PIG MARKETING

Grey River Argus, 20 March 1940, Page 9

PIG MARKETING

DECLINE IN KILLINGS. WELLINGTON, March 18. The serious decline in fat pig killings was indicated by Mr. W. A. Phillips, Chairman of Directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Pig Marketing Association, Limited, in an interview. “For the season to the end of February," said Mr. Phillips, “porker killings had declined by 1127,000, although baconers had i shown an increase of 32,000. Against ' the corresponding period for last year these figures represented a deficit of 95,000 pigs or a fall of 32 per cent . , . ~ “Although in terms of weight, continued Mr. Phillips, “this loss would be reduced to about 20 per cent., the continued substantial fall in the Dominion’s export killings was a matter calling for the serious attention of all concerned in the industry. Over the last three ■/ears the decline in pig production had meant a financial loss to the country's dairy industry of nearly three-quarters of a million sterling. Quite apart from the patriotic appeal for increased production of this highly-rated food for the fighting 1 forces, there was nothing whicn ' offered the dairy-farmer quicker and ■ greater profit for his labour and capital investment.” “Killings of suckled sows or choppers had shown a marked increase this season,” said Mr. Phillips. “This I might be due to the limited comi mandeer market for porkers and I the correspondingly fewer sows which I needed to be kept for baconer P ro , duction. However, far too many of 1 these had been disposed of for : slaughter because of the erroneous impression created by the flat rate ‘fob. price for any kind of pig up to 1180 lbs. Had a differential price for i quality and weight in accordance : with normal practice been maintain--led a greater number of pigs could I have been reared of a higher aver--1 age quality with a correspondingly greater return to the producer. “The longer the war lasted the more serious must be the effect upon the Dominion’s post war export market of continuation of the present system. On the one hand every pig producer was paying a levy of 2d per pig for educational services which were designed to help nim to improve his management and the type of his breeding stock, and on the other hand he is encouraged to produce pigs up to 180 lbs., for which under normal conditions there was no profitable market in any country. When the war was over, those countries which had strayed least from normal trade requirements in then’ exports would recover • quickest from the adverse repercussions which inevitably followed upon post war con- ! dl “Although little risk was involved regarding a continued export outlet ■ for New Zealand’s surplus production after the war, this would be of. no practical use unless the price ob1 tainable was a paying . one. The consumer had always paid for quality and those who were able to provide the highest standard demanded would, after the war, „ secure* the highest price obtainable.” “The emergency which had necest sitated a commandeer price for the country’s exports,” said Mr. Phillips, J “should not be used as an excuse to ' slacken the Dominion’s efforts in ' aiming at higher standards of quality. There was no logical reason ’ why, as in the case of lambs, the f.o.b. price for pigs should not be adjusted to reflect a preferential re- ’ turn for quality in accordance with normal trade standards, and thus ; provide the only effective incentive to protect the country’s future mar--1 ket for this valuable dairy-farm by ' product. Producers were being en- ’ couraged to follow the line of least resistance to-day by those who were ' actually only concerned in the buying of pigs, but they had to remem--1 ber that this would have to be paid ■ for to-morrow.” 1 Referring to the prospects of the ’ industry Mr. Phillips said that for the present the outlook strongly suggested that the local market for baconers next spring and right up till December would be shorter than usual, so any pigs which producers ■could winter in a thriving condition should on present indications show a good return. A shortage of weaners and stores was also certain during this period, so producers would ;be well advised to plan to farrow i their sows as early as possible this I year. 1 The commandeer price for pigs was a good paying one, and since this or a better price was assured for the duration of the war and at least one year afterwards, there was never a time when producers could increase production with greater confidence than the present. Farmers, if they could, should aim next year to produce more pigs of a lower average weight. They should remember that pigs over 120 and under 150 lbs. supplied the ideal weights for the manufacture of bacon for the local and export trades, and that immediately normal trading conditions were restored, this was the pig it would pay the producer best to produce. Producers should not, therefore, reduce the number of their sows, because at present they were not penalised on exportable heavy weights. They should keep their breeding stock up to normal requirements and adjust the weight out-turn of their pigs accordingly. On the present 1 decline in killings, good breeding stock would be scarce, and it would pay producers to provide for requirements.