PIG RAISING

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12284, 23 February 1938, Page 3

PIG RAISING

COUNTY_SHOWS GENERAL COMMENTS ON EXHIBITS OUTSTANDING QUALITY Interviewed a few days ago Mr D. G. Beattie, District Supervisor of the. Bay of Plenty District Pig Council, said: “Without a doubt the quality of the stock entered in the pig sections of the three shows at Katikati, Tauranga and Te Puke, which it uas been ray happy lot to visit, were of outstanding quality The pedigree classes, in particular, gave one strong evidence of the great interest taken by the ownerbreeders concerned. “The weather undoubtedly militated considerably against showing the pigs to the best advantage; nevertheless exhibitors—the unsuccessful as well as those whose animals had claimed prior place in the judge’s opinion—are to be congratulated on the outstanding quality of their entries.

“I was rather struck by the fact that in the porker class the weights were more or less a matter of guess work. To-day, with the rapid progress being made in the industry, it would not perhaps be amiss at this stage to suggest that Show Associations in the Bay of Plenty circuit fall into line with tnose of other districts, where exhibits are weighed, and thus relieve the judges concerned of the matter of guessing the weight. At the same time the exhibitor pays closer attention to this side of his entry, and so type is not lost sight of by excessive weight. “Then, again, two porker classes might with advantage be considered, 601 b. to 801 b. and from 811 b. to 100 lb., also the matter of making the porker section more competitive by providing a section for porkers 601 b. to 801 b. to be judged at the Show alive, judged at the works on the hooks, and also on the Smithfleld market, all entries to be eligible irrespective of Show or freezing works’ awards.

“These suggestions could with advantage be applied to the baconer classes, too. In none of the Shows visited was there evidence of much interest in this, the most important section of the pig exhibits, and especially roliowing on the recently introduced grading regulations. However future fixtures may reveal an improvement. “The awards as far as trophies and prizes are concerned may have some influence on exhibitors, but now that the pig industry is gradually establishing itself in the Dominion the A. and P. Associations might well feel justified in making an appeal to the New Zealand Meat Board and to the New Zealand National Pig Council for assistance. "The Show authorities could introduce as an innovation a baconer competition, conducted along the same lines as the fat lamb inter-dis-trict competitions at present conducted by the New Zealand Meat Board. The National Pig Council which controls the destiny of our pig industry would no doubt lend a sympathetic ear. “These suggestions are given for the express purpose of creating a greater interest in the industry and stimulating the number ot exhibitors and entries in future Show efforts.

■Tt has fallen largely to the breeder in the past to boost the pig section in our A. and P. Shows, but there is now an opportunity for the farmer ilroducer tq make use of these opportunities to display his anility to produce a quality food product commanding a premier position on the world’s markets.” Grading Regulations

In the minds of many farmers, producers, and others engaged in the pig industry to-day, the introduction of the grading regulations, which came into effect on February 2, are looked upon as an infringement on the liberty of the subject. This is far from the point. The whole objective of grading is to provide information to enable the farmer to produce better pigs. In the beginning there is bound to be a number of producers who may be disappointed over the grading of their pigs, and who will resort to selling on the hoof, that is, in the sty, and in the sale-yards. Those who may be so inclined must realise that a buyer in the sale-yards or sty cannot pay premiums above those which he in turn receives since to all intents and purposes he is making his living out of pigs, and naturally the return to the producer by such sales could never possibly be more satisfactory than selling on the hook. A producer who uses the sty and sale-yards channels for the disposal of his pigs may admittedly receive in many cases the same average price as by selling on the hooks, but receives no information or guide as to future production. Thus, the objective of grading is in making provision of information to enable the farmer to produce better pigs. Stringent methods have been adopted to ensure correct grading and producers are invited by the management of every freezing works to see their pigs graded. The producer who is endeavouring to improve his pigs, is going to get >ae lull value of grading, and there is yet much room for further improvement. • Under these grading regulations baconers weighing between 1211 b. and 1801 b. are graded as No. 1, No. 3, No. 3 prime qualities, anu second grade. The grading is being done by the freezing works graders but in every works there is a system of checking by the senior inspector whilst the supervising grader for the New Zealand Meat Board supervises the gradings at the various works under bis control to ensure uniformity. To-day in actual practice premiums amounting from tour shillings to five shillings per pig are being paid tor the No. 1 grade ovei tne No. 2 grade, and No. 2 over No. 3. To ensure a realisation of these premiums is to sell on the hooks, and to produce the right kind of pig. To many these remarks may be anything but palatable, but nothing of a reformatory nature has ever been brought about without offending someone or other, and if pro- | gress is to be made in this most j important of industries the old i methods, ideas and systems must go by the board.