Coconuts For

Pigs

Profitable Industry—Provided There is a Market

VALUABLE information about the way in which the at present value less coconut can be used profitably as oie-fodder has been given to the “Fiji Times” by Mr. R. T. Ricketts, a planter of Koro, Fiji.

Mr. Ricketts says “there is a fortune in pigs”. He makes the important point that he does not feed copra to his pigs— only the raw nuts, which they eat eagerly.

Mr. Ricketts has on his Koro coconut olantation some 250 pigs which graze on the grass under the trees. Apart from the grass, their only food is the raw coconut, cut in two and left on the ground. The procedure is that one of his Fijian labourers goes out every morn ing and calls to the herd, which come to his call and follow him through the plantation as he cuts open the fallen coconuts, where they have dropped, and he leaves them on the ground.

In the afternoon the pigs are again called and are fed near the homestead.

The only time that they are actually in an enclosed area is when they are col lected for shipping.

The Fijian only employs part of his time in tending the pigs. The consump tion of nuts is five daily per pig, three in the morning and two in the after noon. A pig fed on these lines will dress at 100 lb. in nine months.

The pork is used by local butchers and a sample exported received a first-class report.

WRITING recently in a New Zealand newspaper, a Mr. J. Beasley said: — “I fed pigs on copra 30 years ago and found it superior to any other food. The pigs were more satisfied with it and the pork was far superior in flavour. It was as firm as if it had been frozen. I always received the best price in the market for my pigs. I also exhibited at the agricultural show for four years, and took first and champion prize each time.

Any farmer can be quite safe feeding pigs on copra. I found one sack would be as good as two sacks of sharps, by placing half a sack in a large cask and filling it up with water or skim milk, letting it soak for 12 hours and if pos sible adding one gallon of molasses.”

MUCH interest has been taken by coconut planters and copra inter ests in the idea of using coconut meat as a fodder for pigs; but, as in so many of these things, persons concerned ask, Where is the market? Pigs of superior quality may be raised on coconut meat, or even on copra; but, under pre sent world conditions, the market is not easily seen. Britain used to buy huge quantities of bacon, etc., from Denmark and it is assumed she now will seek to fill her needs elsewhere. But no one has any data. (See further comment by a Fiji planter, elsewhere in this issue.) Rev. and Mrs. Rankin, of the LMS station at Saroa, Papua, are at present in Sydney on furlough. Their young son Dauncey, who accompanied them, has gone to a Melbourne college for education.

Rev. James Benson, ThL, of the New Guinea Mission, Gona, Papua, has been appointed organising secretary of the Diocese of Goulburn, NSW, for the next three months. He then will return to Papua.