, hut with the advent of the better season, the enthusiasm had waned. Dairymen had yet to learn not to depend so entirely on the pastures. .Mr .Ma-1 lines added that during the 1922-23 season the average butter production >.:f the dairy cornu of the State was below 1201 b each. The same cows were now giving at the rate of 50 per (out. more than this. In other words, the low average yield of New South Wales herds was not the fault of tlie cows, hut was occasioned through lack of proper feeding. With n cuitinuaiiee of the present bountiful growth the output of the butter factories appeared likely to exceed by a considerable margin the OoiCoo,ooolb record of 1921-22. This would he in marked contrast to last season, when the total was 68,000.0091 b., with about the same .number of cows.