THE PIG INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19557, 9 February 1927, Page 19

THE PIG INDUSTRY.

crowing special crops.

f. GOOD RESULTS ACHIEVED.

•: METHODS OF A BREEDER. Ttjy TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Tuesday. Lucernedale ; a pedigree pig farm at Jlautapu, three miles from Cambridge, has? attained an established position in the industry and the owner, An'. F. Discembe, who started there in a small way 14 years ago, has some interesting opinions to offer as the result of his experience of the pig-raising industry in New Zealand.

An area of 40 acres at Lucernedale is used exclusively for "pigs and the farm now carries over 500 animals, representing the five main breeds. Mr. Discombe considers that dairy farmers in general make the mistake of keeping only enough pigs to utilise the milk or whey available, whereas by growing suitable crops the number of pigs kept could be more than doubled.

As the name of the farm implies, lucerne is relied upon largely at Lucernedab tor summer feed, while the artichoke is the greatest .standby for the winter, pigs which have not tasted milk, fed on these staples, have been topped off on peas fed out of the haulm, and sold fat, weighing up tq 1201b. dead weight. In addition to lucerne and artichokes, a full range of fodder crops such as partridge peas, beans, clovers, mangels, turnips and pumpkins are grown, while green crops stfch as black barley, oats, vetches and rapo are used extensively. Skim milk from Mr. Discombe's milking herd is used for the weaners and a small buttermilk contract from, the local factory assists in the economical feeding of the large herd.

No sties are in use at the stud, the pigs mostly being kept in the open. Although there is not as much shade as desirable, no instance has ever occurred of so-called sunscald. Mr. Discombe contends that the possibilities of the bacon and pork industry in New Zealand aro being neglected, the climate being ideal for the economical production of cheap fodder crops. A prior consideration to marketing problems, ho considers, is the production of a carcass suitable for export, since the overloading of the. local market with rejects largely accounts for the" violent fluctuations of tho local prices. Mr. Discombe is of the opinion that almost any breeding sow could be made to produce an exportable carcase by means of right crossing. His favourite breeds aro the Large Whites and Large Blacks, and a Largo Berkshire cross, he considers will give a longer carcase and mature even more quickly than the Tamworth Berkshires, long regarded as the last word in crosses. Ho also has a good opinion of the Large Black sow for breeding pilrposes, her ability to raise a large family on little milk recommending her to the farmer with a limited supply of milk.

Any suggestion of "seedy" cut in this breed could be eliminated by crossing with a Large or Middle White boar, the result of the cross giving a quicklymaturing and exportable carcase., It is a matter for surprise, in Mr. Discombe's opinion, that each year farmers wait for the spring sales to make their weaner purchases, when it is considered how easily they can be raised.