PIGS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26887, 13 November 1952, Page 10

PIGS

The pig show was notable for the number of entries. There were 161 entries —almost double the number of last year—and this number has been equalled only once before in the history of the show. The champion pig of the show this year is W. T. Hamilton's (Oamaru) Large White sow, Tir-Owen Fadross. She gained a narrow decision from the champion Berkshire sow because she appeared to have reared a more even litter.

Visitors to the show this year will have an opportunity to see bacon and pork on the hooks as well as on the hoof. One out of each pair of porkers and baconers judged yesterday were later killed at Belfast, and tomorrow the best carcases will be on display in a special show case in the pig pavilion. The facilities for the pig show were praised yesterday by one of the judges, Mr A. M. O’Sullivan (Midhurst). He said the Agricultural and Pastoral Association had provided splendid facilities for penning and judging pigs. The pig pavilion, wai the first one in which he had judged in New Zealand. The pavilion had been kept very clean, and officials had been most helpful. BERKSHIRE Though there were one or two minor weaknesses in some animals, the Berkshire generally were well turned out and a credit to exhibitors, said Mr O. C. Ellerm (Palmerston North), who judged the section. The prize-winners would compare with winners at any North Island show. The champion sow, D. R. Petrie’s (Rangiora) Trecarne Lucy’s Lass, which was runner-up to the Large White sow for the supreme championship of the show, was a typical' Berkshire—well developed and well turned out, said Mr Ellerm. The champion boar, G. A. Lindsay’S Rongomai Ivan, had a good carcase, but could with advantage be slightly more masculine. TAMWORTH Commenting on the Tamworth section, Mr Ellerm said that at many shows in the North Island the Tamworths had been very disappointing when compared with pre-war standards, but at Addington yesterday they had been fully up to pre-war standards. "This is probably the strongest Tamworth show I have seen for some time,” said Mr Ellerm. Every pig in the aged sow class was worthy of a prize, he said. The aged boars were of a good standard, and there was some promising material among the younger animals. The boar championship went to James Simpson and Son’s (Southbridge) Milltown Golden Windsor* which the judge described as a good animal, but just showing his age. The sow title went to Canterbury Agricultural College’s Lincoln Jessie, which Mr Ellerm said was a younger animal showing considerable promise. LARGE WHITE Because of wh’at he had seen of the Large Whites yesterday, the judge of this section (Mr A. M. O’Sullivan, Midhurst) said he was optimistic about the future of the breed in the South Island. The sows, he said, were a particularly good lot Though there were only four in the aged group, they made a very strong section, being all of a splendid type of Large White. The champion sow, which was also supreme champion among all breeds, was W. T. Hamilton’s (Oamaru) TirOwen Fadrcss. She was the ideal type of Large White, said the judge, and she could compete with success at any show in the country. She had a good strong head, a fine neck, and excellent qualities in the shoulders, side, top, underneath, and ham. Tir-Owen Fadross also showed that she had been a producer. A sow with some age, she was still well upon her feet. The young sows also followed on well, sdid Mr O’Sullivan, and it was apparent that South Island breeders had a good foundation on the sow side on which to develop the breed. The boars were generally not so strong, said judge, and to find the champion he had had to go to the younger boars. The champion was Canterbury Agricultural College’s Lincoln Mynheer, which he said was a promising young pig. With the use

of this sort of pig as a sire, South Island breeders were working along the right lines, said Mr O’Sullivan. PORKERS AND BACONERS There was an innovation in the porker and baconer section. Porkers and baconers, entered in pairs, were judged on the hoof at Addington yesterday, and afterwards one pig from each pair was sent to the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s works at Belfast. These pigs were killed yesterday afternoon and today they will be re-judged on a block test basis. Tomorrow the carcases will be shown again at the pig pavilion in a special insulated show case. It is possibly the first time in New Zealand that this procedure has been followed. In the past the pigs have been killed at the works after the show. Mr O’Sullivan, who also judged these sections, said that the porker section, in particular, was one of the strongest sections that he had ever judged, and he had had some difficulty in sorting out the successful pairs. The winning pairs should look well on the hooks, he said. Mr O’Sullivan gave first place on the hoof to T. E. Rowlands (Kaiapoi) with A. M. MacLeod (Dunedin) second, and Canterbury Agricultural College (Lincoln) third. The bacon class, on the other hand, was not so strong, said Mr O’Sullivan. Some of the pairs were inclined to be uneven, but there were some good individual pigs among them, and they should look Better on the hooks. G. A. Lindsay (Aranui) was placed first in the class, and H. K. Bromley (Hornby) took both second and third places.