BUTTER FAT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1932, Page 3

BUTTER FAT

PRODUCTION IN N.Z. (By E.J. Fawcett, farm economist of the Department of Agricultute.) Following lengthy references to butter fat production in New Zealand, and the factors influencing unit-area production, with special r. ferenee to .the milk test, in an article in the Journal of Agriculture for April, he makes the attached summary :

The position so far as this analysis has been carried, may bo summed up as follows: —

(1) Butterfat production per unit of area farmed is the final measurement of farm and herd organisation and of efficiency in production management. (2) when herd organisation has been decided upon, butterfat production per unit of area and per cow can be varied over a wide range despite the potential capacity of the herd. This can he brought about by ale rations in

farm organisation, and by the quantity and quality of food resulting from pasture management—always accepting the climatic conditions may modify the e(!o< ts of such management. (3) The percentage of butterfat contained in milk (milk tost), and the amount of milk produced, are additional factors to be considered in herd organisation. The effects of milk test

and the conditions surrounding it have never previously been taken into

consideration in Andy ng the unit-area production. It is apparent, however, that the economics of production are materially affected by such-conditions, and as test \ a nation from a static herd is virtually beyond the control of farm management, the test point at which a farmer is aiming should be carefully considered, and herd organisation deliberately planned to bring about the desired results in a*r short a space of time as is possible. (4) The most important factor influencing variation in unit-area production is cow density, or the number of cows milked per given area. As tha.s is directly under the control of farm management once the lio/tl Apis fixed, it should he the fin t line of attack of -ill farmers- in their efforts to increase output.

(5) The next most easily influenced factor is that of the butterfat a"erage of the herd. Apart from the effect of herd is influenced each 'sea on by standard of replacement of the stock entering their lar-tat on lift*. Therefore culling should he done on proved facts, and replacements made by heifers from proved cows. To ensure that even the programme is a sound one, the potentiality of the herd sire and his ability to throw heifers of a production capacity above that ol the dam should he firmly established. ((i) The two preceding features of herd and farm management are clearly understood and accepted by most farmers. The effect of test may not 1« so readily accepted, as alteration in cow types raises* problems of assuinpt on and sentiment. Its importance cannot be too strongly -tressed. and wherever practicable should

be fully considered. It is apparent that cow density and herd averages are influenced by body weight, by the standard of milk production, and by butterfat 'content of milk, and iliat those latter points must be taken into account when determining the efficiency of organisation and management. i. 7) 'The que ton of increased unitarea production, and consequently the total butterfat output of New Zealand, assumes a degree of importance under present- conditions which warrants very drastic measures to ensure that the greatest possible benefits shall he derived by individual farmers, and that the trading power of the State is enhanced to the extent which it has a right to expect from the farms of the Dominion.