PIG BREEDERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 246, 15 September 1936, Page 8

PIG BREEDERS

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. MEETING OF COUNCIL. Matters of interest to pig breeders ■were dealt with at a meeting of the council of the New Zealand I’ig Breeders Association, in Palmerston North, to-day. Those present were Messrs J. A. Russell (chairman), A. R. Gudopp (New Plymouth), R. Chilcott (Hamilton), G. S. Ross (Te Puke, Bay of Plenty), W. R. Bickers (Feilding), D. G. Morrison (Whangarei), W. L. West (Woodville), J. Simpson (Christchurch), F. Ogle (Hawera), and R. C. Clark (Pukekohe). A report on a demonstration given at the North Canterbury freezing works by Mr N. P. Nielsen, of the Manawatu-Oroua Pig Recording Club, which had been arranged by the association, was submitted by Mr Simpson. He said the demonstration had been most successful, there being an attendance of between 150 and 200, and those concerned wished their thanks to be conveyed to the council. Reporting on two remits placed before the conference of the Royal Agricultural Society, the secretary (Mr K. S, Glendinning) said both had been passed. One remit had urged the branding of bags of stock food with an analysis of the food and the other urged the abolition of the embargo on the importation of stock or, in the alternative, subsidies to be granted by the Government on the cost of bringing stock through Australia. . Arrangements had been completed, the secretary advised, for medallions for special awards at shows to be on hand for the forthcoming season. On the motion of the chairman, the four medallions for the local area were allocated to the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association’s Show. One set is to be sent to each branch for allocation in that branch’s area. The Perrett Shield, for most points in the Berkshire section, was allocated to the Stratford Show for this year. For next year, it was decided, the shield shall be allocated to the Franklin Show. PROCEDURE IN JUDGING.

Details of procedure for a conference of judges were discussed, several members expressing the opinion that the setting up of a standard of points for various sections of pigs being judged would be advisable. A was emphasised that some judges appeared to place too much importance on certain individual points, such as the head, the tail or the ears.

Mr Clark expressed the opinion that the judging should be governed by indications of the pig’s usefulness and its character.’

Opinions were so varied, said Mr West, that the best thing to do would be to hold a round-table conference of judges. If they discussed a. pig among themselves a more common viewpoint would be arrived at.

Mr Morrison moved that the chairman and secretary attend the discussions held at each of the major shows. The association’s branch in each instance would arrange the discussion for its particular district, but with two persons attending most of the gatherings some correlation between them all could be reached.

The motion was seconded, and in a round-table discussion it was decided that the pigs used in the discussions be those from aged classes. The motion was passed. The secretary reported that the North Taranaki branch had objected strongly to a proposal from the annual meeting that yearly returns of stock he requested from the breeders, on the ground that they would be troublesome and unnecessary. If an unscrupulous breeder meant to “ring in” another sow for one which had died he could make a wrong entry in the return, said Mr Clark. The national recording scheme would achieve the same end, as it would check up on the pigs on various farms. Mr Gudopp moved that, on request, any member be compelled to make out a complete list of all stud pigs on his farm.

The chairman pointed out that the association already had power for that.

On the motion of the chairman, it was decided that the discussion he held over until the opinions of all branches come to hand. Another recommendation from the annual meeting, that litter record figures bo deleted from the herd book, was also held over, at the suggestion of the chairman, who said that when the recording scheme came into full force the figures obtained would replace those given by the breeders themselves.

GENERAL. The Canterbury A. and P. Association advised that £1250 was being spent on the erection of a new pig pavilion with the best of conveniences for judging.— Mr Simpson said an excellent job was being made of the pavilion and it was decided that a letter of appreciation be forwarded to the association,' while the chairman is to thank the association’s president personally, later. On the motion of the chairman, a resolution of sympathy with Mr James McFarland, of Feikling, in the passing of Mrs McFarland, was passed in the usual manner. The chairman said that Mr McFariand had been the founder of the association. Suitable expressions of sympathy had already been forwarded. The Manawatu-Ofoua branch asked by letter that Messrs W. H. Bird, A. G. Golder and H. Earner be promoted from junior to senior judges’ statue, and recommended the inclusion also of - Messrs P. G. Stevens (Large Whites, Tamworths, Bcrkshires and Large Blacks), W. A. Davison (Tamworths and Bcrkshires). The addition of the following junior judges was urged: Messrs D. McFarland (Berkshires), W. L. West (Berkshires and Tamworths), West, junr. (Berkshires and TarnWorths). Hunt, junr. (Hamwortlis), F. E. Miller (Large Whites and Tamworths), Hunt, junr. (Tamworths), F. and Largo Blacks).—The recommendations were adopted. The secretary reported that the registrations to date were: Berkshires, 029; Tamworths, 849; Large Blacks, 120; Largo Whites, 134; Yorkshires, 2; Du roc Jerseys, 1; total, 1735. After the’round-table discussion it was decided to invest up to £2OOO in local ' bodv debentures, the secretary a.nd the chairman being given power *°Fifteen new members were elected.