THE PORK INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 205, 28 July 1928, Page 13

THE PORK INDUSTRY.

RAPID EXPANSION SHOWN. The rapid expansion of tho pork industry in tho Dominion is commented on m tho annual report of tho New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. There was a substantial increase during tho year in tho export of pork to tho United Kingdom. Prom October 1 1927, to Juno 30, 1928, there wore killed, for export 118,556 porkers and 27 485 baconcrs, as against 50,802 porkers and 35,424 baconors killed to tho samo date in tho previous year. “It will bo noted that this country is now exporting considcrajly more porkers than baconers. Tho board s London office has been for some time endeavouring to get a wider distribution for these porkers tnrough the Smithfield market by advertising to the trado to help in this direction. “In support of tho Government in its efforts to help the export of pork, the board, in -its shipping freight contracts, has specially arranged with the shipping companies for a low shipping freight rate on pork, so that to-day the rate on pork is reduced to about half what it yyas in 1922, and the saving on a 1301 b. pig would amount to 9s 3d, which is equal to over three-farthings per lb. Tho special concessions made in regard to the freight rates on pork may be looked upon as practically a subsidy obtained by tho board to encourage this industry. In the direction of helping in tho marketing of porkers exported to tho United Kingdom, and m accordance with tho .wishes of the trade, tho boayd decided to institute grade weights for porkers exported this season. “Tho board offered special prizes at tho Fourth Royal Agricultural Show with a view to encouraging the breeding of pigs most suitable for export, and tho type most desired on Smithfield market. After being judged alive on the show ground, the entries in these classes were killed and shipped Homo, and the board’s London office arranged a special display on Smithfield market w-hich proved a valuablo advertisement for our Now Zealand pork. Amongst other efforts by tho board to advertiso Now Zealand pork was tho insertion of a series of advertisements in journals circulating amongst all tho retail butchers at Home. Smithfield market has a high opinion of our pork, the quality of which is considered superior to tho pork exported from other parts of tho -world. “Liko lamb, pork has its seasonal demand; this usually commences about September and last until April—reaching its zenith about Christmas. The summer months, from May to August, are commonly regarded as a closed season for pork, as is illustrated on Smithfield, where 85 per cent, of the total supplies is consumed in tho winter months. “The value of tho pork industry to tho Dominion is shown by the following table giving tho shipments of pork and bacon and hams during tho last five years:—

INVESTIGATIONS BEING MADE. Reporting. on tho. pig industry investigations being carried out by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, at Thursday’s meeting tho chairman said: — “The establishment of three pig-recording investigations at Lincoln, Massey Collogo, and in the Waikato has met with a very good response. In all instances no difficulty has been experienced in securing tho ready co-operation of armers in the senemo, and the recording officers Will bo fully occupied in weighing regularly tho largo number of pigs which have been offered for the tost. The large amount of information which willi bo gathered by this means should prove of very great use in tho direction not only of guiding farmers in tho economical uso of pig feeding materials, but also will assist in the breeding and selection of tho most desirablo strains of pigs for local and overseas markets. The successful development of the pig industry on a sound basis depends upon producing pork and bacon oj tho highest quality by tho economical uso of available feeds and tho breeding of tho best strains of pigs.”

Hear. Cwfc. Pork £ Bacon & hams Cwt. £ 1924 23.161 80,583 4517 26,505 1925 48,062 172,734 4186 25,398 1926 51,956 197,844 4981 31,706 1927 97,195 347,992 5422 29,025 1928 (to May 31) 94,935 273,473 1567 9,654