MARKET PROSPECTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 17, 16 February 1942, Page 5

MARKET PROSPECTS

BACONER PIGS When interviewed by a representative of the Press on the future export and local market outlook for pigs, Mr W. A. Phillips, Chairman of Directors of the New Zealand Cooperative Pig Marketing Association, Limited, stated that to date there had been a substantial fall in baconer killings with a corresponding increase in that of porkers. This, in view of the present outlook for supply for the remainder of the season, was unfortunate.

At the beginning of the present season the British Government agreed to take from New Zealand 11,000 tons, of baconer pig meat. ELxport killings to date against increased requirements for current and winter stocks for local consumption, leave no doubt that our exports will fall considerably short of this quantity. This has come about very laras the result of the substantial change over from the production of butterfat to cheese, while the drain on farm labour for mobilisation is also having an increasing bearing

on the position

All of these considerations point strongly to an unusually short and firm market for baconer pigs for the remainder of this year, hence farmers should have no hesitation in carrying as many of their pigs as possible to baconer weights. 'Tt also follows," concluded Mr Phillips, "that pigs which can be carried through the winter and turned off as baconers in the spring will meet a strong demand and firm market."