PROFIT IN PIGS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 15, 7 October 1929, Page 3

PROFIT IN PIGS

SS .BASIS OF, PAYMENT FAIR? -U DISCUSSION AT FARMERS’ UNION MEETING. The question of the fishy taste that lias become pronounced in pork lately Was discussed at the meeting of the sub-provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union mt Stratford on Saturday. The chairman, Mr. M. («. Trotter, explained it was having a detrimental effect on the. industry. The cause might lie in the foods or it might not. Mr. H. A. Hunt said that pigs, to be fattened for killing, should he fed on meal for five weeks prior to their being sent to the meat works. PAY FOR QUALITY. Mr. T. T. Murray said that the basis of payment was at fault and the breeders should be paid for quality not for weight. The buyers and breeders would have to co-operate before there would be better bacon.

PIG PODS. Another member stated that in the South Island several farmers bred pigs and fed them on large Leans called pig pods. According to Mr. Hunt, this had been tried in Taranaki but was unsuccessful. "The finishing off of pork is the great thing,'*' said Mr. N. B. Fryday, "and hard food is required for the best of results.'' "It does not pay dairy farmers to raise pork 'unless they get 6d per 11) for it," asserted Mr. Richmond. "What is the 3se of raising a good quality animal and getting paid the same as a man who raises a poorer animal, just because they weighed the same." The farmers, said the chadvman, were being blamed for not producing a good article, but if they were not paid for the better article they could not afford to produce it. The chairman thought the matter should he referred to the Stock Department to put on a firm basis, but no action was taken.