PIG FARMING ON COAST

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 13

PIG FARMING ON COAST

Improvement

Seen

Pig fanning on the West Coast was an outstanding example of improvement in the industry, said the chairman of the Canterbury District Pig Committee (Mr G. Beal) at the annual meeting.

"At one time West Coast pigs were not keenly sought owing to poor quality” he said. The introduction of compulsory grading and the careful selection of breeding stock has produced pigs on the West Coast that compare more favourably with stock produced on this side of the range.” Although pork killings were down, the local market had good prospects for the rest of the year because there did not appear to be sufficient pigs available from the North Island. “But it would be bad to have pig meat priced off the market," Mr Beal said. “Bacon killings are on a par with last year, but with cooked ham off the bone at 9s a pound, there must surely be consumer resistance soon.” Mr Beal said he believed “good things” would come of the ultrasonic wave detector for measuring depths of back fat

“Judging by tests tn Canterbury so far, I think 350 or so studs in New Zealand could possibly be testing within the next two years —or even sooner. “It seems almost certain that this machine will be an alternative for testing stations, especially as results of tests made overseas are about 96 per cent, accurate.” Mr Beal said. About 30 attended the meeting, including two speakers, Mr N. A. Barnett, chairman of the South Island District Pig Council, and Mr R. A. Oliver, a member of the National Pig Council. The committee elected was: Messrs G. Beal, F. W. Hansen. R. R. Newton, L. P. McCloy, G. Barw’ell. The secretary is Mr A. N. Stone