PIG RECORDING.

Wairarapa Age, 21 August 1934, Page 7

PIG RECORDING.

AN INFORMATIVE LECTURE. POSSIBILITIES OF INCREASING PROFIT. An interesting and valuable lantern lecture on pig recording was given by Mr. W. J. Coucher, Recording Officer for the Manawatu, in the P. and A. Rooms, Carterton, under the auspices of the Wairarapa Provincial Farmers 7 Union. There was a fair attendance of persons interested, and all spent a very profitable time in listening to Mr. Coucher. Mr. W. J. Thomas introduced Mr. Coucher, who apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr. C. T. MeMeaken, of Massey College, who was to have assisted with the lecture. In opening his lecture, Mr. Coucher said that Pig Recording aimed at (1) locating profitable purebred stock; (2) eliminating unprofitable stock; (3) grading up the farm, pig; (4) correcting faulty management; (5) demonstrating good feeding; (0) increasing butterfat reutrns by about 2d a pound. Since the slump in dairy industries many farmers had gone in for pig 1 farming as a side line, and while doing this had realised the importance of the pig in relation to the dairy farm. Recently in the Manawatu more persons had become interested in the promo-{ tion of the pig farm, and a Pig Recording Club had been formed. When farmers were getting good prices for other products the pig was neglected, but it was of greater importance.

Mr. Coucher stated that the Pig Recording Club had come into existence for the same reason as the Herd Testing Association, as it was just as essential to ascertain the ability of pigs as it was to ascertain the ability of cows, and to measure the efficiency of a sow by her ability to produce, year, and feed good litters in the shortest length of time. In pig recording, the weight of the piglet is first taken when it is three weeks of age. From birth to that time the average daily gain should be from .50 to .601 b. in weight, and the sow is responsible for that increase in weight. From three weeks to eight weeks of age the piglet will begin to supplement the sow’s feed and is again weighed, and the weight “recorded. “The weight at this period is the 'tell-tale’ of good or bad management,” said the speaker. By sow and litter recording it. can be ascertained which strains are most desirable for quick growth, and early* maturity, and to obtain the latter qualities pigs must be well looked after and properly and comfortably housed. '' The larger the litter, the more profitable the sow,” was a slogan used, said Mr. Coucher. “A good cow produces 300 to 3501bs butterfat per year, and a good sow will produce 300 lbs of weaner pigs twice in the season.”

Various tables were shown demonstrating how different weaners grew under varying forms of management.

Factors which contributed to large litters were: Prolific parents; early maturing strains; good housing; rational feeding; limited supplementary rations; creep system of feeding from three weeks; access to good quality pasture; cleanliness. Referring to the different types of feeding, Mr. Coucher mentioned, that pigs should have access to good grass. Cfiood, clean housing was essential for the breeding of good litters, and several slides were shown displaying various types of piggeries used at Cheltenham and Massey College. A uniform litter was desirable, and under good conditions the speaker stated that one purebred Tanney sow produced a litter of 12 weighing a total of 5531bs at 8 weeks, and also another animal | bearing a litter of 11 totalling 5401bs at the end of the same period. The former sow had borne two sets of 12, and one of 10 without losing an animal. By introducing improved types of piggeries on their farms, farmers had found the rate of mortality surprisingly low. In concluding his address, Mr. Coucher invited farmers to visit the club at Palmerston North. He was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.