Copra As Pigs'

Food

Used Successfully in New Zealand

Letter to the Editor YOU were good enough to publish in the “PIM” some time ago, reports of various interviews I had, when I was in NZ, with leading farmers, con cerning my advocacy of copra as a pork and bacon producer. I was successful m stimulating the interest of Mr. C. H. M.

Sorensen, of New Plymouth, supervisor to the Taranaki District Pig Council whose attention already had been drawn to the matter by experiments made by Auckland farmers.

My father who lives in New Plymouth, now informs me that direct shipments of copra are at present being made to the port of New Plymouth at a saving of £2 a ton compared with the cost of land ing copra at Auckland and transhipping it to Taranaki. The whole of the ship ments are readily snapped up as soon as the copra leaves the ship’s slings.

This copra, of course, is Samoan pro duced. However, now that we are to have a Pacific Copra Pool, it would seem that my efforts may do a little good to Fiji,

whilst being of great benefit to all Pacific copra producers adjacent to NZ For the enlightenment of those who still are sceptical as to the value of copra as a pig food, will you reproduce the following cuttings from a Taranaki

paper?

Copra A Success In Taranaki

“Evidence of the value of copra for the pro duction of either pork or bacon has been given by one of the largest commercial pig-raisers in North Taranaki.

“Mr. L. A. Alexander, Tikorangi, who fattens about 800 bacon pigs each season, is at present feeding all his winter stores and brood sows on copra. The pigs are allowed a certain run-off on grass, and receive also an allowance of home grown roots, but it is to the copra that Mr.

Alexander attributes the unusually rapid growth and fine bloom of his stock. During a period of years, Mr. Alexander has experimented with a great variety of pig food, even going to the expense of providing a digester for rendering down animal meats. Thus he is in a unique position to speak with authority on the subject of feeding for quick returns, which, of course, is the essential of success in pig farming. ‘The further point that all his copra-fed pigs enjoy the best of health is another reason why Mr, Alexander favours this new diet.’’

Farmers Satisfied

“In an intereview, Mr. C. H. Ml Sorensen, supervisor to the Taranaki District Pig Council, mentioned that in every case known to him where Taranaki farmers had used copra as a food for pigs they had been extremely satisfied at the results.

“Mr. Sorensen said that though some farmers appeared uncertain about the palatability and feeding value of copra, others who were in a big way of business as pig-raisers had abundantly satisfied themselves that the food was not only most efficient, but also most economical. Pro ducers, he said, should take notice of these re sults, because in many cases they were the observations of farmers who had had a life time of practical experience in producing high grade quality pig meats.”

I want to emphasise that, so far, only a few NZ pig farmers are using the new copra diet. Other farmers are using copra as a winter ration to horses and cows, and all over the Dominion greater interest is being taken in meal having copra as its base. It will be readily seen, therefore, that the possibilities are immense, and that this field of disposal should be given more attention by the Fiji Government and the Pacific Copra Pool.

Australia, too, could no doubt make greater use of copra for pig and cattle

food.

I am, etc.,

H. B. Gibson,

Member for the Eastern Division, Fiji Legislative Council.

Suva, 17/6/1941.