PROSPECTS FOR PORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 70, 20 September 1937, Page 12

PROSPECTS FOR PORK

BRITISH HERDS REDUCED

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, August 12. As was generally feared would b? the case, the recent livestock census, conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, has revealed that most of the commeicial pig breeders in England and Wales have reduced their herds on account of high feeding costs and uncertainty regarding the future of the pig and Dacon marketing schemes. In consequence, home-killed pork is likely to be dearer than usual throughout the coming season and, with supplies short, there should be a good demand for imported carcasses. The best type of New Zealand frozen baconers arc already in keen request by the curers, and it is considered likely that the Dominions will be asked to increase their exports to the United Kingdom beyond the quotas suggested. Lightweight porkers should also be in good demand, for, while the Minister of Agriculture has announced the Government's future policy with regard to pig production, it is feared that the announcement is too belated to restore sufficient confidence. for home-killed supplies to recover lost ground this year. The Government, statement says that careful consideration has been given to the difficulties of the bacon industry, which appear to be attributable to, in part, the increase in feeding costs and to the high costs of bacon manufacture. It is believed that if the industry were tounded on a small number of efficient fac tories 'provided with adequate and regular supplies of pigs of good quality and conformation, sufficient economies could be secured in the cost of curing to enable the industry to be maintained during periods of high ! feedstuff prices.