DROP IN PIG VALUES

Shannon News, 8 March 1927, Page 3

DROP IN PIG VALUES

LARGE NUMBERS YARDED. "So soon as the milk supply slackens there are large numbers of pigs coming , forward irrespective of vhether "they are in a suitable condition or not," a local buyer said to a "Taranaki News" representative on Tuesday. As an example of the increasing numbers coming forward since the milk supply has slackened off, he quoted figures from hi s books showing that in the first week in December 247 pigs had been received in Hawera district. For the next two weeks of December the figures were 270 and 306 respectively. During January the figurts increased from lest week. For the first week of February 378 had been received, but during last week this number had increased to 633, almost double the figures of the previous week. Again yesterday, large numbers of farmers brought Pigs in to the yards. In consequence of this position, one lsrge concern, opsrating in South Taranaki has ceased buying in the meantime, and other companies are now offering sd. for baconers, this price representing a drop of Jd«. P* r lb - That farmers did not pay sufficient attention to the feeding of their pigs was another point raised, and it was stated that if they supplemented the skim milk or whey with other foods the results would be much better. Few farmers, howevr, thought of buying food for their pigs, being of the opinion that skim milk or whey was quite sufficient, but there was no greater fallacy. It had been proved that the farmer who fed his pigs well reaped the best profits. The opinion was expressed that there was little likelihood of a further drop in prices and it is understood that buying operations will recommence shortly.