WAHAROA PIGGERY.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 121, 18 February 1926, Page 6

WAHAROA PIGGERY.

A THRIVING COLONY. Management of dairy companies are all too painfully aware of the fact that drainage may constitute their most awkward problem, the solution of which in many cases has cost hundreds, and even thousands, of pounds. The N.Z.C.D.C., Ltd., were up against just 'such a difficulty at Waharoa, where the waste from the factory was drained into an adjacent swamp, emptying into the Waitoa stream. The farmers owning the riparian lands complained bitterly of the pollution of the water their cattle had to drink and obliged the company to seek other means of disposal of the effluent practically the butter milk and dined milk waste. There was only one other natural receiver to drain into, namely, the Waihou river, but it would have cost about £II,OOO to construct a pipe line to get the waste there.

At this juncture one of those simple, practicable proposals was made which have got over many a seeming mountainous difficulty : it was a Ingestion by Mr. W. E. Ayers that the company should buy some adjacent land and erect a great piggery ; the animals would consume the butter milk, and thus the trouble would be met effectively, and even profitably in time. The idea was ultimately carried into effect, and a flourishing local industry was subsequently established by Mr. Ayres.

The magnitude of the operations is rather surprising, for the place carries as many as 600 pigs at a time, and it is common for 1000 pigs to be exported from the farm during the year. Mr. Ayers goes in for breeding some good pedigree animals and has a few top-notcher foundation stock. The “ fats ” are housed in sties, and both the sties and pigs are kept quite clean. The sties, which are all on concrete, are hosed down every morning and then blushed, so that there is no refuse left lying about, and consequently there is no odour beyond that inseparably associated with pigs. The whole place is kept thoroughly clean, which fact, combined with the general conditions and Mr. Ayers’ discrimination in buying healthy stock, accounts no doubt for the entire absence of disease. There has never been any disease among the pigs, and if the conditions on some ordinary mixed farms were as good the owners would likewise be free, from troubles with their few swine. Here one sees hundreds of pigs, of all sizes and several breeds, such as Tamworth and Berkshires and whites, and the crosses, and without exception they lock wonderfully vigorous and healthy ; their flesh is firm, and there is an entire absence of flabbiness or under condition. The pigs, with the exception of the “ fats,” have acres of ground to root about in, and plenty of winter feed, such as turnips, but they seem to thrive perfectly on the buttermilk, and the bacon from them is said to be of an especially good texture and flavour, and keenly sought by the buying companies.

Several acres of rough gorse, ferri, flax and other wild growths have been cleared away, and altogether the Waharoa piggery is a decided asset to the district, apart from its very special value to the dairy company.