thought. It should be acceptable in weight reducing diets. Pork is an all-round nutritious food, providing substantial amounts of protein, minerals, and vitamins, and in addition it tastes good. Mr. WHITTEN. We will hear now from Mr. K. E. Myers. PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL SWINE GROWERS COUNCIL Mr. MYERS. My name is Keith E. Myers. I spend part time serving as executive secretary of the National Swine Growers Council. The remainder of my time I spend in the feeder pig business. The National Swine Growers Council is an organization of 29 State swine producer organizations and councils. These 29 States produce 93 percent of the Nation's pork supply. I shall not take the time of the committee to tell of the program of the council, but have for each of the members of the committee a brochure which tells of the purposes and objectives of the council. Our program is a 5-point program with major emphasis on(1) Quality improvement, (2) More uniform marketings, (3) Disease eradication and control, (4) Pork promotion, and (5) Expanded foreign markets. Since the National Swine Growers Council is a producers organization, most of my remarks, as well as the remarks of the others who will appear today, will reflect the producers viewpoint. However, as producers, we do recognize that we are a part of an overall industry-the swine industry. Because of this recognition, I would like to take a minute to tell you of what I consider to be a most significant development in the swine industry. On November 3 and 4, 1958, more than 400 representatives from 22 different national groups and 25 different States met together at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind., for the first National Swine Industry Conference. There were representatives of producers, purebred breeders, packers, feed companies, farm organizations, equipment companies, veterinarians, bankers, retailers, the USDA, State colleges and universities, as well as others in attendance. This conference was designed to be primarily a leaders conference and had as its theme: "How Far Have We Come? "Where Are We Headed?" The stated purpose of the conference was: "To improve the efficiency of the swine and pork industry, thereby improving its economic position and enabling it to better fulfill its responsibility to the consuming public. These purposes to be achieved through stimulation and promotion of a nationwide program of research and education in the major fields of swine production and marketing." This was the first time in history that so many different segments of the swine industry had gathered to take a look at the problems confronting the swine industry and to see where each segment could be of maximum help. Some definite recommendations were made, and I'm happy to report that action has already been taken on a number of them. Once again to save time, I have a copy of these recommendations for the committee members, which I feel you will find of interest. I think you will also be interested to learn that the interest was so great in the first conference that a second conference has already been planned and will be held at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, on November 19 and 20, 1959. As chairman of the conference, I wish to extend to each of the members of this committee a personal invitation to attend this conference and to observe firsthand how we in the industry are working together. We feel that this is the soundest approach to solving the problems which we have. I understand that this committee is also giving consideration to coming to the Corn Belt this fall to study production and marketing problems of the swine industry. If you decide to, the National Swine Growers Council would be most happy to be of assistance to the committee. Before going further, there is one thing which I wish to point out. We are not here today looking for help from Government in the usual connotation given to the word when groups come to Washington looking for help. The help we are interested in is securing the help of Government where Government is best equipped or suited to give help, just as we hope that other segments of the swine industry will likewise help in the areas where they are best equipped or suited to do so. We certainly wish to thank the members of this committee for their interest in our industry and especially for providing us with this opportunity to meet with you today. This meeting here today comes as the result of the study made by this committee on meat-type hogs. As might be expected, we as swine producers were alarmed at some of the headlines which appeared as the result of the publication of the "Report of Study on Meat-Type Hogs and Other Agricultural Matters." Of primary concern to us was the inference given that pork produced in this country is inferior to that produced elsewhere, particularly in Canada and the Scandinavian countries, and the implication that swine producers might be to blame for the corn surplus. We also felt a bit bad about the lack of recognition given to the accomplishments of swine breeders and producers to produce a higher quality product. But to dwell on this area today would accomplish little if anything for the good of the swine industry. Of more importance for the swine industry is to work even harder on those things which need to be done and to see where each segment can be of most help. NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESEARCH There are areas where we feel that Government can help, particularly in their historic role of research and education. Considering the size and value of the swine industry, we do not feel that it has been receiving as much attention, particularly in the field of research, as have other groups. Undoubtedly this is our fault, for we as swine producers have done little to make our wants known. As swine producers we are inexperienced in coming to Washington. In fact, I believe that this appearance today is the first time that swine producers have ever been before a committee of any kind for the express purpose of discussing the problems of our industry and asking for additional funds for research. According to the latest figures I have been able to secure, the budget of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for research for each of the species of livestock and for poultry is as follows: Dairy cattle.. $5, 260, 000 Swine... $2,600,000 1, 500, 000 200, 000 These figures are for the 1956-57 fiscal year. I had hoped to get some later information. I wrote to the Department for it quite some time ago and was unable to get it until late yesterday afternoon. They did supply me with some figures, but they do not seem to be quite in line with these. The total for dairy cattle was $3,558,000; for beef and dual-purpose cattle, $3,612,000; for swine, $1,868,000; for sheep, $770,000; for goats, $21,000; for fur animals, $207,000: and for poultry, $1,690,000. Mr. WHITTEN. Could I interrupt there, Mr. Myers? On this committee we have a double purpose. In the first place, we do not have any money ourselves and any money we recommend has to have the approval of the full Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate and then the full membership of the two Houses. The President, and rightly I think, keeps reminding the American people that we are running a national deficit. I remember the OPA days and all the letters I had from my district. They did not complain because they did not get automobile tires or gasoline allowances. Their complaint was because someone else did, and they thought they deserved it more than the other person. The question is what are they doing in the swine research field, what results have they found, what is the industry doing to use those results, and where is it that we could do more work? I am afraid that most people and that goes for all phases of industry-judge the amount of research we get by how much money we get. Then they compare that with how much money someone else gets. I really think we are in a predicament because that is the basis on which this thing is judged. In the report and in my speech we pointed out that we needed a research project on research itself, to see what they are doing, why they are not getting better results, and why those that want the research done will not put the results into effect. I mention that now so that you may tell us what it is that they cannot do because of the shortage of funds, and what particular work it is that you want done that will cost more money. I realize that is a tough question and if you can answer it, you will be the first man in your position who has been able to do so. I have not found anyone who knows what all they are doing now, not only in your field but in all these fields. What is it that ought to be done that they are not doing? NEED FOR GREATER EMPHASIS ON SWINE DISEASE Mr. MYERS. There are some areas, and I will touch on those briefly where we feel some work could be done. It is interesting to note that while the value of poultry on farms, June 1, 1959, was only 27 percent of the value of swine, the amount being spent for research is 169 percent more for poultry than for swine. While we appreciate fully that the primary purpose of today's meeting is to give consideration to those things affecting the quality of pork, I would like to just mention an area where we feel that Government could play an even bigger role than they do today, and that is in the field of swine disease. Outside of price, there is no other item which affects the individual producers' profit more than does disease. There are diseases on which little if anything is known, either about the disease itself or its control-diseases such as atrophic rhinitis, transmissible gastroenteritis, virus pneumonia to name but a few. These diseases cost swine producers untold millions annually. We would like to see even larger appropriations for the study of swine diseases and their control. Mr. WHITTEN. I might point out that our committee asked the Department to give attention to this transmissible gastroenteritis problem. OBLIGATIONS FOR RESEARCH ON SWINE, 1950-59 However, in view of your getting into the field of more funds for research, I would like to put in the record the amounts of money that the Federal Government and the States have spent on research problems of swine during the past 10 years, so that we may know just what we have and so that it will not look as though the Congress has not given any attention to it. (The matter referred to follows:) Estimated obligations for research on swine, fiscal years 1950-59 1 Does not include portion applicable to swine of foot-and-mouth disease research at Animal Disease Laboratory, Plum Island, N.Y. * Estimate not available. * Includes swine husbandry, diseases and parasites, marketing, and utilization. No breakdown available. • Does not include estimate for non-Federal obligations. NOTE.-Adjusted for comparability with 1959 appropriation structure. 3 004 42,004 TWENTY-YEAR RESEARCH PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ON MEAT-TYPE HOG Mr. WHITTEN. I also think it would be appropriate to place in the record at this point the description of the research work on the Department of Agriculture in this field during the past 20 years which was included in our report. (The excerpt from the special report on the meat-type hog, is as follows:) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RESEARCH ON THE MEAT-TYPE HOG Agricultural Research Service Accomplishments.-Research in the past 20 years on breeding meat-type hogs has demonstrated that it is possible to breed swine that will reach the preferred market weight of 200 to 225 pounds with a minimum acceptable amount of fat in any breed or cross combination. Production of such swine generally would provide about one-third less lard per animal than is the case under current production practices. This would reduce the present production of lard surpluses which are a depressing factor on hog prices. Lard today sells at less per pound than the packer pays for hogs per pound live weight. Research on the meat-type hog was begun in 1937 by the Department_with the establishment of the Regional Swine Breeding Laboratory at Ames, Iowa, and has been conducted in cooperation with a number of State experiment stations. Breeding studies were directed primarily at the development and testing or breeding methods for improving the older breeds of hogs in this country. Danish Landrace hogs owned by the Department were also used in this work since the Department had imported over 20 head of Danish Landrace hogs in 1934 for use in crosses with American breeds. This breed had been chosen primarily for its superior carcass quality as indicated by its relatively high yields in the five preferred cuts-hams, loins, bacon, picnic shoulders, and shoulder butts. As a result of these studies there are in this country today approximately 50 inbred lines of swine, some of which are being used extensively by swine producers, either as straight lines or in various cross combinations. Six of the lines that have been developed from crossbred foundations are now recognized and recorded as separate breeds. These breeds are as follows: The above breeds are registered by the Inbred Livestock Registry Association St. Paul, Minn. Since 1943 the Department has sold to farmers in 28 different States, Puerto Rico, and Canada approximately 500 boars carrying Landrace blood for use in their own swine breeding programs. Reports on these boars, as indicated by the performance of their progeny, have been very favorable with respect to both feedlot performance and carcass quality. A number of commercial breeders are crossing inbred lines developed at State experiment stations and by the Department for the purpose of producing and selling hybrid boars which are used by market hog producers apparently with considerable success. It is estimated that one company operating in Iowa is selling as many as 3,000 to 4,000 such boars each year. Current research in the Department. Further improvement in the performance and efficiency of the meat-type strains for high quality meat production is now being sought. Swine-breeding selection studies for high and low fatness in |