PIGS IN DEMAND.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19460, 27 December 1934, Page 12

PIGS IN DEMAND.

VALUES THROUGH YEAR. SOME PHENOMENAL PRICES EXPERIENCE IN WAIKATO The past year has brought about a new epoch in the breeding and marketing of pigs throughout the Dominion. As a subsidiary industry to dairying, pig-breeding has more than held its own in a period of depressed prices, and throughout 1934 the ruling rates obtainable have been definitely in the vendors’ favour. Both porkers and baconers have’ been in demand, and the prices showed an advance of Id to ljd on those prevailing during the previous year. There was much fear of quantitative restrictions on the export trade early in the year, but, despite the uncertain and unprepossessing outlook, prices were well maintained, and with the spring there came a firming tendency. Baconers then were realising up to about 6d per lb, while porkers were selling well at a slightly higher level. Although during the past three months there has been a slight easing of prices it is only considered to be of a seasonal nature, and the quotations still represent a considerable advance on those of the corresponding period last year. ■lt is unquestionable that much of the success of the pig industry .has come from the application of ideals of type and constitution. Much good work in this connection was accomplished by the Waikato Pig Recording Club, which, with its system of weighings and checks, developed the best types for the trade. The pedigree market has struck a very firm note and in the cases of' some sales, the prices realised have been phenomenal" In May the introduction of breeding pigs with a pedigree of performance behind them was marked by the first sale of recorded pigs on behalf of members of the Waikato and Manawatu Pig Recording Clubs. The prices were most satisfactory and well justified the experiment, Tamwortif boars, which topped the list, averaging Signs to 12gns. Then followed a number of individual offerings. Mr 11. D. Caro’s Wenday stud was dispersed at good market rates, the mature stock realising from about 4gns to lGgns, while several good prices were realised by other vendors through the mediums of private sales. However, the season was climaxed with the phenomenal prices that were realised at the first annual sale of the Mountley stud, the property of Mr A. T. Rogers, of Ngaruawahia. Bidding was feverish, and, following the energetic buying activities, the values reached figures unheard of for some years in the Waikato.

The entry in all totalled about 250 pedigree stock and, irrespective of age and sex, 145 of these averaged a little over lOJgns. Three animals made over £45, four brought over £3O, and another eight exceeded £2O each. The top price of the sale was realised for a Tamworth two-year-old in-pig sow, Mountley’s Golden Girl Ist, which was purchased by the Cheltenham Dairy Company for 53gns. The Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s Summer Show brought another indication of the improvements that had been wrought in the pig industry. Both in type and constitution the exhibits showed considerable improvement on those of a few years before and the judges spoke in terms of praise of the pigs—said to be excellent for export trade.