§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the amount of bacon which can be produced out of a pig in Great Britain weighing 100 lb. dead weight is approximately 80 lb., as against 87 lb. which the Danes now claim to be able to obtain; and whether he will provide facilities to enable British bacon producers to have better opportunities for studying the qualities and characteristics of Danish pigs which are now being produced for the bacon industry.
§ Mr. WebbI know that the figures quoted show a disparity; but as the dressed carcase weight of pigs is not determined on the same basis in the two countries, this disparity is much less than the hon. Member suggests. Moreover, a number of our British curers achieve a conversion factor well above 80 per cent.
To the best of my knowledge there are no obstacles to the study of Danish methods and pigs by home producers or bacon curers if they wish to visit Denmark.