16 Jul 2012

NZ Pork industry on a mission

3:50 pm on 16 July 2012

The New Zealand pig industry is on a mission to become the greatest little pork industry in the world. That's the focus of its conference on Monday.

NZ Pork chairman Ian Carter of North Otago says in terms of numbers, the industry is getting smaller, but it's still a $1 billion industry, producing more than half of the pig meat consumed here.

He says it's working to connect more effectively with consumers and developing new cuts of pork.

Mr Carter says the industry has also lifted animal welfare standards with a pig care accreditation scheme and is well ahead of competitors such as the United States and Canada in implementing a new welfare code, which includes phasing out the use of sow crates.