FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1926, Page 11

FARM AND DAIRY.

POSSIBILITIES IN PIGS. AN INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A meeting of the Oakura branch of the Farmers’ Union was held in the hall on Friday, 22nd, when a very interesting lecture on pig-raising was given by Mr. Gorringe. There was a good attendance and keen attention was accorded by the farmers, the subject of the lecture being of almost surpassing interest to all dairy farmers at the present time. Mr. Gorringe pointed out that there is a golden opportunity in the Home market just now, and that the farmers of this country have only to put all their energy into catering for that market in order to very materially improve their position. He said that it had been strikingly proved that New Zealand bacon need fear nothing from competition. At the same time, competitors, especially Denmark, were doing their utmost to improve. their goods, and the farmers of this country must be wide-awake. Some little time ago carcases were sent gratis, by way of experiment, to many large dealers at Home, and it was declared that even under present circumstances the .New Zealand bacon was in a class by itself, far ahead of any other bacon imported in the Old Country. Add to this fact that New Zealand farmers had scarcely begun, in general, to think of studying the question of improving conditions and bringing their pig-rear-ing up to date in the matter of methods, and it "was clear that there was a unique opportunity within their grasp of vastly improving their circumstances. The market was urgently offered, and producers had it in their own hands to take advantage of it. Mr. Gorringe stated that in Denmark dairy farmers got off 12 pigs to every cow, the proportion in this country at present being something like one pig to two cows. By giving attention to diet the quality could be much improved, and Mr. Gorringe recommended lucerne as the main crop, as it had the best feeding value, and gave the biggest crop on a given area. For winter feed, artichokes, carrots and mangolds were good, and the pigs should be run on the ground where the crops were growing, this being divided into small sections, according to requirements, and fenced off, so that the pigs could be moved as the feed gives out. They ought always to have' access to fresh water. Milk did not take the place of water, as it became a curd in the first stages of digestion. If the pigs were given the above-mentioned solid foods, in proper quantities they would require only about 101 b of milk a day, so that the milk would go farther and the balanced diet produce infinitely better results. The best method of accommodating pigs was to let them run in the open rather than to keep them in styes. The baeon for export ought not to be fat. Carcases should be long and lean, with not more than, an inch and a half of fat on the bacon, and this was obtained by allowing the animals freedom, as they grew in length while running free and in fatness when kept in the stye. Pigs grown for pork could, therefore, be kept in to advantage. Mr. Gorringe showed several models of styes, of different designs, tije bestliked being the A shaped. The best breeds for bacon export had been found to be the first cross Berks-Tamworth, either way, the Tamworth sow making the best mother. Other breeds that could be crossed with the Berkshire to advantage were the long white and middle white, but Tamworths were strongly recommended. It would be impossible to give in these notes an adequate account of Mr. Gorringe’s splendid lecture, which lasted for about three hours, after which many questions were answered. Mr. Gorringe has probalbly the widest experience in pig-rearing in New -Zealand, extending over many years, and carried on with enthusiasm and in a scientific manner. He was heartily thanked for his lecture.