PIGS FOR EXPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1928, Page 4

PIGS FOR EXPORT.

(To tho Editor.)

Dear Sir—Now that it is allowable, by special permit, to import purebred pigs from Canada, I would like to again draw the attention of pigbreeders in New Zealand to the merits of the American Ouroe-Jersey breed ol pigs. AYjhen in the Argentine in 1924, I was greatly attracted by this breed, and in conversation with the English judge of pigs at the Palermo International Show (who hv the way was Air E. Thomlinson, a leading breeder of Large AVhites and the mating breeder of Sir Albert Greenall’s stud of Largo AATiitos held to be the foremost in England), he informed me that it was the first time be bad seen and judged Duroc-Jerscys, and his considered opinion was they were the finest utility breed of pig* he had seen. Mr Juan Champion, the largest breeder of pigs in the Argentine, and who was reputed to have netted a fortune of a million pounds sterling out of pig-breeding and fattening, informed me that after four years’ cxperienee he had decided to concentrate very largely on this breed ; bo had bred and fed all breeds of pigs but found the Duroc-.lerscy to be the best utility pig, of ideal conlormation for the export trade, a very quick growing pig, and a great doer in the open. I described this breed of pigs on returning from a trip to the Argent in..'. United States and Canada in 1024. Al'out 50 per cent of the pigs in North. America are o! this breed, and let me add. in addition to its huge local consumption of pig products the United States exports to Britain each year 300.000.fX1011i bacon, 125,COO,00011) bam, and over 300.690.OCOlb of other pig products. The fact also that the American farmer receives on an average £20,000,000 per month for bis pigs during the six months of the selling season indicates that the American breeder of pigs lias long since developed into a specialist. I saw the Diuoc-Jersey pigs at the Pacific Coast Internationa! Show in California winning the car-load classes. A car-load comprises 50 pigs. This was one of the greatest educations that we received during our trip abroad. My purpose in writing this letter is lo draw attention to the published results in the “Argentine Review of the River plate” of the recent competitions held there in,, connection with the export trade in pigs. The report reads as follows: “The annual block test, organised by the Argentine Pig Breeders Association. to determine the most appropriate type of pigs for the export trade as carried out in Swill’s La Plata freezing plant the other day, when there was a good entry of a. very appropriate and most desirable stamp of pigs for the present day requirements of the trade. The President of the Argentine Pig Breeders Association, Mr ,1. O. Campion, in a very interesting and instructive address, referred to the lessons and advantages obtained from such a competition which demonstrated the most acceptable type of pig for the present day requirements of the freezers and which also revealed the radical evolution that lias been brought about in regard to- the qualities a pig ought to possess. Only two years ago there were as many types of pigs as animals exhibited and it can be realised that in order to correct Hie delects of such animals if would have been advantageous to have placed tlieir beads behind as H’eir bams were purlin contrast to their prom incut shoulders. The inversion would have more appropriately represented the present day preferred type for freezer requirments. The first prize was awarded to a pen shown by Mr J. Campion that averag'sl 93 kilos, live weight. Tbe.-e pigs were Duroe-Jer-sey as well as the second prize lot which were also of the same breed and presented by the same exhibitor. Mr John Nelson won the third prize with a lot of Large White- Duroc-Jer-sey cross that averaged 83 kilns, live weight. The fourth prize went to a pen. of Durne-.lor.scy I’ohind-China cross shown by Mr J. C. Campion that averaged 90 kilos, live weight.” As it is essential for this country to secure the very lies! of all breeds of live stock in order to compete against overseas countries more advantageously situated in regard to the markets of the world. T am convinced J that an importation of this breed of pigs would he a. national benefit. I recently had the opportunity of inspecting a small shipment of Tamworth pigs made from Canada, and judging by the quality and conformation of those there is no doubt importations of further pigs Irom Canada would be an advantage to this country, which, niter nil. has in Hip past received little encourngment to import and breed the higher types required to-day. Naturally T have no call to advocate American pigs as against British, but it lias to be remembered that America is Hie pigbreeding country of the world. Yours truly, C. E. ROBERTSON. Wellington, lOtli January.