PIG HUSBANDRY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 78, 4 June 1943, Page 3

PIG HUSBANDRY

BAY OF PLENTY PROGRESS

SUPERVISOR'S REVIEW In his annual report to the Bay of Plenty Pig Council the Supervisor, Mir Norman Garter, stated as. Under:— In looking down the. roll of clubs it will be seen that the are fifteen clubs actively breeding and distributing purebred stock among their members. There are. six other clubs who have stock available from one of their members and there are thirteen clubs who are in recess for various reasons. Many of these have members away in units of the Armed Forces and will be re-organised after the war. In three of these cases the custodian has taken over the present breeding stock and will replace it with one of equal quality as soon as the club is ready to function again, showing a commendable spirit of co-operation. Clubs that have gone into recess during the year are: Gate Pa, Waipapa, Te j Matai, Otaluri, White Pine Bush, i Matatoki and Pongakawa. . These clubs still function and through them useful 'contacts are made in their respective areas. Most of them have funds sufficient to purchase new stock when conditions again become normal. Increase in membership is recorded by Kati Kati, Waihi, Galatea and Kutarere. The existence of pig clubs in nearly all areas in our territory has been of direct benefit to those districts. Even in areas where clubs have temporarily ceased activities, ex-members can point to j>rogcny o£ club stock which are doing well and still held by them. Particularly is this noticeable in those clubs' areas where high class sows are owned. I refer again to Kutarere, Waihi, kati Kati and Opouriao, Western Drain, Te Puke and Galatea. Surplus stock from these cilubs are always easy to place, this automatically puts them in a good financial position and enables them to purchase stock of_ still higher quality.

Club Stock I Although sows held by clubs. are less numerous this year, their quality is high. The mere fact, that a soav is owned by a club and a record' kept of her litters, and where regular visits are paid for the purpose of AvelfShing the progeny, holding a litter ballot and discussing the merits and faults of both soav and progeny, teaches us not only a valuable lesson but locates for vis animals of high prolificacy and good constitution. It is those clubs which are the fortunate OAvners of such animals that are still functioning and are a direct benefit to tliir districts. Outstanding sows are owned by the Waihi, Kati Kati, Te. Puke, Galatea, Western Drain, Opouriao, Coromandel, Kutarere and Paengaroa Clubs. Credit is due to the custodians of. these clubs for the ex-i cellcnt condition of their charges, and the splendid litters produced on ballot day. Stock from these clubs have been interchanged and sold throughout the Bay of Plenty. Custodians of some clubs that are in recess are to be commended also for carrying on Avith purebred stock and making availably to their members stock at club These include. Gate Pa, Rotorua, Te Wairoa, Utahina, Horo Horo and Whenuakite. Four clubs are on the market for pedigree breeding sows and. await the first offering of suitable strains. Several other clubs Avill decide, on what change is to be made at their indh r idual annual meetings. Ruatoki sold a Berkshire and are temporarily without.. Western Drain sold a Large Black and bought a Berkshire. Te Wairoa sold their Large Black to their custodian. Rotorua sold a Large Black to their custodian which Avill be replaced. Gate Pa sold a Berkshire to their secretary Avho is carrying on. Kati Kati sold a TaniAVorth and, intend purchasing another. This club oAvn a Berkshire, as avcll. Kutarere are to purchase another sow. Waipapa sold a Berkshire.

Layouts .and Housing My major activity during the past year has been in the direction uif better housing and better conditions, and I still consider this the field in which the greatest progress in the industry can be shown. Improved conditions generally would result in increased production for the simple reason that losses would be reduced, and pigs would make greater use of the feed consumed, therefore by increasing their weight for age. A good layout Avith good housing and facilities for handling and feeding also reduces the fabour and time required for attending them.

Man}' farmers have: realised, these advantages and now possess good layouts. Many more arc beginning to sit up and take notice! Some are doing the job in spite of shortage. of materials and the high prices of same, and the difficulty in getting enough labour to do the work. Progress in this direction is disappointingly slow, but I look forward to the day when materials and labour are available and there is, an up-to-date piggery on every farm.

During this year 1 have taken over 40 interested farmers to view and inspect modern layouts. Some of these men travelled over 50 miles for the purpose. A farmer on the Rangitaiki who has recently erected 12 farrowing units assured me that he has not. lost a pig since it has been in use;—this on a farm Where he had previously told me he could not rear young pigs. Other new layouts completed this, season are at Ngakuru, Horo Horo, Waihi, Puriri and Opotiki. Others to bo ready for next season are proposed in all districts but it is doubtful if some will be able to get the necessary materials. Some will find the cost prohibitive. Field Work Fourteen litter ballots were attended by me during the year. Advantage is taken of the attendance nt a litter ballot to hold a meeting of the club, thereby saving travelling and loss of time. The attend.o . ance at these meetings has been disappointing, but when one considers Uie benzine restrictions coupled with the many other calls on farmers' time and a constantly increasing shortage of labour, it is not surprising. In addition to meetings and ballots, some 523 visits have been made to farmers on their farms, the work including advice on all branches of pig husbandry, common ailments, operations and dosing, selection of breeding stock, selection of site 1 for layouts, submitting plans and speci. flcations and in some cases actually assisting in the work of erection.

One. of the principal objects of Pig Clubs is to distribute a better class of breeding stock and wherever clubs, have a surplus I have made every endeavour to assist this movement, especially Avhere the quality of the stock is; good. A total of 55 purebred stock have been placed in this way. Some have carried in a small crate which packs into the rear compartment of my car. A larger crate was made for the transport of larger pigs by train or truck. In detail they are 29 Berkshires, 1G Large Black, 5 Tamworths and, 5 Large Whites.

With the exception of the Coromandei Peniiisula, each of our areas is visited in rotation in approximately two monthly intervals. There is a variation of course if requests from any one area necessitate a special visit. Broadcasts Three broadcasts given under the auspices of the Bay of Plenty Pig Council were prepared, and Avere on the. air on 21st May and 17t.h September of last year and January of this. year. The next allocated to our Council will be broadcast on 20th May. Conclusion Pig husbandry is an interesting part of dairy farming. Results are obtained quickly likewise most setbacks can be rapidly remedied and Denis often makes a fool of us. Hie extent of its remuneration depends on the work and enthusiasm expended.