100 REPORT OP THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



The 777,200 pigs killed by the co-operative factories in 1902 

 averaged 129 lbs. in weight. Their price averaged about 648. 6d., 

 or 6d. a lb. free to the owner. 



It seems quite unnecessary to go into details about the slaughter- 

 ing of the pigs or curing of the bacon. These operations in the 

 factories differ only in magnitude and in the use of labour-saving 

 devices from what take place at any cottager's pig-sty in Britain. 

 No part of the pig is lost, the very bristles being of value ; while the 

 blood is dried, and prepared for feeding cows, horses, and poultry. 



For the disposal of some of the cheaper cuts of bacon, liver, 

 sausages, etc., the factories run shops in their local towns. Tails, 

 feet, and heads nearly all go to Ireland in barrels, while the cured 

 bacon almost wholly goes to Great Britain, there to be smoked and 

 consumed. 



The cost per pig of killing and curing averages about 2s. 6d., 

 while freight, etc., and selling in the British markets comes to 

 about 2s. 9d. 



Strong evidence of the soundness and prosperity of the pig 

 industry is borne by the increasing numbers of swine in Denmark. 



Year. Total of Pigs. 



1881, . . . 527,000 



1888, . . . 771,000 



1893, . . . 829,000 



1898, . . . 1,168,000 



1903, . . . 1,456,699 



To complete their wonderful organisation, the district factories 

 are each represented on a central "Association of Co-operative 

 Bacon Curers" in Copenhagen. Funds of £400 or £500 a year 

 are subscribed by the local factories for running this association, 

 which costs considerably under a farthing a pig. 



The duties devolving on this central organisation 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 system of mutual insurance has resulted in a vast saving 

 over the former practice of each factory doing its own insurance. 



(4) To hold exhibitions of bacon ; and it is worth noting the 

 simple method of conducting these exhibitions, coupled with the 

 practical steps taken to benefit by the results. 



The exhibition Committee in Copenhagen telegraph at any time, 

 and without any notice, to the managers of local factories to send 

 on some sides of b.acon, just as they are ready for shipment to the 

 British markets. The judges' decisions 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 



