BACON PIGS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 112, 5 February 1926, Page 12

BACON PIGS

A COMING INDUSTRY N.Z. PRODUCTS AT HOME I ' l' As an adjunct to the dairying industry. pig raising is assuming important proportions in the Dominion and is destined to grow into one of the main primary industries. A delegate at the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Wednesday declared that sheep were decreasing and pigs increasing in New Zealand. Meat Board's Activities. To advertise the high quality of our bacon pigs, the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board distributed some time ago a number of bacon pigs, amongst the different bacon curers of. Great Britain. In respect to the replies received from the different curers, the board’s London manager reported as follow on December 29, 1925: —"I have now . received replies from the bulk of the recipients of th® frozen bacon pigs which you sent to me for distribution to the bacon curers of Great Britain, and I enclose extracts from these memos,, from twenty various firms throughout England, Scotland and Ireland. You will be pleased to see from the reports that, generally speaking, there is a very favourable opinion of the quality of the New Zealand bacon pig, and several of the firms who have experimented have decided to become buyers of New Zealand pigs when the new season’s supplies arrive hero. One or two of the Anns who received a sample were not satisfied with the quality of the bacon, and I have been in correspondence with these firms with a view to discovering the trouble'. I am inclined to the opinion that they did not quite understand how to del. frost these pigs, and I am endeavouring to obtain some information on this subject from some of the successful curers, so that I may be able to pass it on to those firms who arc not satisfied.

“I would draw your attention to the remarks of one of these firms on the question of the dressing of the pigs, and I shall bo glad to have your opinion on their suggestion. ■ All' the other curers. however, seem to be quite satisfied with the dressing and the getup of our pigs. One firm also asks if our pigs could be obtained singed instead of scalded, and I have told them that shipments of singed pigs, ns well as scalded, have been made to some of the West Coast ports. Want of Regular Supplies. “The disadvantages with the trade in New Zealand pigs is the want of regular supplies, and you will note that several of the firms refer to this point. You can quite understand how necessary it is for any curer to have regular supplies practically throughout the twelve months. I understand that a few parcels of New Zealand pigs have been placed at 9d. c.i.f. West Coast ports. I hope the present killing season will show an increase in the killing’ of pigs for export, as I am certain that the trade in New Zealand pigs will considerably increase if we could only obtain regular and satisfactory supplies.” Curers’ Comments,

The following remarks are extracted from the comments made by bacon curers who received the pigs:—“The New .Zealand pig has turned out splendid in the curing. . Very firm in the fat and colour splendid.” “Have pleasure in reporting the quality as excellent. We will be regular buyers of this article as soon as supplies are available." "A very fine bacon pig indeed, and suitable' in every way from a curcr’s point of view. It is the right weight and suitable leanness.” “The quality of the pig was prime, and for bacon purposes there is no other bacon pig on the market to equal it. Complete satisfaction to wholesaler, retailer and consumer would be assured if supplied with the same quality. I shall be pleased to hear from you when there will be an . arrival of these."