PIG CLUBS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 58, 27 May 1942, Page 6

PIG CLUBS

PROGRESS IN DISTRICT SUPERVISOR'S REPORT In tlie coursc of his remarks in his annual report to the Bay of Plenty District Pig Council, the supervisor, Mr Norman Carter, made the following observations on the activities of local pig clubs:— May I before commencing my report, make reference to the death of our Supervisor, John Reenberg. Everywhere in our territory I hear of his' populaity and opinions of his sterling worth. All express deep regret nt his loss. I met and knew him when appointed and always: held a very high opinion of him. . His death means the loss of a personal friend. I In presenting this, my first annual - report, covering a full 12 months since 1113- appointment as your Sup- [ ervisor, we can look Lack witli some : satisfaction to steady progress made i under difficult conditions. The year [ under review has been one of the most disturbed as affecting the pork and bacon industry in New Zealand. Following a drive for increased production, we were suddenly told that no more baconers could lie exported. Then almost before we had recovered from the shock we Ave re informed that 5000 tons of baconers were required by December to be followed a little later by the information that a lurther 6000 tons were required. This, ofi course, Avas a very welcome piece of news. The fact remains, however, that there is a degree, of uncertainty in the industry Avliich is- disturbing. At present there is the indication that there Avill be little or no carry over at the end of this season. A much better position than that obtaining last year. If the drive for extra production had held, the pig industry Avould have received a wonderful boost and Ave could honestly have reported specLacular progress. Asf it is, progress j.s s 1 ovv but none the less certain. Each year avp can point to a reduction in rejections, in condemnations and an improvement in the quality of carcases. To a reduction in disease notwithstanding major setbacks due to unseasonable weather. By far the greatest brake on progress, however, is the shortage of labour on every farm and it is only to be expected that the pig is the first to suffer. Club Stock The recording of club litters has , ! fallen off considerably and under the circumstances 1 have not pushed this , matter in recent months. A number cl' litters have been weighed hew- j ever. Galatea produced a litter of eleven with an aggregate of 37%1b5. 4121bs and 1 an average of ; Te Wairoa reared a li ( tter of 12. ( Ruatoki Native Club has been con- ( sistently good. A litter of nine weighed 3781bs an average of 42 at « nine weeks old. Another litter of eight owned by the same club aA'eraged 421bs at eight weeks. Other good litters smaller in numbers Avith aA'erages of 401bs and better, Avith individual pigs as high as 541bs at eight Aveeks, haA'e been weighed.

I Avculd like to suggest here, that club custodians should make every endeavour to turn out their club litters in better order. Too often a litter is produced poorly done and on ballot day though no eitieism is expressed the result is—No Demand. Club executiA'cs should see to it that some concentrate is either provided or paid for. One often hears the remark that "The club pig gets the same treatment r.s my own," or this, "If the club can't foot it Avith my CAA'n thej' are not Avortli luwing." The point I Avish to make here is that if a first class litter is produced, club members are interested and keen to be in the ballot. The custodian is proud to have produced something 'better than those at homo' and a demand is created. Others become interested also. A high class animal is never hard to sell or exchange. These few remarks apply to the club sow aiso. Field Work 1 wen ty-sev.en litter ballots inA"ol\"ing tiie ■distribution of 127 selected pigs Ave re attended by me during the year. Other ballots 1 of course Avere held but A'isits to other districts and petrol restrictions made it impossible to attend; them all. Exchanges and sale of club stock number 17 between members of clubs from such Avidely separated points as Ruatoki and Waihi Avere effected. A crate Avas; built for this purpose and is at the disposal of clubs. Selection committees o! six clubs haA'e been escorted by mete breeders within our own area for the purpose ol purchasing .stock on each occasion. Another pleasing feature was the purchase of pedigree breeding stock by individuals' of those committees while on the trip, for their own private use—all realising

the value of improving their own herds. Personal assistance has been given to four farmers wishing to erect their own piggeries. Two field days were held in the early part of the year but it is almost impossible to get a meeting of any kind now. Contacts made through pig club members and through publicity given by broadcasts and the press were responsible for 80 odd visits to non members and producers in our district. Some 397 visits were paid to pig club members: and 18 club meetings! were attended. Two feed trials were started. One was abandoned through illness of the owner while the other was completed as far as weight and results were concerned but through the defection of an employee exact quantities of milk and maize are not obtainable. Petrol allowance has been reduced by 50 per cent. Members of clubs and club secretaries: are asked to make full use of the postal services and] to give as much .notice as: possible of meetings and ballots and request visits. This will minimise travelling and will assist us in giving a full service, economically. Housing iand Lay-outs In my humble opinion housing and lay-out—'facilities and conveniences for handling and feeding is still the field on Avhicli we can make the greatest improvement. Considerable progress has been made over recent years and during the drive for exta production, but has been gradually slowing up owing to war conditions. Eight lay-outs, known to me in our area, are held up at present through tlie cement restrictions. This cannot be avoided of course. A wet cangcable season such as the one we experienced in the Bay prior to Christmas finds out the weak spots in housing and lay-out—we are too prone to blame our luck or the prevalence of disease. There are far too many community houses, and community troughs, too many draughty houses, muddy and bare paddocks. Pigs, good, bad or indifferent will not thrive and show a reasonable monetary return unless wclli housed and fed; in graded lets. Nearly all our losses occur where conditions arc bad.

Recently completed lay-outs on modern lines can be viewed at Katikati, Omokoroa (two), Te Puke, Otamarakau, Pukehina, Jiangitaiki, Ngakuru, Rotorua. Fattening houses, at Hikutaia, Tauranga and Whakatane. A]ll are a credit to their owners, ;i sourcc of satisfaction and convenience and will soon return their cost in minimising losses and extra production. Bulletin 177 on housing and layouts is now on the i'reu list and sufficient are held to give every club member a copy as well as anyone who enquires. Broadcasts: Three broadcast talks allbtted; to the Bay of flentyi were on the air during the year. A fourth on Concrete for Piggeries has been prepared! and is set down for the 23sit of May next.