PIG MARKETING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 178, 29 June 1937, Page 5

PIG MARKETING.

NEED FOR GRADING. MR COCKAYNE’S SPEECH. Mr A. H. Cockayne, Director of Agriculture, stressed to the recent Dairy Federation conference the need for the grading of pigs, improved pig husbandry and increased production per acre to reduce costs to make farms pay under the guaranteed price scheme. In an interesting address lie stated that the dairy farmers had two ways of increasing the net turnover per unit of labour, first increased production of butterfat per acre, and secondly full exploitation of pig meat from the dairy farm. Until lull exploitation in this direction was secured no form would be playing its part in dairy farm economy. At the present time, in round figures, farmers were producing 281 b. of pig meat for every 1001 b. of butterfat, or an addition to the butterfat payout of l|d. a lb., but under proper management this could he increased to 3d. a lb. Although there was a limitation to the pork industry in England, there had never been a suggestion of any quota on baconers, and thus New Zealand, if it wanted to expand its pig industry with a consequent lowering of production costs on dairy farms, should develop tlio baconer trade. To do this, everGy effort should be made to improve pig husbandry, and he considered that the time had arrived when a proper system of grading should be introduced.

The importance of an improved system of grading in the pig industry was emphasised by Mr W. A. Phillips, chairman of directors of the Pig Marketing Association. The Meat Board’s London manager now stated that it was clearly demonstrated that there was practically a unanimous desire among the trade for grading, and that New Zealand must reduce the present disparity between New Zealand and Danish bacon. The maximum benefits with a minimum of disturbance would at this stage be found in the introduction only of a finest grade in the existing grading system. If this were done the premium for this selected grade would have to be fixed at a figure which would offer an incentive to produce it. The premium, no matter how it was worked, would have to come from the farmer’s pocket.

Mr Cockayne asked for a mandate from the conference to pnt grading on a proper official basis, so that this could be the foundation for further reforms in the industry, and the following remit was carried:“(1) That this meeting urges upon tho Minister of Agriculture the necessity for prompt action in instituting an improved system of grading at the outset to apply to baconers pigs only; (2) that the payment of an adequate premium for the quality desired offers the only effective means to achieve this objective; (3) as the industry as a whole would benefit from the improvement gained, we consider that tho cost of such a premium should be found by a levy over all pigs slaughtered and that the collection and distribution of such a levy in the manner prescribed should become the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture ; (4) that in tho opinion of the conference the payment of such a levy should be made by the slaughtering units, who would include this at a small additional cost against the buyer in their general charges.” It was decided that in .future conferences all addresses be made on the one day, probably the second day of tho sitting.