THE PIG INDUSTRY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3893, 23 April 1937, Page 5

THE PIG INDUSTRY

LOCAL FARMS INSPECTED. TE AWAMUTU VISITED. An opportunity to inspect the up-tc-date pig plants of the Waikato and to examine modern methous of pigkeeping was given officers of the Department of Agriculture and of the Livestock Division and representatives of the State Advances Corporation on Wednesday, when a tour of inspection of Waikato, piggeries was made. The party comprised some 60 officers from various parts of the Auckland province, several officers of the Livestock Division coming from Wellington. Accompanying the party were Mr M. J. Scott. Superintendent of the Pig Industry, Mr W. C.' Barry, Diicctor of the Livestock Division, Mill. T. Collins. Fields Superintendent of the Auckland Province. Mr P. W. Smallfield, Fields Superintendent, and Mr D. Marshall, veterinary officer. Mr H. M. Pierson. Information Officer of the New Zealand Co-operat-ive Pig Marketing Association and Mr C. P. Harington. Recording Officer of the Waikato Pig Recording ami Research Association, were also pre sent and were able to explain various details on the different farms. The first pig plant visited was that of Mr C. P. Harington, at Eureka, where an interesting account of his methods was given by the owner, a general discussion following. The next call was made at Mr Fred Discombe’s large plant at Hautapu, where the party had the opportunity to inspect the large fattening sheds and the open-air plant which Mr Discombe had just established. Mr Discombe briefly described his methods in an interesting address. INSPECTION AT TE AWAMUTU. An indication of the success that can be made, to attend large scale operating was provided at the extensive pig plant of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company at Te Awamutu where 230 sows are kept and where 300) baconers will be turned off this year. Members of the party were interested to learn that all the pigs turned off as baconers arcbred on the property. Opportunity v,-as taken during this visit to allow Mr D. Marshall to. give a brief address on pig diseases and measures to prevent the more common ailments in pigs. The up-to-date plant of Mr F. C. Haycraft at Ngahinapouri was next visited where the success of methods advocated by the Waikato Pig Recording Association was clearly indict ted. Mr R. Chilcott’s plant at Te Rapa provided much to interest the party, Mr Chilcott explaining that 300 baconers had been turned off annually from the property. The party was impressed by the healthy rendition of the pigs and the excellent pasture available for them. The very modern pig houses and the ideal lay-out of the pig plant of

Messrs Burwcn, Ltd., the last to be visited was very favourably commented upon by the party, special interest being shown in the feeding methods adopted. Mr Pierson explained the policy followed by Messrs Burwen, Ltd., and the success that had attended their bleeding’ of pedigree pigs. On Wednesday night members of the party attended a screening at I’uakura of the New Zealand Pig Marketing Association’s film dealing with all aspects of the pig industry, M H. M. Pierson supplying the necessary explanation.