PIG PRODUCTION

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXI, Issue 15165, 5 October 1942, Page 4

PIG PRODUCTION

INCREASED WEIGHT WANTED

Increased con sumption of pig" meats by the Armed Forces provides a new outlet for local supplies, and there is an urgent necessity for an immediate increase in production of bacon pigs. Stocks in store at the present time are low, but are likely to be sufficient to meet the demand for local supplies of bacon during the next few months. INCREASED WEIGHTS

By increasing the weight of pigs to 1801bs., producers have been given an opportunity of increasing the yield of pig-meat from existing animals, and a real effort should be made to carry pigs to- as heavy weights as possible. Farmers usually catering for the pork trade should now turn their attention to bacon production. While this may be difficult to producers who have set their programmes for pork supply, a real war effort is necessary. The advice given to farmers should be to select young sows nqyv, jwith the idea of mating them in February and March and in tfto meantime take advantage of the extra weight limit for bacon pigs. If an additional 2011> were put on every bacon pig slaughtered we would just about reach the required tonnage. FEED SUPPLIES Full use should be made of existing feed supplies, and not one gallon of dairy by-product should be wasted. The feed barley position and I other feed stuffs, is very favourable to increased production. Stocks on hand at the moment amount to 45,000 bushels of barley, and the Government has recently purchased 350,000 bushels of Australian barley. The first shipment of 100,000 bushels is already on the way to New Zealand. This will bo available in 10-sack lots at 4s3d per bushel, ex wharf main ports. In addition to this, a drive is being made to grow 6.000 acres of feed barley in the North Island. Holdings of maize amount to 105,000 bushels, with the prospect of 10,000 acres, 500,000 bushels, being grown this season. The stage is S€‘t foi increased production. SUPPLEMENTARY FEED

The most urgent requirement now is supplementary crops to provide the bulk feed for th e late summer and autumn litters. This is essential if we are to avoid selling pigs at unsatisfactory prices and weights in the autumn. It must be emphasised that pi& production is urgently needed. and every effort should be made to carry these late litters to favourable bacon weights. This means winter feed supply—ample provision has been made for grain feed. The obligation of pig-producers is to see that the necessary bulk feed is grown.