MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 23 (Supplement)

MODERN PIG-KEEPING

British Bacon Control. The recent cable say®ng that the Home Government had set up a Development Board in connection with the pig industry means that the Government has carried out the scheme proposed to it by the 'Pigs and Bacon Marketing Boards. Under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1931, producers of primary and secondary agricultural products were empowered to set up their own organisations (marketing boards) with statutory powers for orderly marketing. The main function of the Pig Board is to tlx terms for sale of pigs for curing, and it has decreed that all bacon pigs shall be sold on contract, on terms prescribed by the Board after consultation with the Bacon Board. The Bacon Board, besides acting as the ewers' representative organisation in settling contract terms, has power to prescribe quality standards for bacon. Standardisation, however, as well as maxii mum economy in production, is hinderi ed by the large number of small cur--1 ers. It was mainly to cure this evil : that the boards suggested the estab--1 lishment of a Development Board, to consist of curers’ and producers’ representatives and of independent members to be nominated by the Minister for Agriculture. The declared object j of the development scheme is to coI ordinate the policy of the two sides of the industry, to direct the development of the industry along sound lines, and j in particular to centralise curing in an economic number of efficient establishments. * * * • Protecting the Race. In quite a number of cases the race in modern lay-outs has been made into a quagmire by taking the cart down with the separated milk or whey. The ideal is to have a pipe line to convey the milk or whey. In a few cases tram lines have been laid. A cheaper form of trolley is that adopted in some countries for conveying sugar canes or i even coal, especially w,here the land jis of a soft nature. It is run on one rail, which can be merely a piece of 3by 2. A wooden wheel Is fixed front ■and back of the trolley and in the centre, being fixed in the same way that the front wheel of a perambulator was attached, T’wo pieces of iron are bolted mi each end of the trolley and the ends turned over to receive the axle of the wheel. A ilange of metal is fixed to either side of the wheels to keep them on the rails. To the top of the back of the trolley is fixed a piece of galvanised iron piping, which projects on either side. This is to push the trolley along. Underneath one side of the trolley 13 placed ; a piece of flat iron bent in the middle, ! so that the trolley may bo kept fairly l level when not In motion. Such an outfit would cost little and would serve the purpose admirably. « • * * An Australian View. A lecture on types of pigs for export was delivered recently by a well--1 known South Australian breeder, which I expresses well the Australian view I point. The Berkshire, he said, is the bugbear of the industry. One of the greatest difficulties was to get the man , who had been breeding Berkshires to ! advance with the times and produce ! something more saleable. This pig 1 was the wrong shape in almost every way, being too heavy in head.and too . thick in the shoulder, carrying too much fat on the back, lacking in length of side, and having large hams which to-day were not in demand. Recently i the Canadian Berkshire had been im- ! ported.. This pig crossed with tho j Large White should do good as it supplied the hams in which the Large , White is deficient. The Tamworth j was a decidedly better pig; it showed superior length of side, lighter head , and shoulder, and if a producer went ' to the trouble of selecting pigs of the breed he could produce a pig that would command a good price. The Large White was the popular pig today. To breed pigs for export It was most important to have a Large White sire, as tho colour was white and this was essential. This pig’s main at* , traction was its length of loin. It was 1 light in the bone, shoulder and head. When producing pigs for export the loin was the, greatest consideration. Tho longer the better, and tho pig | must show depth, head and shoulders light, bones fine, and hams shapely but not too heavy. Overfat pigs were not payable and the best way to tell if a pig was fat enough was to press lightly on its back and if the backbone could just be felt it would have tho correct amount of fat. Tills Australian view agrees in the main with the best opinion in this country. It is very probable that if New Zealand sent to the British market nothing but Large White-Tam-worth carcases it could leave the Danish bacon pig well behind. * * # * What Britain Wants.

The public taste of Britain has shown a very definite tendency towards leaner bacon from a smaller pig, and tho strict grading system now in vogue in Britain is forcing producers, to realise Ibis. The grading system promises lo revolutionise British pigkeeping, as it is emphasising as nothing else would do the necessity of breeding pigs that have commercial qualities. Performance records in breeding stock arc more and more demanded. Thus pig recording lias come and has come to stay. This will mean eliminating much of the guesswork and nearly all the disappoinlmehls from pig-keeping, while it will definitely make for more profitable work. Britain wants a leaner pigmeat, and smaller joinls and New Zealand will have to realise 1 his as British pig-keepers are realising it. Ami Hie best way of bringing about the needed reform will he Ihe general adoplion of pig-recording, but the pigrecording musl lie carried mil r.>mplolely, the work Dually including gradin-ts on the hooks.

The Unwanted Pig. j If the owners of pigs from 1001 b to 1201 b had only spent a few shillings on feed and taken these pigs to light baconer weights, say to 1501 b to 1601 b, New Zealand would be able to easily meet her quota this year. Such pigs are too big for the pork trade and too light for the bacon trade, in other words they are pigs that nobody wants. *** * j The Necessary Policy. The future policy of New Zealand must undoubtedly be the production of baoon pigs. The porker market Is a restricted one but the bacon market Is practically unrestricted. Certainly there is a quota on bacon, which we 1 may not be able to meet this year, but if we do the probability is that our : quota next year will be increased with j a further curtailment of foreign sup- i. plies. Much is being made of the | fact that cheaper grain supplies are required if production is to continue really profitable. But the fact Is overlooked that our food is practically a waste product and that only a small ration of grain food is necessary in the finishing stages. Good quality grain food Is, however, impera- | live. • * * • Measure the Feed. A much neglected matter is the exercise of care in rationing the food, especially in the matter of concentrates or grain mixtures. And especially Is the gradual Increase in supply of the latter neglected. Great importance is being attached to this In Britain, where the use of scoops is being strongly advocated. Small tins, ; holding a definite amount of ooncen- ' trate, are good for this purpose. Not , only does careful measurement ensure , that the right amount will be given but ; considerable economy can thus be ef- . reeled. In England it Is advised to increase the grain mixture by slb. a week, but this is where nothing but grain is fed. But the principle holds good even where small amounts of concentrated foods are being used as supplementary to the bulk food. The gradual increase is most important. It Is only when the food is gradually increased that the best results will be , secured and the quickest 'gains In weight made.