INCREASE SOUGHT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 154, 2 July 1945, Page 6

INCREASE SOUGHT

PIG MEAT PRODUCTION

CHANGE OVER TO PORK?

"The target set for the 1945-46 season is 50,000 tons of pig meats— 8000. tons or 150,000 pigs more than last 3 r ear,'!: stated the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Roberts, in a circular letter read at to-day's meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production. The letter appealed to' dairy farmers to increase pig -production.

. The Minister said the aim could be attained without increasing breeding stock, though this was desirable. The increase in the mfmber of pigs slaughtered per cow from 8.8 to 10.5 pigs which was achieved in 1941 could be accomplished again in order to make the production of 50,000 tons.a fact. Last year farmers had increased bacqners by 59,000 for the needs of. Allied forces in the Pacific; .;>■ . ■ Stating that 5000 farmers were benefiting from the pig food crop subsidy of £5. an acre, the Minister intimated that .this was being continued.: The'' chairman, Mr. R. C....' Clark', said there was every indication'that the trend, in , future would be away from bacon, back; to-pork, and he stressed the need for farmers tp. reorient their minds in this conntection. He- could not x give any indication when-the'"change-over -would begins but said, farmers should he prepared for it." , .- : ' .. Several' members : considered that the change from baconers to porkers. could not be made at short notice.