Pig Performance Record Approved

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1939, Page 9

Pig Performance Record Approved

General principles for a performance record scheme for pedigree pigs were adopted by the Northland Pig Council at its annual ipeeting yesterday. Proposed regulations, as suggested by the C.O.P. Sub-committee and approved by the executive of the National Pig Industry, were forwarded by Mr M. J. Scott, superintendent of the pig industry. The general principles involved were approved of by the council.

The regulations quoted were:— (1) Pigs only from litters that have been recorded under the pedigree sow recording scheme will be accepted for test, except that crossbred pigs will not be accepted. (2) Pigs sent in for test shall have been fed on the owner’s farm to bacon weights, and the owner shall forward them for slaughter at a licensed meatexport slaughterhouse or abattoir, making provision for killing, marketing and transport of pigs under test, in the same manner as he normally does for pigs under test. Breeder’s Nomination. (3) A breeder nominates a litter for test. As many pigs of the litter as the owner wishes may be be tattooed, all with the same number. Any two of the tattooed pigs, of either sex, may be selected by the owner and sent forward for examination. (4) A testing fee of five shillings for each litter tested shall be due and payable at time of nomination. (5) Relative to each litter nominated for test, the owner will fill in three forms, obtainable from all offices of the Department of Agriculture, and post all, along with the testing fee, to the Department of Agriculture, Wellington. (6) When the pigs are ready for slaughter, the owner will insert the probable killing date on this third form, and send it to the supervising meat inspector at the works or abattoir where the pigs are to be killed. This form is the only advice the meat inspector receives of the pigs being sent forward. Owners should therefore ensure that his copy reaches the meat inspector prior to the despatch of the pigs. (7) The supervising meat inspector makes the appropriate measurements, enters them on the form, and sends the completed copy to the Department of Agriculture, Wellington. A copy of this and other relevant information, along with the average values of pigs of corresponding weights, is returned to the owner.

(8) The department will accept nominations only when these are received within fourteen days after the eight weeks’ weighing. (9) The acceptance of pigs for test does not bind the Department of Agrfculture to continue and complete the test in the event of change of ownership during the trial period. Other Conditions. (10) The interception placed on the foregoing rules by the Department ot Agriculture shall be final. (11) Report of measurement shall be made to the owners as follows: Actual litter performance; maturity index as growth rate per day; and carcase quality records. (12) Thei’o is no objection on the part of the producers to use any particular kind of feed, or to keep any record of the amount of feed used. j (13) Pigs should be marketed at ap- ! proximately 2001 b live weight, but a range of 180 to 2201 b would be allowed. These live weights give a carcase range of 135 to IGOlbs. Pigs marketed above or below these carcase weights would not be refused for test, but the range of weights stated are those most nearly coinciding with carcase weights j sought for by the English trade. I