Korakanui To Stop Hybrid Sow Output

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 13 May 1961, Page 6

Korakanui To Stop Hybrid Sow Output

The New Zealand Pig Producers’ Council has decided to stop breeding hybrid sows at the Korakanui breeding station for distribution throughout New Zealand and will change over to breeding pedigree Landrace, Large White and Berkshire pigs. Production of the national hybrid sows will be tapered off and will ston when the Korakar.ui station has about 50 breeding sows of both Landrace and Large White breeds. At that stage the only source of hybrid sows—the first cross of selected Large White-Berkshire matings—will be Massey Agricultural College. An approach is to be made to Canterbury Agricultural College by the council to increase its pig farming programme to a level similar to that at Massey College. It is understood that money would be made available for research projects from the New Zealand Pig Producers* Council.

A meeting will probably take place today between Mr R. A. OlBver, the deputychairman of the council, and the director of the college (Dr. M. M. Burns). One of the points which may be discussed is the possibility of Lincoln producing national hybrid sows for distribution in the South Island. The national hybrid sows have played an important part in improving the standard of production in the pig industry of New Zealand. They

are bred from progeny tested pedigree parents and the sows are sent out to farmers who use them for commercial bacon production by mating with their own boars. Purebred boars have also been made available from the station. The move into pedigree breeding for sale will bring the council into direct competition with stud pig breeders throughout New Zealand, and this has already aroused some feeling among the breeders. The Korakanui breeding station was established with money from the war-time meat pool account which was tagged for pig improvement. About £ 100,000 has been spent on the station. As well as hybrid production the station has carried out important research work on feeding, progeny testing, breeding and housing. Mr J. Graham, district supervisor for the Canterbury District Pig Committee, said this week that the national hybrid sows had done a magnificent job and had “enhanced the pig section of any farm they had gone on to.” As with any livestock there had been odd complaints, but there was an unsatisfied demand for the hybrid sows from farmers in his area. The sows had cost £35 delivered to the railway station nearest to the purchaser in the South Island—even aa far

afield as Whataroa —and this price had meant little profit to the council. Only about 20 per cent, of the hybrids released for sale had come to the South Island, as they were allocated on a pig population basis. Korakanui had produced about 400 sows a year and Massey about 100.