PORK AND BACON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 154, 25 March 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

PORK AND BACON

Still Lower Production A VERY SOUND MARKET The pig-killing season is now drawing to a close, hastened by the aiitiinin widespread in dairying areas. Compared with last season, production shows gradually-increasing decline, reaching 13.8 per cent, at the end of February. This is to he regretted. We are not taking proper advantage of a very great opeu--lUWith 196,099 porkers and 156,000 baconers put through to the end of February, works were short of 48,000 and 9000 head respectively. From now on few baconers will be available. February killings were 42.000 porkers and 26,000 baconers. It seems that the total pigmeat production for this Jul! season will show a decline of 15 to 17 per cent. Prices cannot be blamed for this, but decreased milk production has been a major influence. 'That could have been fully offset and payably so, by a greater use of meals as supplementary feed.

The current schedule is satisfactory. Pork. 60/80, at <hl.. is down sd. on last month, a typical anlnntn easing; bacon, at 6d„ is at last month’s level. One large buyer’s schedule pays 6d. for pork to 801 b.. fijd., 81 /IP.), and then goes to (Id. at 1201 b. Choppers, at, 2'jd., are making good money. From some areas much very light pork is coming in. The Home Market.

On the English market pork. 60/80’s, is now 7Jd., last month it was 7Jd., and two months ago 7£d. (the season's' peak). Both one to two yenrs ago, at midMarch, the price was Ojd. lb. The current price is, therefore, good, specially so considering mutton and iamb values. Bacon, 120/160’s, is now 6?d., compared with 6id., both one to two months

ago, 6Jd. a year ago, and 6Jd. two yearn ago. In both cases the market shows great stability over a full two years. New Zealand has today none more stable and more promising. The Jd. a pound first-grade premium on bacon is customarily taken into the schedule price. One hears occasionally of farmers gelling all firsts for months on end. Buyers, however, advise that 70 to 75 per cent, of all baconers lifted make first-grade. That means that from 25 to 30 per cent, miss, being 4/6 to 5/- a baconer. Quality pays.