440 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— M. 



available a large amount of pasture, etc., for the production of mutton and 

 of high-quality beef. 



The other chief way to increase the output of meat is to improve our 

 grasslands and subject them to a more intensive system of management. 

 The work of Stapledon and his colleagues in connection with the improve- 

 ment of mountain grazings is very important from this point of view. The 

 substitution of alternate husbandry for permanent-grass farming would 

 also lead to an important increase in the stock-carrying capacity of the land. 



So long as feeding-stuffs can be imported in large quantities, there is 

 no limit to the possible expansion of the pig industry. 



Prof. H. D. Kay. — National nutrition and British agriculture : milk 

 (11.30). 



This paper is not concerned with ways and means of bringing about the 

 increased demand for liquid milk adumbrated by the opener of the dis- 

 cussion, but with the ways in which British dairy farming could meet such 

 increased demands, which would entail the doubling of the present total 

 home production. 



There is already an excess of production over present liquid consumption 

 of approximately 33 per cent., nearly all of which, at present, is ' manu- 

 factured.' A part, but only a part, of this 33 per cent, could act as the first 

 reserve. 



A further increase of 100 per cent, in milk production in this country 

 is undoubtedly possible, but it would probably require a decade or more to 

 effect. A large rise in the number of dairy cows would be necessary, though 

 part of the increased production might well be derived from a greater 

 average yield per animal, which is at present far too low. Artificial 

 insemination using proved sires would accelerate progress. There would 

 have to be an increase (though it would be much smaller in proportion 

 than the increase in the number of dairy cows) in the total area devoted 

 to dairy farming, particularly in the area used for grass production. A 

 much larger quantity of concentrated and other foodstuffs for the cow 

 would be required, and very close attention would have to be given to 

 developments in grass farming and the production of artificially dried 

 grass — the latter might eventually meet a large part of the increased 

 demand for concentrated foodstuffs. 



Greater control of bovine disease would be essential, contributing eventu- 

 ally to increased milk yield per animal, increased length of milking life and 

 improvement of milk quality. Payment for liquid milk on a quality basis 

 is ultimately inevitable, ' quality ' including chemical and nutritional as 

 well as hygienic quality. A larger population engaged in dairying would 

 result, but its size would not be in proportion to the increased volume of 

 milk production. The optimal size of a dairy-farming unit would require 

 careful scrutiny ; for many reasons it would appear probable that the most 

 suitable size for economic efficiency is, in land of normal quality, con- 

 siderably greater than the present average acreage. Increased mechanisa- 

 tion is almost axiomatic. 



In order that dairy farms should function efficiently to enable milk pro- 

 duction to be developed as outlined, a wider and more intense dissemination 

 of information regarding feeding, dairy management in all its branches, 

 including the management of grassland, and cowshed technique would be 

 required. Greatly increased demands on agricultural colleges and farm 

 institutes would be expected. These demands might be met in part by 



