PEDIGREE PIGS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1935, Page 13

PEDIGREE PIGS

FIRST SALE IN TARANAKI. PRICES IN BUYERS’ FAVOUR. The experiment of holding a pedigree pig sale at Stratford yesterday afternoon did not meet with the success which the merit of the large entries deserved. Lots were knocked down at prices in marked contrast to the values ruling at the recent sale held on similar lines at Hamilton, but breeders on the whole came prepared to meet the market and a fair clearance was effected. It was a buyers’ sale, a feature that seemed inexplicable in view of the fact ihst well-bred pigs are reputed to be in good demand. The offering consisted of 61 pigs catalogued and a number uncatalogued. All were registered or available for registration, and no pig was offered that did not reach the standard set by the inspection committee. After the sale a number changed hands by private treaty, but of those sold under the hammer three Tamworth sows realised 16j guineas, 9 Berkshire sows 28| guineas, 9 Berkshire boars 24 guineas, 1 Large White boar 2J guineas, 9 Large White sows 27J guineas, and 3 Tamworth boars 20 guineas. Top price was realised by Mr. A. M. O’Sullivan's nine-months-old Tamworth boar from the Meadowvale stud, Cardiff, registered as Meadowvale Red King (Mountley Ngauruwahia King—Mountley Red Princess 3rd), which was bought by Mr. A. Chapman, Douglas, for 12 guineas. Two Large White 12-month-old sows bred by Mr. W. E. Hollard, Kaponga, realised 8 guineas and 6 guineas, the former having a litter of 8 with her. A Tamworth sow bred by Mr. H. A. Hamblyn, Bell Block, was knocked down to Mr. L. Marfell (Toko) for 9 guineas. Otherwise, prices varied from guineas to 6 guineas, depending not so much upon the breed but upon the age and appearance of the animal. The sale was held at the Stratford A. and P. showgrounds, where ample facilities were available in the association s new pig pavilion. The selling enclosure was scarcely large enough to accommodate the attendance of more than 100

farmers and coigns of vantage were eagerly sought. The auctioneers were Messrs. Newton King Ltd., Stratford, for whom,, Mr. C. S. Williams acted. Before the sale Mr. H. C. Taylor, Ngaere, on behalf of the combined breeders and as one of those responsible for initiating the fixture briefly explained that he was convinced pigs of as good a standard, type and produn-

tivity were being produced in Taranaki as in any -ther district. There was, he said, no necessity for Taranaki farmers to go outside the province to procure really good pigs of strong constitution and sound breeding lines. He hoped the sale would justify the time and. trouble taken by breeders in its preparation and so assure the fixture \ becoming annual.