NEW ZEALAND BACON

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND BACON

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(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day.

The fact that the type of bacon being exported from New Zealand to the United Kingdom was at present not measuring up to requirements of the retail trade, was emphasised by Professor W. Riddet, of the Dairy Research Institute, when speaking to breeders last evening. He declared that there was urgent need for the breeding of a better length type of baconer and for instituting a scheme of national grading before bacon pigs left the country. Provided New Zealand could produce the correct length pig instead of a carcass short and dumpy as at present, there was no reason why the Dominion bacon should not become superior to the produce of competing countries. The policy of allowing the pig to eat as much as it wished in the last two months led to a fall in grading.

English commentators had expressed surprise at the litter and weaning weights obtained in New Zealand and this was largely due to the greater use of skim milk in this country. The quality of New Zealand pork was greatly admired .by the trade in Britain and it could hold its own in competition, and was regarded' as superior in some respects to the English product. However, with the New Zealand baconer a different story could be told.