IMPROVING OUR PIGS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 235, 17 September 1934, Page 10

IMPROVING OUR PIGS

Urgent Need for New Blood DOMINION’S POSITION While it is true that we have many pedigree pigs of good type in New Zealand, it must be conceded that there is a very urgent need for the introduction of fresh blood of the right type, states a leading article in the “New Zealand Dairy Exporter.” Great Britain Ims her quality problem, just ns wc have, and leaders of the pig industry at Home, urged on by very strong pressure from the retailers, are energetically fighting for production of the best bacon pig. While we, in this country, are striving for the same objective, we are so far away from the Home market and so out of touch with it, that we are apt to lose sight of the urgency of the question.

Though exhorted by our merchants and by those who are constantly in touch with Home buyers to strive constantly to produce only that quality of bacon which will compete favourably in international competition, their warnings and advice seem to lose force through distance. We are more or less self-satisfied, and when wo read that certain exhibits of our bacon have been most favourably conunentcd upon in (lie trade and have compared very favourable with the British and Danish article, we are apt to become complacent. Tho British grower is in constant, active strife with his Danish rival. Week by week bo sees British and Dauish bacon offered iu the shops side by side. The things which we only hear about, second or third hand, ho sees. His knowledge of the public taste is first hand. If Danish bacon is being quoted at a premium, it is a vital matter with him that ho should strive to out-do the Dane in quality. At Home, tho pig industry is not to the same extent the side-line that it is here. With us the pig has hitherto been looked upon as a convenient agent for getting rid of the dairy by-product nuisance. In Great Britain it is farmed, in many instances, exclusively. Tho objective has been the production of British bacon of superlative quality for British housewives. Just where do we stand in this race for the Home traded Unless wo have • available to all farmers and not just to a few, the ideal type of bacon pig for breeding pur poses, we aro going to be left far behind.

To those who have deluded themselves into the belief that we have nothing to gain by importing pigs from Great Britain, a. glimpse through the English pig papers would prove a great education.

In the reproductions of prize-winners nt the various shows we see pigs such as very few of us have ever dreamt of as existing. The perfect symetry, tho great length with splendid depth, are a revelation. They have developed the ideal side without getting legginess, or without losing constitution.

Tho hams have been perfected without any accompanying coarseness in shoulder or neck. There is no question about it, we must have those pigs if wc arc to advance our position in the bacon market or if we arc even to bold what we already have.

The distemper epidemic among dogs is so distressing that any suggestions may bo helpful. It has been found in the Napier Tailwaggers’ Home that when a dog has shivering or slight cholera some fresh strong tea in a little milk, as hot as the dog can take it, gives relief. It may not generally be known that iu England tho racing greyhounds never drink water, but only weak tea without 'milk in it.

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