PIG INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1938, Page 6

PIG INDUSTRY

WELLINGTON DISTRICT COUNCIL QUARTERLY MEETING HELD IN CARTERTON. SOME PROGRESSIVE ACTIVITIES AND PROPOSALS. Various matters affecting the pig industry were discussed at the quarterly meeting of the Wellington District Pig Council, held today at Carterton. The chairman, Mr B. E. Keiller, Palmerston North, presided and others present were Professor W. Riddett (Massey College), Messrs G. M. Whitelock, (Palmerston North), W. J. Croucher (Palmerston North), W. Davison (Rongotea), all executive members; R. Birch and F. B. Wright (Martinborough), G. Wagstaff (Pohangina), R. Burke (Pahiatua), W. H. Bradley, Patrick (Te Whiti), H. Mortenson (Mauriceville), J. Gimblett (Maharahara), C. Swinn and B. Renall (Parkvale), A. J. Rendle and A. Foss (South Featherston), H. Tilyard (Morison’s Bush), T. Collins (Rongotea), A. Kilpatrick (Sanson), O. Brazendale (Dalefield), D. T. Johnston (Te Arahura), C. S. Hunt (Glen Oroua). It was the first meeting of the council held in the Wairarapa. After extending a welcome to delegates, the chairman, Mr B. E. Kieller, said: “You will be pleased to know that the work of the council is proceeding satisfactorily and that since the annual general meeting additional pig clubs have been formed. Altogether there are 25 clubs in our district, and as the formation of every new club brings in additional territory under our control, which of course must be serviced, the rate at which pig clubs can be formed tends to slacken. The council must also bear in mind that tlie forming of pig clubs is only the first step in the scheme, which as you know envisaged research, instruction and recording. The committee has all along felt that it is not right to establish clubs which cannot be adequately serviced, and our opinion has been confirmed by a recent instruction issued by the National Council to the effect that the supervisors should model part of their duties along the lines of the work undertaken by the Old Recording Club, i.e„ going on, to any farm, giving general instructions, and weighing all except purbred litters. We think this is a step in the right direction and will consolidate the work which has already been done.” Mr Keiller said a farm handbook for the use of the pig industry had been published and would soon be available. The Department was preparing to bring out a booklet of plans and specifications of approved houses for pigs.

• NEW SYSTEM OF MARKING. “The department,” Mr Keiller continued, “has now inaugurated a system of marking pigs which will acquaint owners with the quality of individual carcases. Under the system, which is referred to as the ‘tattooing scheme,’ ix is intended that as many pigs as possible, excluding purbred pigs, be marked with a tattoo hammer. Each pig is marked alive on the farm, not necessarily immediately before slaugncer, and is given a record number, of which the owner keeps a copy. When the pig is slaughtered, the Works take a r.ecord of its weight and . other measurements and these are sent back to the owner who will then be in a position to judge the defects or otherwise of his stock. When it is remembered that it is intended to apply the System to thousands of pigs, I think you will agree that a valuable method of determining defects in our stock has been decided upon. The supervisors of ’ the various councils have been provided with these sets and v will mark the animals on every appropriate occasion. “Your committee has received many complimentary remarks on the success of the recent dinner for members of the Pig Clubs, and in view of the success of this function, it is hoped to make it an annual one, possibly to synchronise with the annual meeting of the council. “One of the purposes of holding this meeting in the Wairarapa is to enable us to discuss the question of a central committee to operate in this area under the , wing of the council. This matter has been put down on the agenda paper and will be later discussed, when I will have more to say on the matter. In keeping with our former practice a certain amount of time has been allocated at the conclusion of the meeting for 'a friendly discussion among the members present.” Professor Riddett dealt at length with experimental and research work and reviewed the activities of the pig clubs, on which, he said, depended the success of the industry.