PIG FARMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19846, 21 May 1927, Page 21 (Supplement)

PIG FARMING

COPPER ANO GOLD. It is an old farming adage that pigs arc either copper or gold. If we are to construe this saying more or less literally it is tantamount to an admission that there is always something in pigkeeping—sometimes it may be little and at other times it may be much; and generally speaking this interpretation is true of enterprising management. We find that there are people who take up pig keeping with gusto, but by-and-bye drop it with equal conviction that it is not for them or any other sensible person. There are, on the other hand, those who have grown grey in pig-farming in a steady way. They are never without an interest in pigs and never in a position of liability to serious embarrassment should a slump occur. When such an occasion does arise they go quietly on, and so are in a position to benefit immediately when the tide turns. There is a farming adage that it is good policy to follow a bad year, but in spite of the cyclic habits of the trade it is difficult to apply it to pigs. The experience of years has shown that the safest policy is to keep going steadily and to take the average. It is easy to be too clever and to find that the average is ! mainly that of the copper periods, but those who maintain a constant interest are sure of including the good with the ’ moderate.