Pig Clubs’ Section

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

Pig Clubs’ Section

Specially written by W. A. BEATTIE

Chilled Beef Championship For Northland

THE announcement in the Waiolira A. and P. Society’s schedule of the chilled beef championship for Northland is of exceptional interest as it completes the range of competitions in our district. The Northland section of the Dominion fat lamb competition is held at Waimate North, the national bacon pig championship at Whangarei, the Northland porker championship at Moerewa, and now the chilled beef championship at Waiotira.

While a good deal of value attaches to these competitions as such, there are two very much more important aspects for farmers. One is the opportunity for every farmed to see the animals alive and then to visit the works (or in the case of the bacon, the winter exhibition) and see the carcases. This must lead in the end to his being able to estimate with some degree of certainty the type of animal that will produce the best carcase. The second point of value is that every exhibitor gets a detailed report on the carcase of his exhibits. As a guide to future breeding policy, this is quite invaluable. Every inducement to progress is thus offered in this range of competitions. f

WelMord to Kaiwaka

Kaiwaka-Waipu Quite a lot of progress has taken place in various parts of Kaiwaka, IVlaungaturoto, and those districts lying towards the west from Maungaturoto. While a good deal of this country is heavy and cold, and, like much of the rest of the North, is very deficient in shelter, natural difficulties aie being rapidly overcome, and a great deal of production will yet come from these districts. Without much more shelter, however, progress will be retarded. Trees and still more trees, should be the slogan. One of the bugbears for Northern farmers this year has been the continuous cold, dryingsouth westerly' winds. Their persistence has almost driven farmers to distraction. They dry up the Inad, retard growth, and affect pigs particularly by producing dry scaly skins and scald. Their effect can be very greatly minimised by adequate breakwinds. This autumn will be a great chance for a drive in shelter tree planting. Such an effort would be worth many thousands of pounds to the North. It would make happier farmers, more contented stock, and would very greatly enhance the beauty of the countryside.

It is .very pleasing indeed to note that the “Northern Advocate” has, by the donation of prizes, identified itself with all these competitions, realising that the future progress of the North can be very materially assisted by such efforts. The North has not always been enterprising, and it is gratifying to see the spirit of enterprise now permeating the whole district. Without it we would stagnate. With it, there is no knowing to what heights our district can rise.

Difference in Districts

While many districts in the North are forging ahead, there are others that for some reason or other are not making much headway. Taking the area covered by the District Pig Council, noticeable progress is being made in the Warkworth, Matakana, Kaipara Flats and Port Albert areas. There is much good land and a certain amount of heavy, difficult land being farmed in those areas, but whatever the class Of land, it is in the great majority of cases, being farmed very well indeed. Each visit to these districts reveals fresh improvements, and the appreciation of modern farming methods.

l Exposed Piggeries

Comparatively few piggeries have good shelter, yet it is probably more essential here than on any other part of the farm. Wind and sun can cause scald that will affect the exportability of the carcases, and, further, the health of the pigs can be seriously impaired by exposure to the elements. Shelter makes the temperature much more equable. Sudden changes of temperature are often quite disastrous to pigs. In any event, shelter is natural to all animals, and if they are deprived of it, anything might happen. Waipu-Whangarei While in parts of this area there are improvements being made, the Waipu district is probably the most conservative district in the North. There is more run out pasture, gorse .and tea tree on excellent land than in any other part of the North. That it should be so on a main highway is most regrettable. The wonderful view from the top of the Brynderwyn road iVould be greatly enhanced if one were to look down on a well-farrowed valley. If the spirit of enterprise and good farming that is so evident on these farms at the foot of the hill were to

There is a great deal of very difficult heavy land in this area. Cold, and lacking shelter, its first need is trees. Indeed, a great deal of the steeper country should be planted in the manner of the Topuni plantations, because it is extremely doubtful whether it will pay well enough to farm. In any event, plantations should be a good investment. Not only will they be directly productive, but as a means of preventing soil erosion and maintaining equable climate, their value is very great. Further, they beautify otherwise drab country. This is surely-quite a consideration, as it is much more pleasant to live in beautiful surroundings than otherwise and it is worth something to ensure this for ourselves.

permeate the whole of Waipu, there

would be no more beautiful and productive area in the whole of the | North. The work of the pioneers has j not been carried on. If one wishes to see the old type of steer, the old type ■ of pig, and untopdressed pastures, Waipu is, unhappily, the place to see them. When will Waipu take advantage of its great soil, its superb situation, its noble tradition. The time will yet come, and it is to be hoped that it is not far distant, when Waipu will be the cock o’ the north. While much of the land from Oakleigh on would be better in plantation, there are areas even in that poor country that are being improved, and are showing a good sole of grass. This type of land is very difficult pig country. unless the pigs are permanently housed in winter and early spring. Pigs damage this heavy country very much in wet weather, and it poaches badly as a consequence. It is probably better to concentrate on the production of porkers only on this heavy land. By so doing, the short season has not the ill effects that it would have were one to concentrate on baconers or even one lot of baconers and one of porkers. The breeding stock needs to be particularly well looked after as heavy land is usually cold, and under such conditions the breeding stock requires more feed to overcome this cold. Plantations on this country would not only be of great value, but would add much to the entrance to Whangarei. One does not, at present, get a very good impression as one enters Whangarei through this country. Were the road to go through Portland and along the waterfront, a much better impression would be given.

Ruawai-Dargaville This pai’t of the North is a great credit to it. Progress is very rapid. Wintering stock is the worst problem on the very large areas of flat, and it seems that most farmers will have to have a hill farm to winter. This will overcome the alarming amount of tuberculosis in the herds there'. The output of the Ruawai and Northern Wairoa Co-op. Dairy Company (over 5000 tons) is eloquent testimony to the productivity of this area. An area of great promise is that strip of land from Dargaville to the Kaipara Heads, it was confidently predicted hy an expert that in a few years time that area will contribute over two thousand tons of butter to Northland's production. Pig clubs have been established at Tatarariki and Tikinui already, and much of the land being light and free draining, is eminently suited to the production of pigs. The farmers are very enterprising, and much more will yet be heard of this forgotten area. Those who have seen its possibilities are enthusiastic in the extreme regarding it. ; 1