National Bacon Pig Championship

Northern Advocate, 26 May 1938, Page 4

National Bacon Pig Championship

Few people realise the planning ahead that is necessary to get into the top placings of the National Bacon Championship. Of course, by luck, an exhibitor may have the right pig just fit on the show day, but so many have just the right type, but the show day is all' wrong. Since the Whangarei Stock Show offered valuable prizes for exhibits in March, it may be of interest to note the age and weight of i;his year’s entries. Age and Weight. Out of 81 pigs finally sent to the works, 61 only recorded date of birth. This competition is primarily for instruction, and it is to be hoped that next year all will record that date, especially as points may be given for this information.

. The average of these 61 pigs was 204 days for 1391bs dead weight, giving .681 lbs average daily growth. Six Large White cross pigs averaged .7341bs for 194 days; 25 TamworthBerkshire, Berkshire-Tamworth and Tamworth cross averaged ,7001bs for 185 days; T 7 Large Whites averaged .6681bs for 206 days; 15 Tam worths averaged .6201bs for 209 days. The first five pigs were; No. 88, Tamworth-Devon cress, 135 days, 151 lbs (giving an average of l.HSlbs per day); No, 87, * Large White-Berkshire cross, 138 days, 14611js (1.0571b5); No. 17, Tamworth-Berkshire cross, 183 days, 1671bs (,9121b5; No. 18, Tam-worth-Berkshire cross, 183 days, ,1671bs days. 1671bs (.9121b5); No. 18, Tarndays, 1491bs (.9031b5). There were, also nine pigs averaging over ,8001bs, daily growth.

The lowest five averaged .422, .463, .490, .495, .5001bs growth per day. Quick Growing Worth While.

Economically, all things being equal, it is better to produce your bacon in the lesser time. It is generally agreed that in the earlier stages, anyway, quick growing repays the extra expense of extra food. This competition will help to show the influence of quick growth, in the eye of meat value, etc., and should be of great assistance, als there is little information on this point. With the average days, . 204 to produce the 1391bs dead weight, consideration must be given to the lower daily growth pigs. In the top five, the maximum days were 183, and these lost on overweight, being 131bs too heavy for maximum points. Therefore, it appears that the 204 days might be cut down to about 175 days, so that farmers will need to mate their sows not later than the end of May for next year’s show.