Pork shortage ended

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 15

Pork shortage ended

PA Wellingtor New Zealand’s great port shortage has ended. Increased grain production particularly in Waikato, has enabled pig producers to raise production. With the rise comes hopes that New Zealand will soon be able to stop importing frozen pig carcases from Ireland and Canada. This is the message contained in the annual report of the Pig Industry Council for the vear ended September 30, 1976. The council’s chairman (Mr K. W. W. Sewell) hints in the report that prices for bacon and pork might swing more in consumers’ favour as New Zealand production increases. Mr Sewell notes that after many years of steadily declining pig production, since June, 1976, the number of

n pigs coming forward for k slaughter had increased. The “restoration of volume 1, surplus” on the New Zealand is market would see an end to ;e a pig pricing system based on e a shortfall in supply, he said t- — a clear hint that prices for p bacon and pork should at is least stabilise. However, Mr Sewell warns i- that increasing feed and labif our costs meant pig producer tion profit margins would be ), narrow and would increasingly depend on efficient producn tion. s Consumption of bacon and r pork is declining in New g Zealand, said the report. s “The principle reason for i- this is that local suppies have been diminishing and conser quently consumption has adi- justed to availability.” But e ham consumption was f “strong.”