PIGS FOR EXPORT TRADE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 16

PIGS FOR EXPORT TRADE

BREEDING FOR TYPE FIELD DAY WITH MR. N. HASTINGS. LECTURE TO KOHURATAHI FARMERS Under the auspices of the Kohuratahi Pig Recording and Development Club, a field day for farmers interested in rearing pigs, was held on April 12. Thirty farmers assembled at the piggeries of Mr. E. E. Jennings to meet Mr. N. Hastings, Dominion organiser of the Pig Marketing Association, and Mr. C. A. Sorenson, Taranaki chairman of the same association. After Mr. Hastings had explained the extent to which Mr. Jennings’ pigs complied with the requirements of the export trade of porker and baconer pigs, a move was made over the M co saddle to Mr. C. McCutchan’s piggeries. Here Mr. Hastings delivered a lecture which, occupying about two and a-half hours, covered practically every point which the farmers’ present might have wished to know about pigs. He dealt with the line on which farmers should breed, and described the type of carcase required by the English market. He emphasised strongly the necessity of raising long lean types, and said that the long lean pig gave more chops to the pound of its weight than the old-fashioned tubby type. Mr. Hastings then dealt with the conditions under which pigs should be kept, and the ideal lay-out for piggeries, fencing and houses. He briefly sketched the results and information which had been obtained for the benefit of pig farmers by the Waikato Pig Recording Club, and showed how important it was to the farmer that he should record his pigs. Finally, he showed, by quoting figures, that the farmer who failed to feed concentrates to his pigs was not making nearly as much money as the farmer who did. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Hastings pointed out in the piggeries, of Mr. C. McCutchan, various pigs which exhibited, in a greater or less degree, conformation to the desirable type. It had been intended to visit other piggeries in the district, but Mr. Hastings had to alter his original plans and was forced to return to New Plymouth.