The Pig Industry.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 19 May 1910, Page 4

The Pig Industry.

A SIDE LINE WITH A FUTURE.

it can hiardly be doubted (that the production of pigs in the dairying districts of tho dominion can fail lo prove a most profitable adjunct to milk production if conducted on sound principles, snys the Farmers' Union Journal. All the information from Britain, and the countries iwhich are rivals to us on the Homo markets, goes to show that while tflie industry will be of an expanding nature generally, the demand will probably increase at an equal ratio, and in fact, in some cases, more than keep pace with th!e local suply, particularly in /the United States and Germany. Two outstanding facts which tell in our favour are the increasing demand in England for milk .for city con* sumption, which is reducing the amount of skim-milk and whey available for pig feeding, and jfcho increasing cost of feed stuffs. With the New Zealand farmer the amount of skim-milk and whey is annually increasing with the natural. tendency to advance the standard of cows, and ,tho method of feeding thorn, though the cost of topping-off fod stuffs (wiiich are absolutely essential), can hardly be expected to beeomo cheaper. With .bettor fod pigs, pasteurised skim-milk or whey (which, it is very satisfactroy to know, is steadily coining into vogue) and more feed being grown on the it should bo an easy matter for New Zealand dairy farmers to make as great a namo for their pork as ithey have 'for their butter.

Quality is everything, especially when catering to the critical British markets. The success of tho initial shipment of pork to the London market this year has quiite settled the matter of having a profitable market for our surplus pigs, and thus enabling pig products in local markets to do maintained at a fair level of value. Even' did the Home shipments merely pay for the expense, or would show a low return, the von tore would <bo profitable in the long run in the .good purpose it would serve in relieving Now Zealand markets. The fact is not to bo ignored that the production of a high-class article—a well bred animal, properly fed— would mean developing the popular taste for pig products. At tho present there is a large proportion of unsatisfactory bacon and ham on the market, which is having tho natural result of discouraging consumption, oven among thoso who have a partiality for it. The want of proper topping off by the uee of hard feed is largely responsible, for this. The best curer in tho world cannot make good bacon and ham out of an impropierly fed pig. The animal which has had to depend for sustenance entirely on skim-milk and whey gives a flesh -wliidli is wasteful to a considerable degree"", a high percentage of the fat disappearing in tho cooking process. A rasher of bacon from a properly ■primed pig will go twice as far, and is cheap at double fthe price of the product from the improperly fed animal.

However, the New Zealand dairyman is saying good-byo to the old order of producing milk, practically from grass alone; he is coming to appreciate the importance of libernllv feeding tho heavy milker, and this will encourage him Ito also food the pip: in a proper manner. Pig production is a subject which could be discussed with profit and advantage at branch meetings.