BACONER PIGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 5

BACONER PIGS

GRADING STANDARDS MARKET REQUIREMENTS INCREASING EXPORT TRADE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Thursday Regulations governing the grading of baconer pigs are published in the Gazette this evening and come into force to-morrow. The object of the regulations, which have been prepared by the Department of, Agriculture, is to improve the quality of export bacon, which has now reached formidable proportions, and to meet the wishes of (Hirers in the United Kingdom. In commenting on the regulations, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, said the marked increase in the quantity of bacon exported made it essential, that grading standards should be fixed if New Zealand bacon was to acquire a reputation on the British market in competition with the products of other countries. The quality of bacon from other countries had improved in recent years and New Zealand could not afford to lag behind. It was easier to live up to a good reputation made in the early stages of trade than to live down a bad one. .Thickness of Back Fat , "The standards we have adopted are those now in force in Canada and are based on.the thickness of tlio back fat over the shoulder and over the loin," said the Minister. "These standards are accepted by English curers and as a result exporters will be able to pay producers in New Zealand the whole of the premiums expected for quality pigs on the English market. They have, in fact, already announced a premium of fd for No. 1 prime grade over No. 2, with' a similar premium between No. 2 and No. 3. This 4s to 5s a carcase should prove a most valuable incentive to those who are anxious to improve their pigs. Grading at Works "The grading will be performed by the works grader, as is now being done with lambs, but the measurements of graded pigs will be checked each day in all works by an officer of the Department of Agriculture, the senior meat inspector. Supervising graders em-> ployed by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board will see that a uniform standard is adopted at all works. These two official services, combined with an open invitation from all freezing works for producers to come and see their pigs graded, should be sufficient to establish confidence in grading in the mind of all producers. Lean Pig in Demand

"In the standards adopted length has not been taken into consideration," said the Minister, "but from the measurements of approximately, 70,000 pigs supplied by the trade during October, November and December there is ample evidence to confirm the already well-established fact that when pigs are selected for their back fat an automatic selection of long pigs is made. Figures collected by the department show that a reduction of Jin. in back fat means an increase of 2in.in length. Curers are more concerned with back fat than length. Farmers themselves can see the length and our investigations have shown that if selections are made for this visible attribute there is every indicaton that we will produce the lean pig now demanded by the consumer and supplied by our competitors." . «

NEW SCHEDULE RATES EXPORT PiUCES ADJUSTED The export schedule of fat pig prices has been adjusted in conformity with the decision of exporters to assist the Department of Agriculture to encourage farmers to grow tho best bacon. As a result a premium is being offered for bacon pigs and this is reflected in an easing in rates for porkers, with better prices for baconers. The current schedule is as follows: — Up to 80lb.: Prime, 6Jd per lb.; seconds, s£d; unexportable, 51d. 81lb. to 1001b.: prime, 5Jd; seconds, sgd; unexportable, 4gd. 1011b. to 1201b.: Prime o|d; seconds, ojjd; unexportable, 4-Id. 1211b. to 1601b.: Prime No. 1, 6gd; prime No. 2, 6(1; prime No. 3. siUl; seconds, ojjd; unexportable, 6d. 1611b. to 1801b.: Prime No. 1, ogcl; prime No. 2, sd; prime No. 3, 4jjd; seconds, 42d; unexportable, sd. 1811b. to 2001b.: Prime, 4Jd; seconds, 4d; unexportable, 3£d. Over 2001b.: Prime, 3{d; seconds, 3d; unexportable, 2Jd- Choppers, 3id; unexportable, 2d. y Condemned, 2d less per lb. than prime, all grades. Insurance, 9(1 a head. Export business in lambs is now easing off. Schedule prices are unchanged.

SHORT LOANS AND BILLS LONDON DISCOUNT RATES LONDON, Feb. 2 Discount and short loan rates on tho London market are the saino as those for last week, as follows: —• Jan. 2G Feb. 2 pc p.c. Day-to-day loans .. /a (a Fine trade bills (3 mos.) - to-A 2to 2/4 Bank bills (3 months) %» Bank bills (0 months) %. A« Treasury bills (2 months) Ai /a Treasury bills (3 months) /i /»

NAPIER GAS PROFIT A SMALL INCREASE A net profit of £7427 is shown in the accounts of the Napier Gas Company, Limited, for the year ended December 31. This compares with £7257 in 19:36 and £7353 in 1935. Dividends on preference and ordinary shares are unchanged at 5 and 5i per cent respectively, and £IOOO is again carried to reserve, increasing the fund invested in plant to £II,OOO. A sum of £6212 is carried forward, against £5670 brought in. INQUIRIES FROM SPAIN AUSTRALIAN WHEAT (Received Fobruary 0, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 2 Inquiries for cargoes of Australian wheat on Spanish account were reported after the close of tlio Liverpool market. LOAN AND MERCANTILE LONDON, Feb. 2 New Zealand Loan and Mercantile and "Agency ordinary stock is quoted at £3B 10s and preference stock at £BS 10s. NEW PRIVATE COMPANY The following: private company has been registered in Auckland: — Doner. Thorpe Motors, motor dealers and garage proprietors. Capital, £ 10,000 in £'l shares. Subscribers: A. O. Perkins and D W. Thorpe, 5000 shares each.