DISPOSAL OF WHEY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 223, 9 February 1928, Page 6

DISPOSAL OF WHEY.

DR. HARDING’S SCHEME

Considered by Joll Suppliers.

The subject of the disposal of whey is of particular interest to farmers, more so as the outcome of the proposals made by Dr. Harding, of Manchester, England. Recently Dr. Harding has been meeting the suppliers of Taranaki dairy companies to place before them the details of his scheme. The Joll Company held a general meeting last week, the degree of interest being manifest in the fact that there was an attendance of about 150. It was ultimately decided, after a lengthy discussion, that the matter should be left in the hands of the directors to secure information and furnish a report at next annual meet- t ing.

j The chairman, Mr. J. B. Murdock, said the subject of the doctor’s proposal was to purchase whey from the companies and convert it into a saleable product. He said this might lead to the establishment of another industry. Where the factories had skim-milk there was a casein industry, but as far as whey was concerned sugar of milk was the only by-product, and practically none of it was made in New Zealand. The subject was worth considering to see if any benefit could be secured for the suppliers. It was questionable if any figures could be secured, even from the most careful supplier, to prove what value there was in whey, but they had to consider what it was worth to cart home something that was 93 per cent, water and 7 per cent, solids. There would be no expense incurred by the scheme proposed, but the whey would be taken direct from the tanks.

Merits of Scheme. Dr. Harding said much research work had been done in connection with the probable value of the byproducts from whey, but that as far as New Zealand was concerned he w ould need to have a clearer “ picture ” before they were able to make a proposal. He referred briefly to the cheese-making in England, and said that but little was made, only about 20,0001 b of milk being used for this purpose in three months, because the market for milk was so large and. Is 8d per gallon retail could be obtained in the cities. Therefore, he said, cheese was made at a loss, and what they lost in cheese had to be made up in liquid milk. They had tried many ways to dispose of the whey, such as spraying on land and storing in a tank to be pumped out into a river when the latter was in flood. But it came up in the bed of the river and destroyed the fish in some of the best “ preserves ” in England. Some places also kept 500 to 1000 pigs, but one attack of swine fever made them glad to get rid of the whey at all costs, for it wiped out the profits of several years. From Scotland to the South of England they had tried experiments to solve the whey problem.

Dr. Harding went on to tell the meeting of the research factory at Crewe. The research, he said, cost £30,000 and gave no useful information. He also told of the work done by the Royal Agricultural Society in searching for an economic scheme for utilisation of whey. The result of all these experiments was that a small company had been formed which included many of the best men in England. They corresponded with the High Commissioner for New Zealand to see what could be done in this Dominion, and to endeavour to get one big scheme working, which would make “ concentration of operation.”

Dr. Harding said the whey would be carted to a factory and milk sugar extracted and animal food secured. Kapuni, he added, was possible as a central condensing station, and 25,000 gallons of whey could be dealt with per day. In other cases, he said, a style of condensing plant could be used in the dairy factory itself. But much capital would be required, and . if they operated all over the Dominion probably a million sterling would be necessary. They would need to try to get the investing public to put money into the project. The bulk of the whey would be made into a foodstuff to form a balanced ration for stock, when mixed with barley meal, sharps, pollard, margerine by-products and miller’s oil. This was all used to balance the ration, and to get good bacon this balance was essential.

If, said the doctor, the big scheme was set on foot in New Zealand they

would need probably to spend £50,000 on an advertising campaign, and the scheme would need to be backed by a large and regular supply of raw material. Men would put capital into it if it was proved likely to be profitable, but the value of the foodstuff secured would need to compare with other kinds. A Farthing a Gallon.

A farthing per gallon could be given, equal, he understood, to a halfpenny per pound of butterfat, and this, he urged, would more than return the value of the whey, because they had to feed 93 per cent, of water to get 7 per cent, of solids. Grass and root crops were morp valuable in rearing pigs, and farmers would not be stopped from continuing this side-line to the dairying. He explained that it was for the

farmers to decide whether they would sell at a farthing, and what terms of concession and option could be given with the object of floating the company. They could not get a million without having options, and they would, when these were arranged, try out in an experimental plant, so as to be able to tell the investing public that they knew all the costs of working and were actually doing the job. It would take three months to do the preliminary work, six weeks to get going, and twelve months to really prove out the costs of the scheme. This would not be I worth while without the option. They were asking an option of five years, and this time might even be too I short. In addition, it was essential to have the concession of the raw material at a certain price. If the supply were stopped they might as well scrap all their machinery. They must get the material at a price that was going to remain the same. If a clause could be inserted giving power to change the price the investor would not put money into the scheme. The point was briefly that if they were anxious to Have the scheme in operation the raw material must be secured, with an option for five years and a concession for a long period. He considered it must be settled by the directors, who would base their decision on their duty to the suppliers. He considered also that representatives of all factories should be invited to a round-table conference to decide what agreement could be made.

Dr. Harding then read a digest of the conditions suggested as a basis for negotiations. He stressed the need for a long concession in order to secure those who put money into the scheme.

In conclusion, he repeated his contention made recently that carting of whey in milk cans was a bad system, leading to the passing of harmful bacteria from one to another by medium of the common whey tank. Every farmer having a dirty can passed on the impurity. It was recognised that the making of cheese was increasingly difficult and that this was attributed to the taking home of whey in cans. He was convinced that if this were stressed it would lead to a much greater proportion of first-grade cheese and to much better income from its manufacture, even if they got nothing from the whey.

In reply to Mr. Murdoch he said that they would sell as much as possible of the extracted food in New Zealand and Australia, and at a low price. But he was confident that in a term of years the whole of the concentrated food would be sold to farmers of New Zealand.

Mr. Murdoch said that in the height of the season the Joll Company had a total of about 29,000 gallons of whey per day—Okaiawa 5300, Tempsky 2800, Te Ngutu 4600, Kapuni 5400, Manaia 2500, Palmer Road 2800, Auroa 2600, Otakeho 3000. At id per gallon it would be rather better than id per pound butterfat, equal to over £6OOO in cash to the Joll Company. He said they were always after a profit, and so far there did not appear to be much in it, but they did not know what investigation would reveal. It. would, however, mean only about 9s per day for a big supplier. If, however, the company could buy the whey, they would, he was convinced, get better prices for their pigs. Dr. Harding calculated on getting 200 gallons of syrup from 2000 gallons of whey. The chairman questioned whether any better proposition could be put before them. Project Discussed. A question by the chairman as to butter-making was answered by the doctor that so long as they made butter and casein at the same time it would be all right, but home separation would not suit the scheme at all. They would take the supply of whey as and when available. The

option would be for five years from the date of the agreement. They were prepared to take whey over the whole period. The chairman suggested that a clause would be necessary to meet the possibility of another buyer coming in and offering a higher price. Dr. Harding said It would be a difficult matter, but the company would include such a clause if it were possible. But, he added, they would need to make sure it was a bona-fide offer.

Mr. J. F. Stevenson said his experience had been that whey-fed pigs were sought for by the buyers, and he would oppose the proposition until he knew the exact ingredients and value of the whey. In his opinion the offer would not equal the return secured from growing pigs. In reply to Mr. Harrison, Dr. Harding said the product made would be sold at the very lowest price possible. It was proved to be equivalent in feed value to the barleymeal and to have a medicinal value also. They did not want the butterfat in the whey, and whey butter could still be made. A supplier said that a man with 10,0001 b of fat per season would get about £lB from the whey, and if he were a pig-grower he would clear £6O. Another supplier said he consid-

ered that from a small supplier’s point of view there would be no gain i unless, in place of say a profit at present of £SO for pigs, he could get £4O for his whey.

Dr. Harding said that was assuming he got his return from wheyfeeding, but it was necessary to use other foods to raise good pigs. In reply to a question, Dr. Harding said that the raw whey when fed in small quantities was good, but, as fed by most farmers, the pigs could not digest it, and without a balanced ration the farmers could not get

good pork. Referring to whey-carrying, the chairman said all managers agreed it was becoming increasingly difficult to manufacture cheese, and it was due partly to that bad practice, one can being able to contaminate a whole vat. If they had to have a special receptacle for whey there would be no value in it. He considered there was also too much pasteurising necessary. He was out to get a halfpenny if it were at all possible. If any proposition was accepted the directors would pay on the quantity of whey supplied and that would depend on the quantity of milk. In reply to Mr. Johnston the chairman added that the drainage problem would be practically solved by the scheme because there would be nothing left but water.