PEDIGREE PIGS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2768, 7 April 1927, Page 5

PEDIGREE PIGS

“LUCERNEDALE” FARM. SECOND ANNUAL SALE. Notwithstanding the heavy rain throughout yesterday there was a very large attendance at the annual sale of pedigree and crossbred pigr, at “Luccrncdale,” Hautapu, over 300 being present representing buyers from Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty, King Country, and throughout the Waikato. The sale was conducted by the N.Z. Loan and Alcrcantile Agency Co., Ltd., while tho hammer was wielded in a very able manner by Air l.ouglilin. The Instructor in Swine Husbandry to the Department of Agriculture wired regretting being unable to be-pre-sent at the sale.

The vendor of the Lucernedale Stud has always stressed the necessity for the introduction of new blood and especially imported strains into our piggeries to keep constitution right. Lack of this, Mr Discombc contends, is the cause of partial failure that attends the pig-raising industry. That he has practised what he preaches is borne out by the fact that he has, during tho last two years, imported some 30 head of the different breeds to his stud. The very high quality of the stock auctioned yesterday, together with the prices realised and tlffi distances that many had travelled to secure the Lucernedale blood, more than justifies the lines that Mr Discombc has gone on. The imported blood wgs in strong demand, in fact the sale was easily a record for New Zealand. At no other Stud in Australasia are the five breeds kept, and no stud compares in size to that in our own district.

A strong feature of the sale was the splendid Condition of the stock offered, together with the strong constitution of the pigs throughout. They had all been raised under quite natural conditions, the greater portion of their food gathered from pasturing. Air Discombc is a strong believer in this method of pig-raising. When taken up seriously the raising of pigs for both pork or bacon is a very profitable adjunct to dairying, and Air Discombc contended that the reason dairy farmers were feeling the depression at present was through having all “their eggs in onebasket.” Big Possibilities. To our representative, Mr Discombc declared that the industry was as yet in its infancy, and that. New Zealand could yet be Denmark’s greatest competitor for the British markets. Iho statistical position was an eye-opener. Britain required annually about fiftyfive million pounds worth of pig products for her own consumption more than she was able to produce herself. Last year Denmark had supplied over twenty million pounds worth to the/ English market, while New Zealand had not made up a quarter of a million. Denmark’s return for dairy produce was loss than New Zealand’s, so that her return from pigs was greater by about three millions than that from dairy produce. Before New Zealand could become a serious competitor for the British trade, the Large Whites that arc being used throughout. Denmark would have to play a big part here also. No pig matures so rapidly and none was so popular with the British c-urers. Air Diseoinbe considered that no district in New Zealand was so adapted for pig-raising as tho -Waikato, and predicted much, growth of the industry here. A Record Sale. ( " The outstanding prices of the day were for Large White sows, eight to ten months, which wore passed in at auction, and disposed of privately immediately afterwards, Mr J. F. Young (Inglewood) being the purchaser of two of the above sows at 45gns. each, and Mr A. L. Thompson (Ohura) one at 45gns. The bulk of the others were sold at auction. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., quote the following prices and some of the leading buyers:— Berkshiros. —4-months boars, 64 to Sgns; 4-months sows, sto Ggns; 12-15-months Berkshire sows, ,T. AlcCormick, Alatakc, 2.l4gns; do., J. B. Sainsburv, Puketaha, 24gns; aged Berkshire sow, W. .T. Saxby, Roto-o-rangi, 9gns; 10.months Berkshire boar, .T. McCormick, Alatatoke, 94gns; 10-months sow, E. Chilcott, Frankton, 12gns; do., .T. Mudford, To Kuiti, 12gns; do., R. I). Fisher, Monavale, l()4gns. Large Whites.—Weaner boars,, J. Bones, Kaipaki, 12gns; F. C. Bush, 12gns; others, 8 and 9gns; 4-months boar, K. K. Litchfield, Putaruru, Hilgns; 12months sows,, J. F. Young, Inglewood, 2 at 45gns; do., A. 8. Thompson. Ohura, 45gns; 3-year imported boar, A. Ferguson, Pukeatua, 29gns. Aliddle Whites,ls-months sow, K. R. Litchfield, Titan, 124 and 14gns; 15months boar, K. R. Litchfield, 14gns, r 7months. boar, Hodgson Bros., Tamahere. llgns; do., E. AlcCabe, WaiLou, 12gns; others, & tov lOgns, Large Blacks.—4-moaths boars,. 9gns;

14-months boar, J. M. Colville, Walton, lOgns; 10-months sows, M. W. Smith, Puriri, 2 at 19gns; Butler Bros., Pukeroro, 1 Signs; Gordon Bennett, Bay of plenty, 19gns; 4-montlis sows, J. A. Burns, 13gns; do., M. W. Smith, 12gns.

Tamworths. —10-months sows, T. Appleby, Cambridge, 12-J-gns; A. K. Margar, Taumarnnui, 121gns; G. Bennett, Bay of Plenty, lOgns and 15gns; Tamworth boar, Est. late E. P. Karl, Pukeroro, lOgns; weaner sows and boars, G and 7gns.