The Pig Market

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 5

The Pig Market

Exceptionally heavy supplies of pigs went to the works during the past week. One buyer in this district forwarded 600 pigs from 2nd to Bth inst. From the middle of this month to mid-February is a period of slackness; there is then activity right on to late May. The schedule rates have been altered in one particular, tho overweight porker, 101 to 1201bs, has been dropped 4d lb to 4^d. Bacon remains at 43d, 60-801bs; pork, at 6d and 81-1001bs at ssd. CONDEMNED PIGS.

A line of nine baconers was recently graded, only two of the pigs were free of defects, four had their heads condemned and three were condemned outright. The works receiving those pigs lost £5 13s 7d on the line.

Unhealthy pigs are a bad proposition indeed. The producer looses 2d lb, the State loses 2d a'lb, and the receiving works loses.

To keep pigs in good health is admittedly not always easy. One very keen and attentive pig-raiser, with, until recently, an excellent record, had a number of pigs recently condemned. Ho eventually found that T.B. infection wus coming through tho skim-milk. An examination revealed that two cows were T.B. These wero culled. It has now been found that thero is as yet an untraeed T.B. cow infecting the skimmi Ik.

It is a fact, however, that good feeding, housing and breeding will largely eliminate unhealthy pigs. In other words, the practice of good animal husbandry will, in 95 cases out of a 100, produce good sound pigs.