THE PIG INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 77, 26 February 1930, Page 8

THE PIG INDUSTRY.

„. To the Editor. *i waT^ 11 & a turday’s issue of tno standard appears a very interesting article on the pig industry written by “Ploughshare.” In the latter Pj? r t the article under the heading or show bacon pigs, “Ploughshare” writes that the fattener has a lot to learn in respect to live weight of pigs and I quite agree with him. As long as the farmer treats his pigs as just tho means of getting rid of the waste by-products of the dairy and not as a necessary part of his farming operations, this lack of weight judgment will continue, when in reality if properly managed they will give the greatest return for the least expenditure of capital on the farm. In connection with the Masterton Show, “Ploughshare” "ets mixed with type, quality and weight. Surely ixtra weight cannot alter type and conformation of an animal.

The first prize pigs in the singles was a first cross Tam-Berk under eight months, and would dress about 2001bs, showing breeding and quality; an ideal type of bacon pig, although over the weight desired by curers. Nevertheless this animal would cure most economically, having great length of middle, good well-shaped hams, nicely finished at the elbow; shoulders well placed, light crest and head and fine bone; brought out in ideal show condition. This pig would kill with a wastage of about 20 per cent against the second prize about 27i to 30 per cent. The second prize animal was coarse and heavy in the bone, carried a lot of waste flesh about the head and shoulders. It is this class of pig that the curer objects to getting over weight. This is an instance of where the farmer should be paid on quality and weighty so the sooner we get together and have a grading system the better it will be for the industry,

In the pairs class the first prize pen was again a first cross Tam-Berk nicely finished pig, as near the weight as one could judge and of true bacon type. The other pairs were unevenly matched, the odd pigs being heavy in the bone and not brought out in the samo show form. These pigs would not cure so economically as the first prize E’en, being of a more inferior type. In conclusion, I would like to ask “Ploughshare” how weight can alter the conformation of a bacon pig. 1 do not think that curers would object to overweight in pigs of the type that wore awarded first prize at the Masterton Show. I am, etc..