THE PORK INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4513, 14 November 1901, Page 7

THE PORK INDUSTRY.

VIEAVS OF LEADING AUTHORITIES.

A DAIRY EXPERT AND A TAMWORTH BREEDER.

Som valuable opinions on the question of the development of an export trade in pork have been expressed to a “New Zea. land .Times” reporter by one of the lead, ing dairying authorities of the colony, Mr J. T. Lang, and by Air John Jarvis, the principal New Zealand Tamworth breeder, who is an admitted authority on the rear, ing and feeding of pigs. Mr J. T. Lang said; Just as its parent industry, dairying is destined to be the greatest industry in the colony, so I believe the pork industry must in the future de. velop to such an extent that the output of the colony in pork products will be second only to the colony’s production of butter and cheese. AVhat do you consider the best means of developing the industry ? In the first place the necessary informa, tion as to the breeding and feeding of pigs should be supplied by the Agncul. tural Department to all milk.suppliers throughout the colony. Such information could be obtained by experiments at the different stations of the department throughout the colony, or the information could be obtained at a conference of the leading breeders and bacon.enrers through, out the colony. - I believe that from such a conference information of the greatest practical value would be secured. Even if the department decided to obtain the required information through its own officers it would be an excellent idea to invite those interested in the trade to at. tend a conference for consideration of the means of developing an export trade in pork. An important factor in building up a successful trade in pork—and a pans, ciple which applies to the export of all farm products—is the securing of umfor. mity in the article exported by systematic grading at this end. Just as the Chnst. church Meat Company has established a reputation for its “Eclipse” brand by aim. ing at a standard sheep and throwing out everything below the standard for that tieniar brand, so, if success is to attend the nork industry, a standard must be set and anything not coming up,to it should not be shipped. By this means only will New Zealand pork be able to compete against such countries as Denmark. United States and Canada, where the business has been established on a sound basis for many years. The “Eclipse” . brand of mutton referred to is known for its uniform weight and quality, points which are just as important to the greatest success of the pork trade as thev are to that of the mut. ton industry. ' Another important mat for in connection wßh the success nl devel. onmopt of export trade, said Air Lang, is the centralisation of the work of killing

and freezing. AVhere the pork is prepared for shipment at centra.! ivoia; the cost ii educed to a minimum and better ski.l ana facilities can La obtained for its treatment. Centralisation is also the best means by which uniformity of the whole colony s product can lie obtained. 'then tliere is the important matter of farmers faithful!.! attending to the feeding question. 1 igs must he properly, topped o!T. with a pro. per grain or pea ration, for slop food alone wi!l°not produce pork suitable for export or any other trade.

As a producer. Air John Jarvis considered there was a good future for an export trade with England in frozen pork. But, he said, if good markets can be found for bacon there is no necessity to look for a market for pork, and for the following reasons: When growing a pig for x>ork it must he fed and grown well from weaning time while with a baconer, if fed fairly well it need only he topped off for a mouth. Consequently, you. consider the bacon trade more profitable than the pork trade. Certainly, as in feeding bacon you can make so much more use of the great byproduct of the dairy—skim-milk. What do you consider the best cross for bacon purposes? Either the Tamworth-Borkshire or the Tamworth-A oi kshire. using the Tamworth as a mother, and either the Berkshire or the Yorkshire as a sire, the Tamworth being as a rule, much superior as mothers to either the .Berkshire or the Yorkshire. Speaking of Tawmorths. Air Jarvis remark cd; There abundant proof that six halfbred Tamworth pigs can he kept on the same quantity of feed as five Berkshire or Yorkshire pigs. Tamworths. however, will not do if mixed wth other breeds. They feed much more slowly than either or Yorkshires, with the result that these breeds get the best feed, and the Tamworth is at a disadvantage. There fore if the best results are to bo obtained from either the Tamworth or Tamworth crosses they must be kept and fed bv themselves, and then they will amply repay the consideration, A strong point about Tamworth crosses is that they always kill better than they look, though to the grower they may not appear so prime as other breeds. What food do you recommend, Air Jarvis '■ .

Ju the first place, never use skim_mUk alone. The best way to feed is to .mix a little ground grain with the skim-milk, a principle which applies to the growing as well as to the fattening of pigs. Any grain will do, though barley and peas are preferable. It is advisable, when the pigs are growing, to Jot them have a run on grass, or, if that is not possible, they should he fed on green feed in. addition to their ordinary ration. This is a most important point. AVhen pigs are fattening in a sty an excellent thing to give them is charcoal, which they will eat as greedily as they will meal. The object of the charcoal is to keep the system in a good condition. In fact, pigs demand something of this nature to such an extent that they will even eat day when they cannot get charcoal. So necessary is it to make a pig do well that Air Jarvis, in feeding his show pigs, collects any feed left over from a previous meal and gives the pigs a new supply. It is attention to such detals as these that enabled him to carry off fifty-six prizes for his pigs last year.

It is a sound principle in pig feeding, re_ marked Air Jarvis, to give only that amount of feed which a pig will eat up clean. A pig can he educated to take sufficient food at a meal to last him until his next meal, that is if he is fed in a systematic manner. The non-succesa of pig growers is largely attributable to the fact that they consider the pig to be about the lowest order of the animal kingdom, whereas if he is consider, ed as an epicure, he will more than repay the extra attention and cost. Never feed in a Y-shaped pig trough, said Mr Jarvis, for in a flat or round-bottomed trough a pir cannot “nose” his food out so readily as with the V-shaped pattern. , In what direction do you consider that the State can assist the pork industry? The principal way in which the State can foster the business is in the direction of reducing railage rates, particularly on live animals being carried to the killing and curing works, so that settlers in the back country may not he handicapped too severely in comparison with producers near the centres. .