FARMERS' UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19673, 15 December 1933, Page 10

FARMERS' UNION

PLEASANT POINT BRANCH LECTURE ON SWINE HUSBANDRY The monthly meeting of the Pleasant Point Branch of the Farmers' Union was held on Wednesday, when Mr C Ley presided over a good attendance of members. The secretary read a memorandum 1 which he had prepared on the utility , and otherwise of small birds in their relation to agriculture. In view of the lack of exact information on this question. owing to the fact that no economic survey on this question had ever been conducted in New Zealand, members decided that nothing further could be done in the matter in the meantime. The remits which would be considered by the Provincial Executive meeting during the week were discussed. but no recommendations were made. On the motion of Mr Gardiner, seconded by Mr Kingston, it was decided that owing to harvest operations the next meeting of the branch would be held in March unless busi- i ness of an urgent nature necessitated the calling of a meeting in January. After a discussion with the local ; branch of the Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union it was decided to hold the annual picnic at Hanging Rock or. January 4. Pigs and Their Management. Mr K. W. Gorringe. Instructor in Swine Husbandry to the Department of Agriculture. Wellington, was then introduced to the meeting, and gave an address on “Pigs and their Management." Mr Gorringe stated that it was some years since he had last addressed a meeting in Pleasant Point, and during that time considerable changes had taken place in the methods of pig breeding and rearing. Farmers generally were inclined to look upon the humble pig as an oddment on the farm, and not as a sound producer of wealth. This was a mistake as. taken acre for acre, the pig was one of the most profitable animals on the farm. With the advent of cooperative marketing, which was now an assured thing so far as the South Island was concerned, farmers need have no hesitation in going in for pigs for all they were worth. He emphasised the necessity of first growing the right type of pig. plenty of length, not fat. which could be used both as a porker or a baconer. It was essential that the animals have correct feeding, grass, roots in winter, .liquid, and meat- ! meal. Shelter from severe weather j was most essential and clean housing | conditions absolutely necessary to ensure the health of the progeny.

The Type of House. The type of pig house which Mr Gorringe recommended as most ideally suited for maintaining healthy conditions was one built of straw trusses, built two trusses high, and roughly three trusses long on three sides, with the fourth side open, covered over with an iron roof, and a litter of straw inside. He found from experience that properly fed pigs did not eat this type of house, and there was no danger of a sow crushing her young against the wall. He had always found that the sow always lay in the centre of such a house. A house of this type was both warm in winter and cool in summer owing to the thickness of the walls, was easily knocked down and transported to a clean part of the paddock. say every six months, and the general health of the pigs was improved and maintained. Mr Gorringe dealt with the rotational grazing of pigs, and by illustrations showed the carcase which should be the aim of all pig raisers. After answering a number of questions. Mr Gorringe was thanked for his instructive address.