ONE THING NEEDED

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1925, Page 1

ONE THING NEEDED

(Lyttelton Times.) The warning recently given by *Sir Joseph Ward regarding the linaneia! outlook, the reported decline in the production of dairy produce this season and the marked fall in prices on the. Jjondon market, should give us pause. There is only one way to ensure stability—strict economy, both national and individual, and increased production. No excuse need be tendered for returning to this subject in these columns. Recently attention was drawn to the failure of dairy farmers in the South Island to take advantage of the processes available for testing their herds in order to increase the yield of butter-fat. There can lie no doubt that ruthless culling and scientific breeding would effect a marked improvement. Evidence of this fact lias been provided by the Stratford Demonstration Farin'. In 1919-10'20, when the farm with its ordinary dairy cattle was first taken over, the yield was 221.11 b of butter-fat per cow, or 00.81 bof fat per acre. In 1923-24. it had been increased to 3051 b j>er cow. and 108.91 b per acre, while last year it was 327.51 b per cow. or 121.31 b per acre. The output per acre had thus been doubled in the six years. No cows or heifers have lieen purchased during the past four years, and the result has been obtained by proper breeding and feeding. There were, 260,000 cows in milk in the South Island on January Ist of this year, and if the yield could he increased by only 501 b of butter-fat per cow. the increased return to the farmers, at Is 6d per lb. would be nearly £1,000,000 per annum. The only way to meet declining prices for our produce is to increase production for the British markets will absorb more and more on the lower level. Optimism may .servo a- good purpose, but increased production is necessary to provide a sound basis for it.