DEVELOPMENT OF PIGS

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6096, 1 September 1947, Page 2

DEVELOPMENT OF PIGS

HIGH STANDARD OF LARGE WHITE SUCCESS IN CHAMPIONSHIPS The outstanding feature of the Tomoana porker and baconer competition recently was the success of the Large White breed in both classes, states a northern exchange. In both the North Island baconer and porker championships the breed provided the winner. Ain analysis of the prize list shows that 21 prizes were won by Large Whites, 11 by Large WhiteBerkshire crosses,) five by Large White crosses (unspecified), and two by Large White-Tamworth crosses. The popular Tamworth-Berkshire cross secured seven awards, and unspecified crosses of these breeds gained six prizes. Other breeds or combination of breeds secured only isolated successes. As the outstanding merit of the Large White has also been a feature of previous competitions, the problem of husbanding this type of pig constitutes a challenge to the New Zealand farmer. An authority stated that the Large White was the most highly improved breed of pig, but only rarely was it seen on the hooks in New Zealand. At present, when there was a shortage of all kinds of meat on the United Kingdom market, all grades of pork and bacon met a ready market there, but there might come a day when quality would again be the main factor in the price received for New Zealand produce, and the best breed of pig would bring the highest return. No Grading System

Perhaps one of the reasons why there has not been a greater effort to rear Large Whites has been because there is no encouragement to the producer through a system of grading and different payments. This question has been raised several times at meetings of the National Pig Industry Council, and as many times it has been shelved.

In all other classes of farm produce grading is in force, and 1 payments are made accordingly. The National Pig Industry Council, with its district councils and instructors, had several years to educate the farmer on the breeding and feeding of porkers and baconers, but some of its members are still very timid when it comes to putting any grading scheme into effect. There remains no inducement for the farmer to improve his pigs, or any reward for the man who has achieved a high standard of production. If the council cannot make up its mind on the matter it might be possible: for the Meat. Board, which is primarily responsible for the grading of meat for export, to give a lead.