550 JOUKNAL OF THE DePAKTMENT OF AgKK ULTURE. DeC, 1922. 



Report No. VII. 

 DAIRYING. 



Siijx'rinfcndf'iif of J)tiiri/iiif/ : El). O. Challis. 



1. Staff. — The Assistant Superinteiuleiit of Dairyino-, Mr. E. G. 

 Hardy, returned from seven months' leave in Eng-hind in Decemher 

 last, havinii' been ^-ranted an extra month for the purpose of attending' 

 tlie London Dairy Show and carryino- out, in conjunction with experts 

 in London, examinations in repard to shipments of vSouth African 

 butter; he also visited Holland and Denmark. Much useful informa- 

 tion was gained, esi)ecially reo-arding the condition of South African 

 butter on arrival in London. It is only by occasional visits of this 

 nature that full details of the c()nditions in which our dairy products 

 are received on the overseas market, and the faults ol)served in them, 

 can be obtained with the desired accuracy. 



A new appjintment of Cheese Grader and Instructoi' in Cheese- 

 making' was made last May, Mr. vS. Groot being appointed on a three 

 years' contract, and stationed at Aliwal North. 



Experience showed the need of stationing' an officer in the western 

 districts of the Cape, with headquarters at Capetown, and ])airy 

 Inspector Allison was appo'nted to this i)osition. 



2. Creaiiierij Matters. — During ilie period under review every- 

 thing- })ointed to a very large production of butter throughout the 

 Union, but tlie total quantity Avas 12/)27,7')2 lb. : the total ])roduction 

 for the six months ended :VOtli June, V.)2l, was 8,727,094 lb. TTiere 

 are seA'eral reasons for this falling off, the chief being the abuoiiual 

 reductions in the prices for butter-fat. No doubt the prices had to be 

 considerably reduced to prevent a g'eiieral collapse of the creameries 

 in the Union, but whether, under the conditions which prevailed this 

 season, the prices of 7d., 6d., and 5d. (and in one or two instances 

 even less) for butter-fat Avere really justified is not quitt' i-lear. These 

 low prices had a disastrous effect on the industry as a whole, and many 

 producers refused to supply cream at these prices, and some reverted 

 to individual butter-making, while others turned their cows out to 

 run with their calves. This conditiip was followed at the latter end 

 of the season by a severe drought, and when prices for butter-fat 

 returned to a more normal basis very meagre su])plies weie forth- 

 coming. To Cvstablish our dairy industry and export Irade there 

 appear to be two essentials, viz., a g'reater i)roduction on the part of 

 the farmer throug'h the improvement in his herds and treatment of 

 same, and a far greater output by the various creameries to reduce 

 overhead and manufacturing charg-es. If these two factors are not 

 seriously taken in hand it is feared the Union will not l)e able to 

 compete successfully in the oversea markets. 



There is still much discontent on the i)art of cream supi)liers in 

 regard to the grading' of their cream, and the percentage of butter-fat 

 returned. Whilst admitting; that no creamerv is infallible and 

 mistakes will occur, numerous investigations by officers of this Divi- 

 sion have not substantiated the allegations made bv the variinis 



