November 6, 2012
New Zealand's 2012 pig slaughtering decreases
As compared to the previous years, New Zealand's pork industry says about 20,000-30,000 fewer pigs are being slaughtered this year.
The industry body, New Zealand Pork, says local pig farmers cannot compete with high feed costs and imported products undermining prices, and some have stopped producing.
That's causing some problems for a Lower Hutt butcher who's trying to find legs of pork of the size his customers prefer as Christmas hams.
Craig Taylor of Taylor Quality Meats says he may have to buy bigger legs that will cost more.
