PIG EXPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1940, Page 3

PIG EXPORT

CLASSIFICATION OF WEIGHTS [per press association.] WELLINGTON, September 20. An alteration in the weights of baconers for the United Kingdom market was announced this evening by the Minister for Agriculture (Mr. Lee Martin), who said the adjustment was mainly in marketing, and would not mean an added burden to farmers intent on producing baconers this year. “The contract with the United Kingdom Government for the supply of pig meat, both baconer and porker, has not yet been completed,” said Mr. Lee Martin. “However, certain modifications of the weight range of last year have been agreed to. As these have a direct bearing on management, it is important that they should be known by all pig producers immediately. The United Kingdom has insisted that baconer carcases should be not less than 1111 b and not more than 1801 b. Any carcase up to 1801 b will now be classed as porker, and raising the minimum weight of baconers from 101 to 1111 b naturally will reduce our total tonnage of baconers, unless farmers concentrate on the production of animals of more than 1111 b. As the United Kingdom is anxious for us to supply the maximum tonnage of baconers we can produce from our resources, all farmers are urged to see that as few porkers are killed for export as possible, particularly during the Spring and Summer. Another change in the weight schedule is the definite upper limit of 1801 b for baconers. /

“In the season just over, some pigs of more than 1801 b could be exported as baconers in the form of Wiltshire sides. For the forthcoming _ season the maximum weight of Wiltshire sides has been reduced from 90 to 801 b. This will exclude all pigs of more than 1801 b being classed as baconers. Any above that weight would have to be exported as choppers, at a price 2 9-16 d less than that paid for baconers. The farmer, therefore, should direct his management so as to produce as few porkers as possible and to avoid bringing any baconers above 1801 b.”