[o March, 1912-] 



The Pig Industry. 



161 



Strong evidence of the soundness and prosperity of the pig industry 

 is shown by the increasing numbers of swine in Denmark: — 



Year. 



1881 

 1888 

 1893 

 1898 

 1903 



Total of Pigs. 



527,000 



771,000 



829,000 



1,168,000 



1,456,699 



To complete their wonderful organization, the district factories are 

 each represented on a Central Association of Co-operative Bacon Curers 

 in Copenhagen. Funds of ;^400 or ;^5oo a year are subscribed by the 

 local factories for running this association, which costs considerably under 

 a farthing per pig. 



The duties of the Central Organization are: — 



1. To deal with strikes of workmen. 



2. To deal with insurance of workmen against accidents. 



3. To deal with insurance of bacon to Britain. 



This mutual insurance system has resulted in a great saving over the former 

 practice of each factory doing its own insurance. 



4. To hold exhibitions of bacon. 



The simple method of conducting these exhibitions is worth noting, 

 also the practical steps taken to benefit by the results. The Exhibition 

 Committee of Copenhagen telegraphs at any time, and without notice, to 

 the managers of local factories to forward some sides of bacon, just as 

 they are ready for shipment to the British markets. The judges' deci- 

 sions are thereafter intimated to the managers of co-operative factories, 

 along with remarks stating whether any defects are due to faults in the 

 manufacture, or to the breeding and quality of pigs. 



With this information, managers are enabled to correct and improve 

 their methods, while an expert in pig-breeding is sent by the Central 

 Association to visit the farmers in districts where the quality of pigs is 

 defective, and to instruct them in the breeding and feeding of a better 

 class of animal. Of paramount importance is the fact that no skim 

 milk is allowed by law to leave the creameries or butter factories without 

 being pasteurized. It is believed that this practice has almost eliminated 

 tuberculosis from pigs. 



Before a factory is started, it is considered necessary to make sure of 

 a supply of pigs to be regularly delivered, and to obtain security for a 

 sufficient loan to provide buildings, plant, and working capital. Farmers 

 who fail to supply the number of pigs they guarantee are liable, according 

 to the signed conditions of co-operation, to a fine of ns. 3d. per head 

 on the deficiency, but the fine has seldom; been incurred or imposed. 



In providing the capital no money is actually raised from the farmers, 

 but is obtained by loan on their personal security from banks and various 

 other sources. " Each for all and all for each " is their motto. At 

 the beginning, some difficulty was experienced in getting farmers to sign 

 such a deed ; but, since the benefits of co-operation have become known,. 



