lOTH June, 1912.] Rcvietu of Dairying Season, igii-12. 375 



REVIEW OF THE VICTORIAN DAIRYING SEASON AND 

 BUTTER EXPORT TRADE, 11)11-12. 



By R. Crowe, Exports Superintendent. 



Another record has been broken. The prices realized for export butter 

 during the season 1911-1912 have far exceeded any enjoyed during the 

 history of the trade. The highest average comes out in the neighbourhood' 

 of 125s. per cwt., against iios. for the previous season, and the mean 

 average may be placed at 120s., against 105s. for the year before. It is 

 to be regretted that the same cannot be asserted in regard to production. 

 This years exports from Victoria to all destinations total 20,082 tons, worth 

 ^2.409.840. Included in this, however, are 805 tons of butter from 

 Tasmania, so that Victoria can be credited with 19,277 tons, valued at 

 ^2,313,240. against 25,793 tons for the year before, worth ^2,666,265. 

 The butter exjjorted from Victoria this season represents more than half 

 the total shipped from Australia. 



In the previous season two springs were encountered, and it was more 

 than could be reasonably expected that the present season's output would 

 reach the previous phenomenal record. At the moment, however, grave 

 results are being experienced in the northern districts of the State which tend 

 to discount next year's prospects. There are two causes responsible for 

 this — a scarcity of food due to want of rain, and overstocking. There 

 were more stock in Victoria this year than in the previous one, which was 

 so bountiful, by 1,125,218 head, made up of 975.139 sheep, 99.558 cattle, 

 35,733 horses, and 14,788 pigs. Most stock-owners have yet to learn that it 

 is essential to provide fodder to carry them over the dry months. Horses 

 are never expected to work the year round without hand-feeding, and it is 

 strange indeed that the great majority of dairymen expect cows to continue 

 giving milk and keep alive without any assistance whatever. In an 

 average season, the grass dries up in January, and no new natural growth 

 can be relied upon until the month of May or later. It should therefore 

 be regarded as essential to provide and conserve fodder during that period 

 at least ; stock should also be cared for during the winter months. For- 

 tunately, two-thirds of the State is not so badly off, and everything is fairly 

 prosperous in the Western and Gippsland districts. 



Grading. 



The amended Commerce Regulations came into operation at the com- 

 mencement of last season, and these provided for an altered standard — a 

 reduction in the maximum for moisture from 16 per cent, to 15 per cent., 

 and the packing of 56^ lbs. of butter in boxes marked 56 lbs., together with 

 compulsory grade-stamping. In previous years, " Superfine " and " First 

 Grade " butters were stamped as such, when exporters made special request 

 to have it done. During the present year all butters submitted for export 

 were graded, and the " Superfine " and " First Grades " were stamped 

 accordingly. Grave and serious results were anticipated by a number who 

 objected to the innovation, but after the season's experience it is found 

 that grade-stamping did not produce the dreadful results apprehended by the 

 opponents to its introduction. The system is running well and smoothly. 



