THE DAIRYING SEASON.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1938, Page 6

THE DAIRYING SEASON.

HEAT AFFECTS QUALITY. NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 20. , "From a production standpoint, the dairying season thus far has been rather 'in and out'," said Mr W. M. Singleton," director of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture, when interviewed on the subject of the dairying season and the effect of the hot weather on quality and production. "The season is considered as commencing on August 1, and for the months of August and September an increase was registered in the quantity of butter and cheese graded, as compared with the con-responding month of the preceding season," said Mr Singleton. "October and December, however, proved to be adverse months for production, but November prevented the figures for the season from August 1 to Decemebr 31 from being as unfavourable as would otherwise have been the case when comparing them with those of the corresponding period of the 1936-37 season. "The present hot spell, which appears to be affecting many of the principal dairying districts, will tend to accentuate the decrease in production, although some districts seem to be showing very little reduction in quantity," he said. "This appears to apply to certain areas south of New Plymouth, which are doing very well indeed. "The prevailing heat has adversely affected the quality. The higher temeratures at which milk and cream have been held from milking and separating until delivery are responsible for the greater development of illflavours and acidity," Mr Singleton added. "More milk and cream is being placed into lower grades and the average quality has been lowered. The resultant product has, by the same token, been reduced in grade."