Landrace As Porkers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29366, 19 November 1960, Page 8

Landrace As Porkers

While the . .andrace breed of pig is generally regarded as mainly for bacon production the results of a trial carried out recently with pigs of a LandraceBerkshire cross compared with Tamworth over Tamworth-Berk-shire crossbreds at porker weights is of definite interest.

Lred by Mr T. R. Saunders, of Sefton, the two litters were within five days of each other in age ai id the pigs in the trial were slaughtered at about 18 weeks. Four of the Landrace cross were killed and seven of the other crossbreds.

The Landrace cross were the smallest out of a litter of 10, while the other pigs were the best of their litter, the rest having been sold as weaners. The two litters were housed inside and fed the same feed.

After the 11 pigs had been slaughtered they were judged on the standard ' basis by Mr J. Graham, the Canterubry district pig supervisor.

While the best porker of the 11 was one of the seven with a total score of 83 points out of a pos-

sible 100, two of the Landrace cross scored 80 points and 79 points, one 72 points and one, because of excess backfat on the loin, scored only 68 points. The other crosbreds scored from 68 points to 79 points. The Land race cross porkers were considerably longer than the others and appeared leaner, although nicely balanced. One of the most noticeable features, however, was that on the hooks they presented a more uniform appearance.

Mr Saunders said that the Landrace cross were litter mates of the pen of two porkers which were placed fifth on the hoof at the Royal Show and the one killed was placed first on the hooks with a score of 86 points, compared with the next highest score of 79 points.

While the two litters he had reared had been fed the same food and had lived under identical conditions, Mr Saunders said the seven crossbreds had eaten more food, probably as much as nine of the Landrace cross, two of which he is saving for the bacon competition.