WORLDS BEST BREEDER.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 July 1933, Page 3

WORLDS BEST BREEDER.

353 PIGS IN NINE YBAES. Many references have been made to recent records made by sows which during their lifetime produced between 200 and 300 pigs, and a controversy has been opened overseas as to the most prolific breeding sow ever known. The Scottish Farmer has awarded the prize to a large White Yorkshire sow on Mr Harry S. Pedlingham's farnv near Worcester, England, Which !has produced the enormous number of 353 pigs in nine years. Her claim appears justified, for, according to this journal, despite 'the fact that challenges have been issued throughout the world, and in particular in Canada, U.S.A., and South Africa, there have been no claimants to approach even remotely the record established by Mr Pedlingham's sow. Since December 12th 1923, this wonderful sow has produced 19 litters, with the remarkable total of 353 pigs, her last litter being one of 16 pigs on January Bth' this year. She farrow«d three times in 1930, in which year she produced 65 pigs. The following were the numbers of pigs in the 19 litters, beginning with' December 12th, 1923: —12, 24, 18, 15, 19, 18, 16, 19, 19, OfJ, 21, 21, 24, 21, 20, 16, 14, 18, 16—total, 353. The sow is still in splendid con'dition. She is now being fed under the expert supervision of Messrs F. C. Martin and Sons, the Tewkesbtury and Avonmouth pig food nutrition experts, who are carrying out a series of experiments with the sow's progeny at their experimental farm. The sow was on view at the Three Counties Show held at Gloucester last year, and its remarkable youthful appearance, despite its wonderful achievement, was freely remarked upon. A feature of the record is the fact that a litter well above the average number has been produced as regularly as clockwork each and every six breeding."