PIG INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 101, 26 October 1932, Page 11

PIG INDUSTRY

A SPECIAL COMMITTEE

SYSTEM OF GRADING

A special Pig Industry Committee is to be set up by the- Department of Agriculture to carry out an investigation into all aspects of the industry. "While our sheep and dairy industries have progressed steadily for years past and the volume of exports derived from them has shown a marked increase, the pig industry has mad© little or no real progress, and to-day, as was the case ten years ago, pigs are regarded mainly as a means of using up dairying by-products and nothing more," states the annual report of the Director-General of Agriculture. (Dr. C'J. Keakcs). " Yet New Zealand is eminently adapted for pig-production on a large scale, our pork has a good reputation in British markets, and a much greater quantity could have been exported without any fear of Oversupply. It has always been difficult to understand why New Zealand farmers, who (in most respects are quick in adopting improved and progressive methods in production and marketing, have failed to make nse of their opportunities for building1 up a large export trade in pork, in spite of the efforts made by advice- and general propaganda to induce them to do so. "The food question has no doubt been a factor in this, but the cost involved by the purchase of foodstuffs could be largely avoided if moro pig provender were produced on the farm, itself. A further point is that in meatmeal, now a well-prepared article, a large supply of highly concentrated food is available in the Dominion at a very reasonable cost, considering its high feeding value. in combination with roots, it makes a well-balanced food on which pigs do well. Certainly, of late years, the type of pig produced has .shown some improvement and a greater interest in pig-production is noticeable. The establishment of a Pig Becording Glub in the Waikato (assisted by a grant from the Meat Board) -was a progressive move, and it is hoped that similar organisations may be established in other dairying districts. "With a view to organising a definite- forward step in pork production, arrangements are in hand for setting up a special Pig Industry Committee to go fully into all aspects of the industry and assist in bringing about a large expansion of it on sound lines. This body is composed of representatives of the Meat and Dairy Board, Massey. and Lincoln Colleges, bacon companies, pig-breeders, the Farmers' Union, the Waikato Pig Recording Club, and the Research and Agriculture Departments. Its deliberations and recommendations should prove of great value, and it may bo noted that its members give their services free of any cost whatever to the Government. "One important matter f»r discussion by the Committee is tho establishment of a properly organised system of grading of pigs, whether intended for export or for local consumption through the medium of bacon factories, and recommendations regarding this will be submitted in duo course. Such a system would go far toward establishing improvement both in type and quality, for which there is plenty of scope. The co-operation of freezing companies and others concerned is confidently antici pated, as, though for the time being the overseas market for bacon, pigs is unprofitable, there is so good an opportunity for considerably expanding our export of pigs of the porker typo that it should bo taken advantage of to the fullest -xtent attainable."