Departmental-activities. 209 



dairying. 



The position of the dairy industry did not undergo any marked 

 change during January, and the output of butter and cheese by 

 creameries and cheese factories has hardly increased to the extent 

 anticipated at the end of last year. Natal factories are doing fairly 

 well, but drought is still severe in the dairying districts of the Orange 

 Free State and Cape Province. There is, however, still time for a 

 considerable improvement should good rains fall during February, 

 as in several previous years March and April have been two of the 

 best months for the creameries in those areas. But in any case there 

 is not likely to be any considerable quantity of either butter or cheese 

 available for export this season. 



E.Tport. — The Imperial Government have, as a result of represen- 

 tations made to the Ministry of Food, agreed to advance the price of 

 this season's South African butter to 257s. per cwt. (112 lb.) f .o.b. for 

 first grade, and 252s. per cwt. (112 lb.) f.o.b. for second grade. These 

 prices, however, only apply to butter delivered into cold storage at 

 Durban or Capetown on or before the 31st March, 1921. It is under- 

 stood that the Government control of butter in Great Britain will 

 cease as from the 1st April, 1921, and after that date any butter 

 shipped there will be sold on the open market at competitive prices. 



A cable has been received from London intimating that the 

 Imperial Government are now buying first quality Argentine butter 

 at 200s. per cwt. f.o.b., and Danish at 266s. per cwt. f.o.b. Very 

 heavy supplies are being received from Australia and New Zealand, 

 and in view of these facts, it is reasonable to suppose that butter 

 shipped to the open market subsequent to the end of March will 

 realize considerably lower prices than those at present offered by the 

 Imperial Government. 



The market for cheese has been released from control for some 

 time, and the latest information received indicates that prices are 

 somewhat lower, being in the neighbourhood of 150s. to 156s. per 

 cwt. for large size and 144s. to 154s. for the smaller sizes. 



Cheese factories having in view the export of their surplus stock, 

 should bear in mind that the size of cheese required by the oversea 

 market is from 70 to 90 lb. each, and higher prices are obtainable for 

 such sizes, than for 25 to 40 lb. cheeses, which are most popular in 

 our South African markets. It should also be remembered that either 

 a deep colour, or white cheese, is required, and not a light-coloured 

 one, as desired here. 



Gouda Cheese. — Yery large quantities of South African Gouda (or 

 sweet milk) cheese are at present being manufactured, principally in the 

 Transvaal and Orange Free State, from milk which may be described as 

 " surplus " produced by farmers supplying fresh milk to the towns, 

 but who at this time of the year have more than is needed for their 

 contracts. This has resulted in a fall in the price of this commodity, 

 and there would appear to be some danger of the market being flooded. 

 This type of cheese, as made under ' South African conditions, is 

 hardly suitable for export, while the cost of placing it in cold storage 

 for sale during the winter is likely to eat up all profits, unless the 

 factory has its own cold storage. It is suggested, therefore, that 

 factories making Gouda should consider turning at least a portion of 

 their milk into cheddar, which stands storing longer, and is more 

 suitable for export. 



