Pork producers cop a roasting

Agriculture Minister David Carter gave pork producers a telling off at their annual conference.

He said the Mike King Sunday TV programme fixed public concern on the pork industry like never before.

"From the Prime Minister down, it was clear that most of New Zealand was not comfortable with the conditions shown in the footage."

Mr Carter told pig farmers that consumers, particularly discerning consumers who buy pork products, have genuine concerns around the integrity of production of the food they buy, and this includes animal welfare.

"These consumers are completely rational people whose conscience affects their purchasing decisions. This is their right and as an industry you ignore them at your peril. Proof of this was the decline in pork purchases in New Zealand immediately following the TV programme," Mr Carter said.

"The next group of people who will not go away are the animal rights activists who are committed to the elimination of intensive farming methods.

"Rightly or wrongly, these groups will utilise all manner of means to sell their message, both legal and illegal. If you think they are not planning further attempts to discredit you, then you're dreaming."

He said the challenge for the pork industry is the way it responds.

He reminded them of another speech, given by then-Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton to their conference in 2001.

"In this speech, the minister gave you a clear challenge, and I quote: `I believe it is time for you to take a good, long, hard look at yourselves'.

"He went on: `As I see it, you have a real opportunity here to take the initiative, to take the high ground. Stop letting other people lecture you about your industry and demonstrate your ability to lead'."

Mr Carter said some pork producers had taken that message on board, but as an industry it hadn't done well enough.

He said the National Animal Welfare Committee (NAWAC) code delivered a long lead-in to 2015 and as a result, a degree of complacency crept in.

While not a criticism of NAWAC, Mr Carter said he believes New Zealanders were going to be demanding restrictions on the use of dry sow crates, or the eventual elimination of them altogether.

NAWAC is to review the pig farming welfare code with urgency and he hopes this work is completed by the end of the year.

"I am not going to pre-empt this review, but I have made it clear that I personally feel that the 2015 date needs to come forward significantly."

Mr Carter said he had recently met with the pork producers' chairman, and he said people like choice, but won't pay for it.

"I suggest you need to be more positive. You and your industry body need to be proactive in educating people so that they can and will make the choice, and in doing so will pay a premium for it."

- © Fairfax NZ News