Pigs for profit

in P-NG

Until P-NG’s Animal Industry Centre —or “the pig farm”—was established near Goroka, little thought had been given to farm ing pigs commercially in the territory. Today, however, the idea of pig farming for profit is catching on and pigs are be ing penned and bred with some care.

The centre imports pure-bred pigs with high meat-producing characteristics and crosses them with the local pigs. The new strain has the productive char acteristics of the imported aristo crats and the endurance of the unpampered indigenous pig.

Each year, the centre distributes some 600 young pigs to 25 Ad ministration agricultural stations throughout the Highlands. The agricultural stations distribute pigs to the farmers.

The centre plans to increase its distribution to 700 a year with in the next few years. It has a pig population of about 240, which includes the breeding stock—Canadian Berkshires im ported from Australia, New Zea land Berkshires, New Zealand Large Blacks and New Zealand Tam worths.

Covering 55 acres, the centre is at an altitude of 4,900 ft and has an average annual rainfall of 77 in. It is managed by Mr.

Norman Clark, an Australian, and a staff of 32 New Guineans.