MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19597, 8 June 1935, Page 21 (Supplement)

MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Plg Recording, No real progress will be made in. pig-keeping in this country until pigrecording Is practised right throughout the Dominion. Of course, the recording of pedigree pigs is imperative, but pig-recording for the breeder of commercial pigs is almost as Important. It is more necessary to the pig-keeper than herd-testing Is to the dairy farmer. To the farmer pigrecording simply means the keeping of accurate records to show whether a commercial pig Is paying or not, and consists in obtaining reliable information as to growth, fecundity and quality in order that any wasteful or inefficient process may he noticed at once and ■steps taken to improvo it as soon as possible. Trap-nesting in the case of poultry and milk-recording of cows have produced a wonderful improvement in management and profitable production, because in thoso two branches of live stock unprofitable animals and systems of management can be observed at once. Pigrecording is not a new-fangled idea of unpractical scientists but it is, on the other hand, a more efficient way of doing business. Pig-recording was first begun in Denmark In 1896, but was not developed on a national scale till J 907. Sweden followed in 1 923. In 1924 the first recording scheme was commenced in Germany. America followed in 1926 and Great Britain and Canada in 1927. The Disoase Menace. 'When the question of disease was discussed at (lie recent annual meeting of the Pigbrecders’ Association there was a feeling that nothing should pc said about disease, especially in the press, in other words, that a policy of “hush, hush," should be adopted. 'l’ids is absolutely wrong. \Ye can certainly boast lh.it New Zealand is more free of serious contagious pig diseases than any oilier country in the world. It is well to say, however,

and .say it as often as possible, that there is far too much disease In this country due to bad methods of management. Seeing [lie way so many pigs are housed, fed and managed the wonder is not that we have so much disease but that we have not more. In view of the way so many farmers are now keeping pigs, housing them | properly, feeding them well and run--1 ning them on clean grass runs, keeping j pigs as they .should be kept, it is necessary in the interests of the industry that those who are keeping pigs merely as scavengers should be brought into line. There should be rigid inspection and those who are not producing healthy pig meat should not be allowed to keep pigs. * * • * Accumulated Funds. At the annual meeting of the Pigbreeders’ Association there was some criticism of tile association In having accumulated a reserve fund of over £2OOO. The presid/ten Mr A. Gudopp, contended that the association had had some very lean years and there were lean years to come, but Mr H. D. Caro, who led the criticism in favour of the association spending some of its good credit balance to assist the industry, replied that the lean years had gone. Mr 'Caro, declaring that recording was everything, thought the association should do something to assist this important movement. It was suggested by another delegate that an 'Officer should be employed to inspect all herds and check up the breeding of litters, but it was pointed out that the cost, taking transport charges into consideration, would be prohibitive. Several -speakers supported Mr Caro, but the chairman took . the stand, speaking for the executive, that a na- j tional. scheme of recording rather than local movements should be subsidised from the association’s funds. * * • The C.O.P. Scheme. The C.P.O. scheme, or a national scheme for the recording of pedigree pigs, was referred to by the president, who said that last year they were under the'impression that the scheme would be brought about so that every breeder in the country could obtain ■the full benefit of It no matter where he was located. The secretary, Mr Glendenning, said that Mr A- H. Cockayne, Assistant Director General of the department, was consulted in regard to the scheme and the details of It were decided upon. Notices were sent out to all breeders of pedigree stock in the Dominion. It was decided to do nothing further until definite Instructions were received in writing from the Department of Agriculture. Word was then received from the department that It could not see its way to go on with the scheme and suggesting that the Manawatu and Glen .Oroua Club should carry on the scheme as an experiment. The experience ~ gained might lead to the scheme being instituted In the following year. The club established the scheme for the benefit of its members, but there was nothing definite as to the scheme being put Into general operation next year. * * # * Length of Carcase. It Is to be feared that some breeders are making a fetish of length thinking that length Is the main requirement in a commercial pig. Certainly length is desirable but there are other points more desirable. And the most desirable point In a pig is constitution It is only the pig of good constitution that will make the best use of its food and will rapidly reach marketing weight. Length is too often accompanied by legginess and narrowness, the two worst features in a pig, or indeed In any animal. Much the same thing applies to the fine shoulder we are told the ideal ban-oner must have. The fine shoulder is only desirable j.vhen the shoulder is well laid in and the pig has the necessary heart and ■lung room. • * » «> Value of Comfort and Warmth. Pigs are seriously affected by cold conditions. Iln manly feeding trials ; conducted In this country it has been \ found that with every frosty night j there was a decline in weight In- I crease, and in England It Is found that pigs sent to ourers in the winter months always grade worse than those sent in In the warmer months of the year. # * * * Successful Feeding. Dr. Charles Crowther, the eminent authority on pig breeding of England, ! recently told of the methods of a very j successful breeder in England which is ■of special interest to New Zealand pigbreeders because the methods described are so similar to those being • advocated in this country. Dr. Crowther said: “This reminds me (he had' heen speaking of the value of separ- j ated milk for pig-feeding) of what I | was told some years since by a very successful producer of bacon and , pork pigs that Invariably sold well in our local markets, and always carried a wonderful bloom so well Weed by purchasers. This well-known farmer attributed his success to feeding separated milk with barley meal and pollard. This, of course was one of the great standbys of our ancestors, and time has not apparently altered the value of this feed. As regards re- I cording, I personally look upon this as being as necessary to-day in tho j pig 'breeding and feeding industry as it, is in (lie world of dairying, and we all know, or should know, the value of this to milk producers.’’