PIG BREEDING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 301, 16 September 1936, Page 5

PIG BREEDING

New Zealand Association YEARLY RETURNS DISLIKED Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, September 15. C Reporting to a meeting of the council of the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Ass>>ciation at Palmerston North to-day, the secretary, Mr. K. S. Gkndinning, said the North Taranaki branch objected strongly to a proposal from the annual meeting khat yearly returns of stock be requested from breeders, on the grounds that they sary. would be troublesome to give and unnecesMr. R. C. Clark, Pukekohe, said that if an unscrupulous breeder meant to “ripg in” another sow for one which had died he could make a wrong entry in tue return. The national recording scheme would achieve the same end, as it would check up on the pigs on various farms. It was decided that the matter be held in abeyance until opinions had been received from all the branches. Another recommendation iroin the annual meeting, that litter record figures be deleted from the herd book, wan alno held over, the chairman. Mr. J. A. Russell, Palmerston North, pointing out that when the national recording scheme came into full force the figures obtained would ' replace those given by the breeders themselves. Calf Club Movement. Mr. W. P. Bickers, Feilding, suggested that a donation be made for the extension of the boys’ and girls’ calf club movement to inelude pigs. He said such competitions would be of great value to the pig industry, leading to better education in swine husbandry among young people. The extra cost would be very little, ns the same organisation that controlled calf rearing could control pig raising. Pigs could be judged as porkers. The chairman thought donations, if any, should be made'through branches. It was finally decided to refer the subject to the association's branches for opinions. Registrations. The secretary stated that registrations to date included 629 Berkshires, 849 Tarnworths, 120 Large Blacks, 134 Large Whites, two Yorkshires and one Duroc Jereev. a grand total of 1735. Fifteen new members were elected. Reporting on two remits placed before the Royal Agricultural Society conference, the secretary said both were carried. One had urged the branding of bags of stock food with an analysis of the food, and tbe other had urged the abolition of the embargo .on the direct importation of stock, or in the alternative that subsidies be granted by the Government on the cost of bringing stock through' Australia. , ' . ' The secretary ’ said arrangements had been completed for medallions for special awards at shows to be on hand for the coming season. Four medallions for Manawatu area were allocated to the Manawntu and West Coast A. and P, Association’s show. One set of medllions is to be sent to each branch for allocation in that branch’s, area, The Perrett Shield for most points in the Berkshire' section was allocated to the Stratford show this year and to the Franklin show for next year. Conference of Judges. Varied opinions were expressed on the procedure for a conference of judges. It was stated that the setting up of a standard of points for various sections of pigs being judged was advisable sb that some Uniformity in judging would be reached. It was decided that the secretary and chairman attend the discussions held at the major shows and the association’s branches to arrange a discussion in eaen particular district. On the recommendation of the Mana-watu-Oroua branch’Messrs. W. H. Bird, A. G. Golder, and H. Rayner were promoted from junior judges to senior judges, and Messrs. P. G. Stevens and W. A. Davison were included as judges. Messrs. D. McFarland. W. L. West, J. Hunt, juu.. F. E. Miller, and L. West, jun.. were, added as junior judges. Those at the meeting were Mr. J. A Russell, Palmerston North, chairman. .Messrs. D. G. Morrison. Whangarei, R. Chilcott, Hamilton, A. R. Gudopp. New Plymouth. G. S. Rossi. Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, R. C. Clark, Pukekohe. F. Ogie. Hawera, W. L. West, Woodville, W. P. Bickers, Feilding, and J. Simpson, Christ, church.