WEALTH AMONG PIGS

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3303, 30 May 1931, Page 5

WEALTH AMONG PIGS

OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW ZEALAND. DEVELOPING EXPORT TRADE. The fostering of the pig export industry in New Zealand and the profit that must accrue to the country from a well-developed pig industry are matters often overshadowed in the lay mind by considerations of butter, cheese, and wool producing. The fact remains, however, that the breedi,., and export of pigs is an avenue for profit that merits the keenest cation.

Complaint has been made frequently that the New Zealand farmer is not encouraged to breed pigs, in so far as the cost of suitable foods is prohibitive. If the pig farmers were enabled to import grain from overseas free of duty the fattening value of the skim milk fed to pigs would then be doubled and the industry given an opportunity of proving its undoubted psosibilities. Owing to the sliding scale of duties, however, the price oi wheat in New Zealand remains high, while overseas there are cheap and abundant supplies. The pig industry of Denmark offers an outstanding example to New Zealand, and the industry in that country was established on cheap imported grain. New Zealand has all the advantages of climate, pasturage, and skim-milk supply. Cheap grain only is lacking. If it were possible to obtain it, the desired quality in the carcases and more economical feeding of the pig would be attained. The potentialities of the industry cannot be doubted, since there is an almost unlimited market in Britain. Of the £60,000,000 worth of pork imported into Britain each year New Zealand supplies less than £500,0C0 worth. A great quantity comes from Denmark.

While it is true that quality of produce and satisfying the customer's requirements are essential points to be considered, proper feeding is but a means to this end, and without it the major question cannot be approached. The fact that New Zealand can produce the type of carcase required has been demonstrated by the favourable comment passed on pigs bred in New Zealand for exhibition at Home. In 1928 Denmark, usually considered in relation to New Zealand as a butter-producing country, exported to England pig produce valued at a sum of £25,796,525. New Zealand exports in the same year were only £406,407. In the year 1929-30 the number of pigs slaughtered in New Zealand was 529,576, "of an approximate total weight of 63,549,140 lbs. From Ist January to 14th November, 1930, the weight of bacon alone exported from Denmark was 574,851,200 lbs. Nearly all of this Danish product was sent to England, while of the pork, bacon, and ham produced in New Zealand 7€ per cent was consumed in the Dominion. Denmark also exported in the same period 55,506 uive pigs. In the year 1929 New Zealand exported 183,879,000 lbs of butter and 197,777,000 lbs of cheese. The corresponding figures for Denmark were 350,620,000 lbs and 14,513,000 lbs respectively. The total of these dairv produce figures show 381,133,000 lbs .New Zealand and 365,133,000 lbs for Denmark; yet there is the great discrepancy in the output of pig product in the ratio of about £26,000,000 worth from Denmark to £400,000 worth from New Zealand.

Denmark has shown decisively what can be done in conducting the pigbreeding industry side by side with the dairying industry. ' The first cooperative qreamery was smarted in Denmark in 1882, and ten years later 700 creameries were in existence. Together with this rapid initial advance went, economically, the development of the pig industry, until both have reached the high standard * enjoy to-day. What Denmark can do in this direction can be done by New Zealand. All the pig-breeder in the Dominion needs is encouragement.