THE MILKY WAY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1930, Page 7

THE MILKY WAY

INCREASE IN DAIRY HERDS. At the Alatamata show the Minister of Health said controversy may rage about the. influence* of sun spots upon the globe and the effect of the moon upon tides, (but it will be generally admitted that the milky way is a feature common to the heavens and the earth. Without the cow there would be much less light ipon New Zealand’s economic road. 111 .1928 the export value of butter uid cheese was eighteen million pounds, and in 1929 the volume, if ■lot the value, was further increased. On the basis of gradings of butter md cheese for export, the net increase in butterfat production for tlie current season up to the end of Junta rv was 6 per cent above that for the corresponding period of 1928-9, which itself constituted a record. At 31st January, 1930, a total of 48,716 011 s of butter had been graded (in••roase over 11 per cent) and 38,050 tons of cheese (a, decrease of nearly 4 per cent). The markets for butter and cheese generally are not so good this season as last, hut the increased volume would help balance falling prices. . r .

. A ten years’ review of the dairy industry showed that, following upon a. period of rapid expansible commencing, in. 1918, the number.’of dairy cows added to our herds .each year began to ease off in 1923. The years 1925 to (1927 showed decline'.in cownumbers, ...but in 1927-8 aiipincrease took -place, bringing the total to .1,352,398. The year 1929 shows a further advance to 1,371,063,, with a reduction in dry cows. The actual •iicrea.se in cows in milk was ; -48,475 for the year. It is expected tlialt jack- succeeding year will show a steady advance, following increased carrying capacity, as a result ’of topIressing of pasture lands .and-improv-'d pasture management. For the twelve months ending July, L 928, the increase in butterfat represented in ibutter and cheese graded was 2.59 per cent above that for previous twelve months. In 1928-29 an increase of 10.887 per cent was registered. The figures for the current season show a G per cent advance.