I—l 7

This mechanization, coupled with improved farm-management techniques, particularly in the field of artificial fertilizers, has had a remarkable effect on production particularly in the dairying field. The following table gives a picture of the increase in dairy production over the period since 1923-24 : —-

Table No. 78. —Table showing Estimated Production of Butterfat from 1923-24 to 1943-44

The steady rise in numbers of cows in milk, and in the aggregate and per-cow production of butterfat from 1919-20 to the outbreak of the war are a clear indication of the development of dairying in the period. When it is remembered that this rise was not due to any great increase in the area devoted to dairying, but rather to the mechanization of the industry and to the better farm-management techniques (including artificial fertilizers), some idea of the importance of these factors can be appreciated. The fall in the number of dairy cows in milk and in the aggregate and per-cow production of butterfat since 1941 is directly due to the inability to obtain phosphatic fertilizers because of war conditions, and is not an indication of a real recession in dairy-farming-There are indications, however, that herd-replacement is proceeding at a very rapid rate at the present time. D. POPULATION ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE The above discussion leads on to the question of the population engaged in agriculture.

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Season. Tons of Butterfat (to nearest 100 Tons).* Butterfat, I in Million Pounds.* Cows in Milk, in 1 Thousands. Butterfat per Cow (to nearest Pound). Old Series— 1 1923-24 102,000 228-5 i 1,185 193 1924-25 107,600 241-0 1,196 202 1925-26 104,400 233-9 1,181 198 1926-27 115,500 258-7 | 1,182 219 1927-28 118,000 264-2 ! 1,243 213 1928-29 129,000 289-1 1,291 224 1929-30 140,200 314-1 1,390 226 1930-31 143,800 322-0 1,500 215 1931-32 151,700 339- S 1,583 215 1932-33 177,300 397-1 1,724 • 230 1933-34 190,500 426-7 1,816 235 1934-35 183,000 409-9 1,828 224 New Series — 1935-36 192,300 430-9 1,823 236 1936-37 203,500 455-8 1,805 252 1937-38 191,200 428-4 1,764 243 1938-39 179,600 402-4 ] ,744 231 1939-40 194,900 436-6 1,740 251 1940-41 210,500 471-5 1,780 265 1941-42 196,400 439-9 1,777 248 1942-43 182,800 409-6 1,736 236 1943-44 173,100 387-8 1,669 232 * Department of Agriculture data.