WARTIME NEEDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 90, 20 November 1939, Page 5

WARTIME NEEDS

PIG PRODUCTION

INCREASE EXPECTED

The adjustments necessary in pig production to meet the requirements of the United Iviugdom Government in wartime were outlined by Mr M. J. Scott, Superintendent of the Pig lndustrj r , Department of Agriculture, in a statement to-day: "The acceptance for export of 25 per cent of our pig meat as pork improves the situation as seen when last reviewed," said Mr Scott. "When it was originally announced that pigs of only 100 to 1801b carcase weight could be exported there was created for the pig-producer a problem that no other producer of stock had to face. He had to provide between now and next spring nearly 20 per cent more pig feed than he usually required, and do this late in the season under conditions that made its production difficult and uncertain. Weights. "In general, the acceptance by Great Britain of 25 per cent of our pig meat as pork of 60 to 1001b car case weight removes the urgency fo? increasing the feed supply, except in the case of the farmer who, in the past, has produced mainly pork. He has the alternative of selling store 3 or porkers at as light a weight as possilbe for local trade and export, and carrying the remaining pigs to light bacon. In general the pork producer who sold pigs at an average weight of 851bs can make this average by selling half his pigs at 651b weight and the other half at just over lOOlbs weight. These heavier pigs take time to grow and since it is not possible to store up ski : m milk, it will be necessary to use extra feed such as grown crops and purchased meals, when the milk sup ply becomes insufficient. Half Million Exported. "Last year there were approximately 536,000 pigs exported from New Zealand, 229,000 heavier than lOOlbs (average 1281 bs) and 307,000 lighter than lOOlbs (average 721bs). Assuming that there Avill be 500,000 pigs for export this year, the ratio of baconers to porkers that gives 25 per cent by weight of pork will be roughly, three baconers to two porkers. Those who think about it will realise that the numbers of baconers and porkers that arc sent away will depend on the weight at which baconers are killed. If bacon were killed at an average of loOlbs then fewer baconers and more porkers can be exported. If bacon is killed at an average of llOlbs the reverse is the case. The advantages of following either of these extremes will be .advocated by difterent producers depending on their circumstances. Shipment of Pork. "If heavy bacon is produced for export it will also be produced for local consumption, and the combined effect will mean a big increase, in the feed required. Quite apart from the increase in the amount of feed required there is a risk attached to making pigs too heavy. These will be overfat and be graded down. Heavy unexportables are also likely to be seriously discounted by local cures. Light porkers which must be produced if heavy baconers are, are also likely to b<« second quality, and unexportables in this class will not be wanted. Exporters will probably be able to help the producers in this matter by a judicious selection of the heavier bacon pigs for export., thereby making possible the shipment of the greatest numbers of light pork. Questionable Advantage. "Marketing many baconers at light weight gets pigs off hand in the early part of the season, but whether this is an advantage or not will depend on the feed that is available. The production of many light baconers requires less feed than is required to make fewer and heavier baconers. It is the best insurance against a short feed supply late in the season, since the fewer number of porkers left can be killed at lighter weights if necessary. Since no premiums are being paid for any particular weight- range farmers will please themselves as to the weight at which pigs are marketed; and taking all things into consideration, it matters little whether the general decision is to produce many light baconers or fewer heavy ones. "What does matter is to produce the utmost weight of meat as bacon, in the early part of the season, when abundant milk can be supplemented with grain and grown crops. There will be plenty of porkers as light weights after February to make up 1 the 25 per cent of pork.