PIG MEAT FOR EXPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23687, 21 September 1940, Page 15

PIG MEAT FOR EXPORT

MODIFICATIONS OF WEIGHT RANGE [Pek United Puess Association.] WELLINGTON, September 20. An alteration in the weights of bacouers for the United Kingdom market was announced this evening by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. Wi Lee Martin), who said the adjustment was mainly one of marketing, and would not mean an added burden to farmers intent on producing baconers this year. " The contract with the United Kingdom Government for the supply of pig meat, both bacouer and porker, has not yet been completed,” said Mr Martin. “ Certain modifications of the weight range of last year have, however, been agreed to. As these have a direct bearing on management, it is important that they should be known by all pig producers immediately. “ The United Kingdom has insisted that bacouer carcasses should be not less than 1111 b and not more than 1801 b.” the Minister said. “ Any carcass up to 1101 b will now bo classed as a porker and the raising of the minimum weight of a bacouer from 1011 b to 111 b naturally will reduce our*lotal tonnage of baconers unless farmers concentrate on the produclivii of animals above llllb. As the, United Kingdom is anxious for us to supply her with the maximum tonnage of baconers we can produce from our t resources, all farmers are urged to see that as few porkers are killed fer export as possible, particularly during the spring and summer. ‘‘ The other change in the weight schedule,” Mr Martin said, "is a definite upper limit of 1801 b for baconers. In the season just passed, some pigs over 1801 b could be exported as baconers in the form of Wiltshire sides. For the forthcoming season, the maximum weight of Wiltshire sides has been reduced from 901 b to 801 b. This will exclude all pigs over 180IU being classed as baconers. Any above that weigut would have to be exported as choppers at a price of 29-16 d less than that paid fer baconers “ A farmer, therefore should direct his management so as to produce as few norkers as possible,” the Minister added, and avoid bringing anv baconers above 1801 b.”