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Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 19, 19 February 1940, Page 8 (Supplement)

CANADIAN CONTRACT PRICES SATISFACTORY 0 UT PUT SHRINKING Canada has entered into a contract with Britain to supply iOO,OOO lons of bacon Ibis year—an average of 2000 tons a week, which equals 2ioo tons of baconer carcases, or 36,000 pigs of loOlbs dressed weight apiece: in all, t. 500.000 baconers yearly, for export. Having lost Polish and other Baltic States’ supplies, and with every prosper l*~ of diminishment of those from Scandanavia, Britain must turn elsewhere for replacement. Naturally, the Empire, will have first opportunity. What is New Zealand doing? asks Mr H. A. Seifert in the Dominion. For some reason our freezing works killing returns are not now being supplied for publication, so il cannot be staled what present production is. The siluafion appears to be that our production of pig meats is not expanding: indeed, grave fears are entertained of a serious decline.

Price Satisfactory The season for export buying opened with a schedule announcement published on November 16—baconers, 101 to 1801 b. 6 l-8d lb, and 53d for seconds. At Hie same date a year earlier the baconer price was 6 l-Bd, *ind in 1 <>37 it was 6 3-Bd. which was the besl price known in many years. Since ibis season opened a 3d lb rise in schedule was gained after Christmas, and 6 3-8 d lias ruled during January for export baconers. Now one company has again raised its schedule by a further 1-Sd to 6MI lb. This is a remarkably good price. Porkers are being paid for at 5 7-8 d and 6d lb by various companies and interests. At this date a year ago, baconers made 6'3d and porkers 63d lb on then current schedules.

Quite definitely the price is not depressing the pig industry.

Season’s Prospects As yet no great quantity of pork has been bandied by exporters, so there is ample reserve for surplus p:gs to be exported now. as pork under the 2T> per cent quota (by weight). his would provide for -U> per cent in number of carcases of pigs being exported as pork, on the basis of Toll.) a porker and JTiiiJb a baconer. The situation, furthermore, is eased by the classification of 101-12011) pigs a* baconers. Lately these have provided a big proportion of the draftings, and this will become increasingly so as the season progresses.

As to the use of meals amt barley, conflicting opinions are heard. The sum of these is that producers are not keen on grain feeding: the majority continue, as years ago, to rely on milk alone. Those believing in grain and meal are starting to feed now to put porkers to light bacon weights—certainly a patriotic action, and, 1 believe, a paving one. 1: is noted that one prominent schedule lias reduced its pork price by id as against three weeks ago.

Australian barley at 3 s -Hi a bushel is cheap feed. This can be bought, ex-ship in 10-sack lots, about 33 bushels —a £5 order, plus freight to farm. his is not a big order. Allowing 2d a bushel for freight, the barley will cost 3/6d, or 42d for 501 b. That equals £7 17s (id a ton for the finest of pig foods. From eating 41b of barley a pig will gain lib of live weight. The live weight pound provides ij hi of car.worth 4 5-Bd. The barley has cost 3 3-Bd, and so shows a profit of l : jd on 41b, or Is 4d a bushel. This is a 40 per cent profit on its cost. That calculation is made in a most conservative manner, disregarding any benefit of balancing rations. In practice, this balancing can well double the value of the grain when used with milk, roots, crops or pastures. Without hesitation, the use of barley is to be advocated, as in the use of other grains and of good meals, which, when well compounded, provide food elements of special value, though naturally they cost more a ton.

From a production point of view, IPt re. are three months ol kittening and drafting for export to come (five months have passed!. A really good (.(Tori at feeding from February to April, would raise our supplies substantially, to the benefit of Britain and ourselves.

The next consideration would be to winter stores, as many as possible as well as possible, to provide early bacon shipments next season.