PIG HUSBANDRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 63, 12 February 1936, Page 4

PIG HUSBANDRY

DEMONSTRATION AT FEILDING

Under the auspices of the Mana-watu-Oroua Pig Recording Chib, a demonstration on pig rearing and bacon production and the ailments of the pig was given at the Feilding abattoirs yesterday. The farmers present were supplemented by the attendance of the agricultural students from the Feilding High School. Addresses were given by Mr E. P. Nielsen, recording officer of the club, on the live pig, by Mr J. Mcllwaine on the diseases of the pig, and by Mr J. Drysdale on the pork and bacon carcases.

Mr Nielsen pointed out the common faults in breeding pigs and outlined the right type of animal for the overseas bacon market. There was a tendency in New Zealand, he said, to produce baconers which were too short or too fat, whereas the animal should be longer, with a flatter rib and a deep chest. With the assistance of several carcases, Mr Drysdale demonstrated the finer points of the ideal pork and bacon carcase, stating that an ideal carcase was rather hard to find. Mr Mcllwaine dealt with disease in pigs, which he said was one of the major problems of the pig farmer today. The disease causing the condemnation of the greatest number of pigs to-day was tuberculosis. Pigs were very liable to become infected with the disease and the main cause of infection was through their food supply. Pleurisy and peritonitis were diseases which also caused the rejection of numerous carcases. With several diseased carcases. Mr Mcllwaine was able to show the effect of the disease on the animals.