BACON CURING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1652, 20 January 1913, Page 10

BACON CURING.

FUTURE FOB SWINE HUSBANDRY. - "An interesting circular on the baconcuring business has. been issued by Mr. London M. Douglas, F.RXE., Edinburgh. Some three years ago Mr.jjouglas issued a memorandum' indicating tho then- unfortunate condition 1 of the bacon-curing industry of the United Kingdom, and it was shown tliat ; a great opportunity existed for tho-development of swine husbandry and bacon curing/ The warning then issued was not appreciated by the agriculturists of Great Britain, but many .foreign countries at proceeded to tako advantage of the situation. As a consequence,', new bacon, factories have since then sprung up in different countries in Ettrope, notably in Russia, and there has also been a very great' development in : bacbn curing in China and the Far East; nil with a view of supplying tho British markets. But, notwithstanding the increase ;in the sources .of supply, the shortage still continues,''and there is still the same necessity for British agriculturists to organise bacon-curing establishments throughout the United Kingdom. The available figures are, indeed, very alarming. Iri comparing the two periods from January to November, 1911, and from Jan'uary to November, 1912, tho pig products imported into the United Kingdom were as follow:— . v. Period from 1,1/12 - . Period from 2/1/11 . to 9/11/12. to 11/11/11. , Cwfs."' . , Cwts. 4,053,681 1,219,946 .802,723 840,822 , 191,230/ . . 200,921 which shows a steady decline. Wo find also that in the United States, with its 50,000,000 pigs, there is a great shortage as against last year, in what is called tho western packing, area, which. . includes Chicago. Tho shortage over the -year as compared' with tho similar period a year ago amounts to 1,810,000 pigs. ... ; Tho cause of this shortage is very difficult to ascertain, as it would appear to be general throughout what have hitherto been recognised as tho .principal pig producing countries. In the United Kingdom, tho shortage is partly due to the disinclination of farmers to taking.the risk of breeding pigs, -under the present stringent conditions of inspection. The unfor-tunate-outbreak of foot and mouth diseaso in Ireland has also contributed very largely to the scarcity of -pigs, and tho •consequent rise in the price of badon add ■ pig products. ..The difficulties, indeed, of pig breeding increaso from .year to year,; as the only remedy, which seems to bo available, when one pig in a herd is suspected of having swine fever, is tho prompt slaughter of tho whole herd. Under such conditions, it is-not to bo wondered at that farmers fight shy of.pig breeding, and it seems a pity that those who are in authority in,this matter should not be. permitted to exercise some discretion, so that valuable breeding herds may not be exterminated altogether. . ..

lhat there is a,future for swino hu: bandry and bacon curing in the Unites iKingdom cannot bo denied, as wo pay to overseas nations £25,000,000 or thereabouts ove.ry year for pig products, a large proportion of which could quite well bo produced in this country. It is quite true that in 60me districts a happier view of tho future of swino husbandry prevails, and bacon-curing factories are being organised in different parts of the country Creator industry, however,' prevails overseas, and the latest competitors for British trade aro as far away us East and South Africa and Australasia. There is no reason why the British colonics should not 'supply tho United Kingdom with bacon and pig products. At tho present time we import enormous quantities of butter from our colonies, and as swino husbandry is carried on wherever butter is produced, tho one business is the natural corollary of the other. But, if this applies to our colonies, it applies equally to the United Kingdom, where dairying has been 1 developed very largely during recent years, and the future of the industry, to a largo extent, depends upon whether 6wino husbandry will be allowed to continue or not.

"Some of the/best'bnlls in New Zealand are being spoiled through being allowed to run with tho cows," 6aid a prominent dairyman, when discussing with.'a DosiiNtoJf reporter the use of purebred, sires. "This practice," ho added ; "is general, and'only so because it is a little! less trouble than looking after the , iblilla properly." The natural results of the use of Parton's Milk Coolers aro bigger cheques from tho "Factory. ;■ As this is the experionco of n good many dairy farmers, there is no reason why you should not be .so fortunate—if you only instal Parton's'. Co<?!cr3. Full particulars concern'lttcr' thes4 '• Milk. Coalers. will be sent by Albert J. Parton, Carterton.—Advt,