PIG INDUSTRY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 113, 29 May 1937, Page 8

PIG INDUSTRY

Development in New . Zeaiand ANNUAL REPORT "] "It is'my pleasure to ieport that our associ&tion has.once again experienced a most succe'ssful year, and I feol that members will be gratified at the great progress that has been made by-the industry during the past year, both from a breeder's and the commercial viewpoint, atates Mr J. A. Russell, president of the New Zeaiand Pig Breeders' A.ssociation, in the course of his report to be presented at the annual meeting •'of the as3ociation, to be held this year iat Auckland. • "By continued effort in co-operaiion ; with the Manawatu and Waikato iecording clubs, we have at long last succoeded in having introduced a national scheme of recording on a basis wliich .makes it available to everyone at littie jcost. The scheme- ia operating tnccessifully, and though difficulties have cropjped up "they^ are' being overcome, and 'it is hoped'that the scheme will be attended with more success as time goe3 on. ' All members are requested to make use of the scheme a$d so prove to'the Depjrtment of Agriculture that national recording was definitely .wanted. "Your council and thev recdrdings .clubs xealise that the average farmer jhas much tolearn in the pig industry ■ and that, if a practical and qualified inI tructional • service was provided, . it would do much to inlprove general type and quality of the pork and bacon pig produced, better housing conditions, and jimproved feeding, etc. Naturally this would result in greater average litters, a better quality product, early maturity of carcases and last, but not least, a great reduetion in the the ills that affect a percentage of our pigs. The industry signified its willingness to submit to a lovy of twopence per pig in order. to provide a fund wliich could be used for the required instructional service. Advice has just bepn r^eased to the effect that the levy has been approved by the Government and will take effect almost imm^diately. A tremehdous amount of effort andHime wa's necesary to;reach ithis goal, and our thanks are accorded ito the Manawatu and Waikato recording: clubs for their valuable co-operation •.and.also to.Earmers' Unions throughqiit ithe (Dominion for the valuable support >they accorded the proposal. , . ''The* contrOl* of national . recording ;and special .instructional service willbe {in'the hands of Mr ;M. J. Scott, late of iCanterbury Agrieultural College and reicently appointed by the Government as (Superintendent of .the 'Pig Industry.. of jthe Bominion. We offer Mr Scott our ^congratulations on his appointment, and iWhile asauring him o'f -our co-operation ]in his efforts to improve the pig indus:try, we congratulate ourselves on fhe Ifact that the industry will be supervisjed by a maii 'of great and practical exiperience ap.d a, man who understands jthe difficulties that the farmer is conJfronted with. . . ' . "Judges'. Conference. . , — Several ■judges, conferences have been held dur- ( ing the year; also some special field days. The council desires to secure some unanimity in judging pure. bred pigs, and it is hoped that a final precis of the results of conferences will result in a standard of points- being adopted which will materially help judges and result in a more or less atandardised ■ Bystem of judging. "Finance. — The net financial result of the year's .working showg-. an improvement over that of:last year' of £150 12s 9d. The fevenue has'increased •by £82 19s 7d,*while expenses have'decreased by £6713s'2d. ■ . "Grading. — Pr'oposals for the introiduction of grading ate under way, and' lit is hoped that ere long a satisfactory land equitable system of grading will be jintroduced. • ' • "Embargo. — I regret that so far littie progress has been made toward the lifting of the embargo, but it is anticipated that the Government ,wll be forced |to do something in this direction during jthe forthcoming year. ' 'Branches. — Several of the branches |have done great work during the year, .and the council appreciates the assis•tance that is rendered by them. "Shows. — The secretary visited many ahows during the last year arid I feel that sueh visits serve to bring the offic.e much clos'er to members. "Couneil.— The following councillors retire: — South Auckland, Mr R. Chilcott; North Taranaki, Mr A. R. Gudopp; South Taranaki, Mr F. Ogle; North Wellington, Mr W. P. Biekers; South Island, Mr James Simpson. "Messrs Gudopp, Ogle, Biekers ' aud Simpson have been re-nominated for their respective wards. Mr R. Chilcott is not seeking re-election, and Mr Q. Jamieson has been nominated for the South buckland Ward. As no further nominations have been received, a ballot is unnecessary and the above gentlemen will be doclared elected at the annual meeting. "Herd Book.— Vol. XVIII ofthe Herd Book is ready for distribution to memibera and contains the following en,tries: — Taraworths, 1120; Berkshires, 1858; Large White Yorkshire, 184; Large iBlacks, 166; Duroc Jerseys, 1; Middle White Yorkshires, 2; total, 2331. "Tamworth Pioneer Shield. — Mr N, P. Nielsen, an ex-councillor of the association, donated a handsome shield to the Tamworth seetion for competition on a similar basis to the Perrett Shield. |Mr Nielsen is accorded the association's i thanks for his generous donation."