FARMING INTERESTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18652, 22 August 1930, Page 16

FARMING INTERESTS.

“BOBBY” CALF TRADE. SEASON IN FULL SWING. FIGURES FOR AUCKLAND. The “bobby” calf killing season is in full swing in the Auckland Province (says the “Herald”), although actually the busiest period has not arrived. The season is an early one, a considerably greater number of calves having passed through the works to date than was the case at this time last year. This is attributed to many dairy herds having been brought in earlier than usual. An average of between 5000 and 6000 calves a day is being killed at the four freezing works now operating in the province. The number is expected to increase between now and the end of the month. The Moerewa works were opened last week under an arrangement whereby the National Dairy Association guaranteed a certain average number of calves a week during the period of killing, the extent of the support received from the farmers in the northern districts. Where the calves are bought by exporting firms the price is varied according to quality and size, the range being approximately between 4/6 and 8/6. The average return per head is likely to be rather lower this year than last, owing to a decline in the value of skins. The killings last year totalled about 200.000. Although the current aeason to date has shown a substantial increase, it is not possible to say whether this will be maintained. On a conservative estimate the “bobby” calf industry gives an aggregate return of between £50,000 and £60,000 to the Auckland farmers. From the community point of view it has the fur‘ sr substantial advantage of providing \> „rk for a considerable number of freezing works hands during three months of the “off” season for ordinary export killings. DEVELOPING THE HOME PORK TRADE. PUBLICITY WORK BY MEAT PRODUCERS BOARD. Every assistance possible is being given by the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board in the establishment of the pig industry in New Zealand and in the development of the pork trade at Home, according to the board’s annual report. The low shipping freight rate on pork, which was specially arranged by the board in its first contract with the shipping companies in 1922, will be further reduced by the 2i per cent, obtained in the new freight contract, so that the rate on pork will be .992 d a lb less than when the Board was constituted in 1922. representing a saving of 9/2 on a 1201 b pig, states the report. The board has devoted special publicity work to advertising New Zealand pork. Series of advertisements have been, and still are, inserted in trade journals circulating among all the retail butchers at Home. A deputation from the Retail Meat Traders’ Association at Home recently interviewed the board’s London manager as to the prospects of increasing the supply of New Zealand porker pigs, and in the course of the discussion it was very pleasing to hear the praise of the quality of New Zealand pigs by all members of the deputation. There is no doubt that the outlet for our pork is gradually widening, and New Zealand pork is becoming favourably established on Smithfield Market, due. in some measure, to the Board’s work in advertising, and in getting a fairly wide distribution through many of the stalls on Smithfield Market. It is hoped that the board's travelling representative will be able to stimulate further the demand for New Zealand pork. An experiment of considerable interest to pig producers in New Zealand and consumers in Great Britain was recently organised in London by the board. The object of the experiment was to demonstrate that it is possible to manufacture good quality bacon from frozen pigs from New Zealand. This is well known to a few 7 , but it was desired to bring home to the whole body of interested producers and consumers by actual demonstration that bacon of a certain quality can be produced when efficiently cured. New Zealand frozen pork has been cured and made into bacon for several years past in Great Britain, and curers who have used it have always spoken very highly of the quality. The bacon produced in this experiment was subjected to exhaustive tests, the results being regarded as extremely satisfactory. As a result of this publicity the Board’s London manager received many letters from bacon curers and distributors of bacon asking for further details and where supplies might be obtained, but, unfortunately, there were few baconer pigs available at the time. This is mentioned as showing the difficulty of working up a satisfactory trade in New' Zealand baconer pigs, unless it is possible to have a continuous supply over the 12 months. It is important here to make mention of experiments w’hich have been carried out at Home recently in connection with the transport of mildcured bacon through the tropics. The experiments were conducted by the British Scientific and Industrial Research Department, largely at the instigation of the Board. For some years the Board has offered substantial prizes at the annual Royal Agricultural Show, with a view to encouraging the breeding of pigs most suitable for export and the type most desired on the Smithfield market. After being judged alive on the show ground, the entries are killed and shipped Home, and the Board's London office arranges a special display on Smithfield market—which always proves a valuable advertisement for our New Zealand pork.