FARMING NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 35, 20 December 1948, Page 3

FARMING NOTES

CARE OF PIGS FOR AGRICULTURAL SHOW DISPLAY

The following article on the preparation of pigs for shows is by Mr A. F. Barwell, supervisor, Bay of Plenty District Pig Council. If farmers would like more advice he invites queries addressed to him, Box 79, Whakatane. Here in the Bay of Plenty there are quite a number of young farmers who either own pedigree pigs or have pedigree pigs in their care. Now, with • the approach of the Autumn Show Circuit, many of these young men are 'thinking about exhibiting their pigs. Many times I have been asked' to give some guidance on how to make a start to get the pigs ready for the Autumn Shows and it is to the younger men that I now proffer some advice. Valuable Hints Before even mentioning feeding, washing or oiling, let me stress a few points. Study the schedule of the Show or in which you are interested. See what you have to offer in the set classes. Study the dates of the shows well and do not- select any pigs that will only just scrape through into a certain age class. By that I mean it is not advisabe to enter a pig in, say, the four to eight months class if it would be only four months and 10 days old at the time of the show, unless it is exceptionally wellgrown. It is giving away too much age and it may have to compete against a pig that is only ID days under the eight months, or against pigs that are six or seven months old. So be sure that you have the right age group selected for the right class. It is also important to consider breed characteristics because if the animal isn’t a true representative of the breed, what is the use of showing it or keeping it? Take for instance a tamworth with black spots—this must go out. A large black with pricked ears—out. A berkshire with lop A large black with ginger hairs or black hairs—out. Blue spots on the skin of a large white are not a disqualification but are an undesirable feature and should be avoided in a show animal; blue or black hairs are a disqualification. A crooked under-jaw in any breed is a disqualification and special care must be given to this point. Feeding Important Feeding and condition are far more important than washing and oiling, so careful feeding should be commenced three to four months before Show Day. Concentrated foods of high quality should be used in preference to bulk foods. Large quantities of milk or whey should be avoided at all costs so that the stomach does not become distended and badly shaped. The aim should be a trim straight underline. Grain and meals are to be preferred because they put firmness into the meat on the pig’s back and put a natural gloss on the pig’s coat that no amount of oiling and washing can do. If obtainable, barley meal heads the list of meals and pea meal can be mixed with it. The preparation of pigs for show could be just about worked out as 90 per cent feeding and the other 10 per cent natural conformation of the pig itself. Do not make the mistake of having the pigs over-fat. Housing and bedding play a very important part, too. Wherever possible show animals should be housed and well bedded for about a month before the show. Plenty of good, clean hay or straw, or sawdust six inches deep, should, be put in the sleeping quarters and this has a brushing effect upon the skin. Where proper feeding, housing and bedding are provided, washing can be reduced to a minimum. Greasing And Washing Starting about three weeks to a month before the show, cover the animal from head to foot with a good coating of lard or axle grease and after four or five days wash this off with warm soapy water and a good stiff brush. When the pig is dry, cover again from head to foot with grease and again leave for a few days, this time about a week. If after the third or fourth day the coat is looking dry, don’t wash off but smear again with grease. When the week is up, a great deal of the scurf and scale and long hairs can be brushed off. Again scrub well with warm, soapy water and re-'

peat the greasing. Repeat this performance as often as time permits. When using the brush do not use a backwards and forwards motion but brush in the direction you want the hair to lie. ' Early on the morning of the show or the night before thoroughly wash and rinse the animal clean. If pigs have to be transported some distance it is not advisable to oil them before leaving home as settling dust will give them a dirty appearance. Into The Ring . Paraffin oil, coconut oil, olive oil, separator oil or neatsfoot oil, well brushed in and all the hair lying flat and sloping in the right direction is all that is necessary before the animal enters the ring. Do not give the pig a big feed before it enters the ring, but have the sides flat. Avoid a “round ribbed” or “barrel” appearance.