PIG-BREEDING IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1945, 4 June 1891, Page 7

PIG-BREEDING IN NEW ZEALAND.

(By Mr Jamei Bowe, in the Live Stock Journal.) Some 20 years ago the Government of New Zealand determined to add to the then sparse population of the colony by issuing free tickets to suo persons as their agents considered would become desirable oolonists. Having heard some good accounts of New Zealand, I applied for a pass for myself and wife. In due oourae the order arrived, when with sore hearts we bid farewell to the land of our birth. We eailed from Plymouth, and after a 90 days' voyage (not considered very long in those days) we arrived at Port Ly ttelton, the seaport town of the provincial distriot of Canterbury. I was much taken with the place. I had not been long ashore when I bad the good fortune to meet a countryman who had been for some years in the oolony. This man strongly advised me to take up my abode in Obristohuroh, " the Oity of the Plains," situated seven miles from Lyttelton, inland. I took his advice, and here I am to-day, well pleased with the step I took 20 years ago. Before I had been a year in the colony myself and my wife had earned enough to purchase the stock and lease of a small retail grocer's sbop. By constant and close attention to our business it soon grew beyond our expectation, so much bo that after a year or two I felt desireous of adding a branch to our business. As long as I can remember my father was a miller aad a breeder of pigs, for which he received numerous prizes. It was my duty as a lad to lcok after these pigs, and to attend the local shows. Hence it is that I acquired a taste for the business of pig-breeding, and growing weary of the monotony of the town business without my pigs, I at last deoided to purchase a farm and go into the business again. I was successful in procuring a suitable one at Windsor, just two miles from my plaoe of business. My next step was to prooure the bast speoimens of the leading breeds then in the colony, the Berkshire and Yorkshire. With these I produoed some excellent crosses suitable for baoon purposes, which proved to be a profitable business, for the reason that New Zealand bacon commanded the highest price in each of the Australian markets. Succeeding so well in the baoon-auring, I determined to try my hand at breeding (or sale and for exhibition. My next step was to send to England for the best blood I could prooure. I commissioned my brother to purohase and ship to my order a number of Berkshire and Yorkshire pigs from the best known breeders. He acoordingly selected some sows and boars from the celebrated herds of tbe Earl of Ellesmere, J. and F. Howard, and O. E, Duokering, of Lincolnshire. In due time these shipments came to hand, and the first year I succeeded in taking two first prizeß with their progeny. These pigs formed the nucleus of the herd with which I have held my own pgainßt all comers to the present time, haying won more prizeß than any other exhibitor in New Zealand, and I think I may fairly claim that I' have done some good to my adopted home by improving the breed of pigs in the oolony. The change that has taken place when tbe old race of pigs, known as " Captain Cook's," predominated, is very great. A word of explanation may here be necessary. It was Captain Cook who first introduced the pig to New Zealand. They increased rapidly, but they also degenerated, and the animal which was found and is still found in the wild bush is a lanky, long-snouted creature ; henoe the term " Captain Cook's " is applied to all ill' bred animals.

My suooesseß in the show rings throughout New Zealand inspired me with the idea of trying my luok in New South Wales and Victoria. Accordingly, in 1887, 1 took a few animate and Borne hams and bacon to Sydney and exhibited them there, receiving two first prizes for my pigs and a first prize for my hams and bacon. From Sydney I took my remaining stock to Ballarat, 600 miles from Sydney, where they realised good prices, as well as in Sydney. The following year I visited Sydney again (being the centennial year) with a set of pigs, and secured six champion and eight first and aecond prizes. I there sold 35 at very satisfactory prices. The same year I took a batch to Melbourne, where I gained the largest number of points in the pig classes of any exhibitor, securing 13 prizes, These lots also realised handsome prices. The same year I took 62 prizes in New Zoaland, making a grand total for 1888 of 91 prizes. In 1889 I confined myself to New Zealand shows, taking 84 prizes in six hours, making a grand total of 428 prizes since the year 1880. For some years past my time ha* been fully occupied in breeding, exhibiting, and forwarding mypiga by rail and by boat all over New Zealand aud the Australian colonies.

For many years I attended the shows of the Bath and Wast of England, aud the score of looal shows held throughout Cornwall. And the more I bso and read of agricultural shows, the more oonviuced I become of their great value to any country. Most men think their

own animals the best in the world ; it ia only when tbey come to rub shoulders with others that they find out that there is room for improvement. By and bye I shall have to relegate the matter of breeding to other and younger men, but so long as I am able I shall endeavour, if not to improve, to at least keep up the standard of perfection to whioh I have arrived, I have at present in my possession a Yorkshire sow from one of O. E. Duckering's imported bows (imported in 1882), wbioh has gone over no less than 6000 miles in 1888, travelling from show to show ; she is now eight' years old, and heavy in pig. The olimate of New Zealand is preferable to the West of England for-pig breeding. . - — I