SUCCESSFUL YEAR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 182, 3 July 1936, Page 16

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

PIG RECORDING CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. Mr AY. J. Crouclicr presided over the annual meeting of the ManawatuOroua Pig Development and Recording Club yesterday. There was a large attendance of members, including several ladies The chairman extended a hearty welcome to Mr A. H. Cockayne (Direc-tor-General of Agriculture) and congratulated him upon his recent appointment. Extracts from the annual report stated :

“The club wishes to take the opportunity of thanking the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board for the monetary grants amounting to to enable the club to function. Whatever constructional work the club has been enabled to contribute towards the advancement of the pig industry .111 the various branches of its operations has only been made possible by the farseeing generosity of the board, which has always given sympathetic consideration to our interests and for which our warmest gratitude is extended. The club has again experienced a suecosful year and in general activities have followed closely the lines of previous seasons. In particular mention may be made of the following aspects:—

“Instructional and advisory. Hie instructional and advisory services pi the club, covering all aspects of pig husbandry, have again been available not only to farmers within the extensive area covered directly by the ■ recording officer, but also to producers throughout the North Island. The latter have been covered so far as finances and time havo permitted, by the medium of lectures and demonstrations, correspondence, by articles in the daily and agricultural Press, and by the distribution of publications of an informative nature. Educational exhibits arranged at the winter and spring shows received appreciative comment from visitors from both islands. Recording service: Litter recording has been largely confined to purebred pigs. Practically all studs in the district have been under test during the year, and farmers arc increasingly recognising the value of records in the selection of breeding stock for commercial purposes. Improvement in this respect has been a noteworthy feature in the pig keeping operations of many producers whose returns have come under the notice of the club. “Investigational Work.—lncreased concentration on the investigational side lias occurred and the results of the various research activities which have been in progress during the past three years are now ready for publication. “In particular, three major projects have received attention: (a) a critical study of the major management factors associated with successful results in pig fattening; (b) an intensive study of the economics of supplementing dairy by-products with concentrate meals in pig fattening, and of the effect of meals upon the quality of the bacon carcase; and (c) an investigation into the suitability of New Zealand bacon pigs for the British market. The club' has investigated alternative methods and .rations for wintering pigs, and has inquired into the not infrequent beliefs as to the harmful effects of meat meal feeding. “National Development Scheme.— Through its direct contact with the problems of farmers during the past few years the club has been afforded the best of opportunities for studying at close range all aspects of pig raising over a wide area and variety of conditions. Close observation, confirms the opinion that the most pressing need in the industry to-day is the inauguration of a comprehensive scheme of instructional service in order to enlighten farmers in the most efficient and inexpensive way of breeding, rearing and fattening their pigs. The executive devoted earnest consideration to this problem during the year .and, working in conjunction with the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Associaton and Waikato Recording Club, a comprehensive scheme was submitted to the Minister of Agriculture. This scheme envisaged the more pressing needs of producers both from a local and national viewpoint. The pressing necessity for national assistance was emphasised as a fundamental need to sound progress. The heavy mortality in young pigs through want of knowledge and feeding, disease, and general management was given as one outstanding reason for the appointment of practical, well-informed instructors services would always be available to advise farmers in the field. Other features of the proposals submitted dealt with investigational and research work, and stock improvement bv the recording of pedigree pigs. Although no definite pronouncement has been made by the department concerned as to how iar the proposals embodied in the national scheme will be given effect to, there is every reason to believe that a distinctly forward move is under consideration. “Administrative.— During the current year our president (Professor \V Riddet) was the recipient of a Carnegie fellowship to allow him to travel” abroad for twelve months to study agricultural conditions and methods. The congratulations of the club were accorded him and he was granted leave of absence for the period. The departure of Professor ltiddet lias robbed the club for the time being of his wide knowledge aiul constructional advice. We look ft rward eagerly to welcoming him back after a profitable tour, when his observations in other lands will be made available to the benefit of our farming industries. Mr B. E. KeilJer was elected acting-president for

the unexpired period. The year lias also seen the loss to tho club of the valued services of Mr W. J. Croucher, recording officer since the inception of our activities. Mr Croucher has been forced by reasons of health to relinquish the strenuous duties which lie fulfilled so efficiently for three years, and the executive cannot let ibis opportunity pass without placing |on record the esteem in which he is universally held by members and the unique 'efforts which he has generously made at no little cost to himself on behalf of the industry. Mcm;bers will join with the executive in I wishing Mr Croucher a speedy return to tho best of good health, and in extending to him our very grateful appreciation of his wise council and enthusiastic co-operation in all matters affecting the welfare and progress of the club. His services, however, have not been lost to us, for he has agreed to act in the honorary capacity of publicity officer. As our secretary (Mr C. P. McMeekan) "ill shortly be leaving us to obtain experience overseas, it will Ix 3 necessary to mnke a fresh appointment. The club extends its best wishes to Mr McMeekan in the venture which he is undertaking and hopes that at some future date his expert services \will again he available. “Throughout the year the executive lias made every endeavour to further the objects of the club, and to make the best use of the finance available. The year’s working shows a surplus over expenses of £35. In all its efforts the executive has been ably supported by the secretary, who has dealt with an enormous amount of correspondence besides giving his skilled attention to tho analysis of recording, feed trials, and farm survey results. The recording officer (Mr E. P. Nielsen) has also given close attention to his duties and has covered a wide field with recording and instructional work on farms.” The chairman formally moved the adoption of the report. Mr F. C. Conway congratulated the club on its excellent report and the recording officer on his work. He referred to various difficulties of marketing, which he hoped would he remedied. The motion for the adoption of tho report was carried. The election of officers resuUed: — President. Professor W. Riddet; executive, Messrs B. E. Xoiller. A. J. Baxter, C. Eglinton, and L. Lovelock, with representatives of other bodies. ADDRESS BY MR COCKAYNE. Mr Cockayne congratulated the club on its satisfactory year. There were several specific points, he said. on which the Government were going to work in connection with the industry. In the near future the Department of Agriculture would institute n recording system in every part of New Zealand so that owners of pedigree pigs and pig breeders would have the benefit of it. The Government also intended to introduce legislation that would operate to the advantage of pig recording clubs. He had also recommended the Government to adopt a system of pig grading. Another point the department had in hand was the considerable strengthening of the pig husbandry personnel within the department. He honed to get the best men possible. The Government felt that when more pig recording clubs were available the instrimtionM and developmental work could he handed over to the clubs. There should he more co-operation between the clubs and the Government. There should be a personnel within the dervnrtment that would act more in liaison with the clubs. With a good staff and co-opera-tion with the recording clubs and pig breeders something could he done whereby the instruction and teachings of the pig recording clubs would be of more value to pig breeders. GRADING ANOMALIES.

A general discussion took place on several alleged anomalies in the system of grading at present in vogue. Mr W. S. Garter remarked that the sooner the grading was placed in the hands of disinterested persons the better it would be for the pig breeder. Air C. Hausmau (president of the New Zealand Bacon Curers’ Association) said that they had been pressing for years to have the grading done by disinterested persons. Other speakers referred to the same subject ill the same strain. The dissatisfaction with the present grading was general, it was stated. ATr Cockayne said that if the system could be improved it would be done. Finally the chairman closed the discussion by remarking that the meeting had had a good discussion of grading. No motion was moved. GENERAL BUSINESS. The chairman brought up the subject of the pig industry being represented on the Merit Producers’ Board. He said pig breeders supplied a big quantity ot meat to England through the board and they should have representation. A motion to this effect was carried. It was decided to support the New Zealand Pig Producers’ Association in their efforts to secure a levy on all pigs killed, whether for export or the local market, to provide a fund for research and educational work. A vote of thanks by acclamation was passed to the recording officer (Air E. P. Neilsen) for his valuable services during the year.