444 



] ournal of Agriculture. 



[ii July, 1910. 



REVIEW OF THE DAIRYING SEASON AND BUTTER 

 EXPORT TRADE, 1909-1(1. 



/?. Crowe, Suferiniendcnt of Exports. 



Production. 



The production for the season 1909-10 has been creditable, a total of 

 16,200 tons being exported as compared with 9,402 tons for the previous 

 year. As regards shipments, it has been the fourth largest season in the 

 history of the export trade. Although the season was favourable, it could 

 not have been expected that a record would be made, for the reason that 

 there were 76,000 cows less than when the record w-as established in 1906-7. 

 The following table gives the number of cows in Victoria for the past 

 .seven years : — 



1904 ... 515,179 1907 ■•• 7oi)309 1909 ... 609,166 



1905 ... 632,493 1908 ... 709,279 1910 ... 625,063 



1906 ... 649,100 



No figures or facts ought to be more suggestive of the necessity for 

 growing and conserving fodder ; too, 000 dairy cows at a moderate estimate 

 represents half a million sterling. But that is not all ; the produce of 

 that number of cows is sacrificed for the first year, and since it is impos- 

 sible to replace them within three years, the yield of 66,000 cows is lost 

 for the second year and 33,000 in the third year. At the low average 

 return of ^5 per cow the death of 100.000 means a loss of ;;^i.495.ooo — 

 a sum that would pay for a lot of ploughing, seed, and labour, and net a 

 few mowing machines and silos. 



Although many dairymen have gone out of dairying into sheep farming 

 and wheat growing, there are evidences on all hands that dairymen are 

 taking steps to tide over the periods of scarciiy. The recent weather has 

 again proved the uncertainty of our climate. 



The total arrivals fif butter and butler ex. cream in Melbourne by rail 

 for 1909 were as follow : — 



District. 



Western ... 

 North Eastern 

 Xorthern ... 

 Gippslaiid 



From this it will be seen that Gippsland is increasing slightly in pro- 

 duction as compared with the Western District. 



Exports. 



The total quantity exported, 226, 743^ tons, is about equal to one 

 season's imports of butter into Great Britain. For the year 1908 the 

 United Kingdom imported ^24,082,537 worth, and of this Victoria con- 

 tributed 5.14 per cent.; for 1909, Great Britain's imports were valued at 

 ^^22,425,067, and Victoria's quota 5.97 per cent. It will thu.'; be seen 

 that whilst our production is creditable the proportion it forms of Great 

 Britain's imports is as yet comparatively insignificant. 



