Most Prolific Sow

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6864, 21 May 1932, Page 12

Most Prolific Sow

CLAIM MADE IN ENGLAND. 305 PIGS IN 16 LITTERS. Controversy as to tho world's most prolific sow continues to hold attention. Canada first claimed the honour with a sow that produced 134 pigs in 35 months. Mr H. S. Pedlingham, Colwall, near Malvern, Worcestershire, replied to this with a Large Whito with 148, also in 35 months. One week after publication of those details she farrowed a litter of 10, making a total of 104 in'eight litters over three and a-half year's. Tho sow reared to butchering ago 10G of this total. In Canada The Farmer's Advocate has been stirring up interest in an attempt to secure better figures. The paper states: “What is meant by prolificacy? Is it the number of pigs farrowed or the actual number reared for breeding purposes or slaughter? Moreover, is the time or ago limit a deciding factor? At the ‘F.A.' farm, Wclwood, Ae havo a sow that has reared 119 pigs in 11 litters. She is expected to farrow her twelfth litter iu three weeks’ time. Fully 80 per cent, of her progeny, has been sold for breeding purposes. > On the basis of pigs reared, tho Welwood sow lias her English contemporary beaten by 13 pigs. Of course, if the English sow lives and continues to breed she may pile up a total figure that is indeed hard to beat. On the other hand she may be dead now. Now that it has started, let’s uncover the world's most prolific sow.” Tho Farmer and Stockbreeder gives the full details of Air. Pedlingham's sow. She is still alive, having produced in'all 305 pigs iu 16 litters. Of these she has reared to butchering age 210, and tho weight-for-age ratio has been well above the average. The boars used havo been of the well-known Bourne blood. The following figures arc vouched for by a local veterinary surgeon:— Sow farrowed January, 1923. Pigs Farrowed Reared

* Period over which original record was broken. A gilt from the .January 1, 1930, litter, had farrowed three times at under two years: — Farrowed Reared

Dccombor 12, 1923 12 11 June 15, 1924. 24 15 Decombor 2S, 1924 IS 14 June 11, 1925' 15 13 Decombor 25, 1925 19 12 Juno 24, 1926 18 14 Ja.nuary 2, 1927 16 11 July 3, 1927 19 14 January 5, 1928 19 14* Juno 29, 192S 22 12* January 4, 1929 21 14* July 19, 1929 21 16* January 1, 1930 24 13* July 13, 1930 21 15* Decom.be r 29, 1930 20 11* June 30, 1931 16 11 305 210

October 31, 1930 .. 11 10 April 22, 193.1 .. 12 10 October 6, 1931 .. 17 13