TH6 JOURNAL 



OF 



^fie department of Mgncufture 



OF 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XVII. Part 7. 10th July, 1919. 



THE OUTLOOK FOR DAIRYING.* a 



By R. Crowe, Exports Superintendent. 



The dairying outlook has never been more promising in the history 

 of the industry than it is at present. This is due to the disorganization 

 in Europe owing to the war, and the decimation of herds there as a 

 result of the demand for meat and the scarcity of fodder. Consequently^ 

 there is now a great shortage of dairy produce in the thickly populated 

 Eurppean countries, and it seems certain that the supply will for many 

 years be unequal to the demand. In the meantime, markets formerly 

 catered for by these European dairying countries will, of course, be 

 short of supplies, and prices will be high. Those engaged in the 

 industry here should, therefore, take advantage of this opportunity to 

 extend their markets, and also s';rengthen our hold on those where it 

 was fo'rmerly insignificant. 



It would appear, from the diminished surplus in Australia for export 

 during the present season, that dairymen are not fully alive to this 

 opportunity. On searching for causes, one is forced to the conclusion, 

 that, high as prices have been, the industry has not been as attractive 

 as others for which land suitable for dairying may be utilized. Owing 

 chiefly to the scarcity of labour, stock-raising for wool and meat has 

 been resorted to, and country formerly used for dairying has been 

 diverted to the carrying of sheep. The scarcity of suitable labour has 

 been responsible for considerable areas being abandoned, particularly 

 in Gippsland. The inroads of bracken and rabbits, the cost of wire-netting, 

 and the dairy farmer's' usual requirements, coupled with the scarcity of 

 suitable labour, left some farmers unable to carry on. These disabilities 

 ■ were accentuated by the continual regulation of prices for dairy produce. 

 If there had been no regulation of prices whatever, the cost of butter 

 and cheese to the consumer in Australia would not have been materially 



* Paper read at Conference of Australasian Butter and Cheess Factory Managcis and Secretaries' 

 j\s>cciation, MeJl onrne, ;\lay, 1919, 



so;9. 





UJ 



