RAISING OF PIGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 4

RAISING OF PIGS.

ADVANCES BEING MADE. Giving a lecture at the Wellington Pig Council’s exhibit at the Winter Show, Mr E. P. Nielsen, formerly supervisor for the council, touched on two particular points —whether the bacon competitions • which have now been hold for several years had served a useful purpose, and were the various pig clubs established under the council justifying their existence. In regard to the first point. Mr Nielsen said there had been a steady improvement, particularly in the betterment in the eye of meat. At the competition last year 80 per cent, of the entries gained no points for this particular part of the judging, but this year only 30 per cent, had received no points. In regard to the length of log. last year 38 pigs gained no points and 18 lull points; this year the figures were 32 pigs with full points and 17 with none. Touching on the second matter, Mr Nielsen said that last year 23 per cent, of the pigs came from pig club stock, but for this year’s competition the figure was 40 per cent. Further, the competition showed that a marked improvement had been made, with breeding, both in regard to entries for the intcr-club competitions and those for the'individual section. Litter numbers and growth rate, both studied by the pig clubs, were most important and Mr Nielsen added that the early growth of the pig (as with other animals) was greatest up to the weaning time. Therefore, the application of the best management to the best procurable strains of pigs showed the maximum return to the farmer.