VALUABLE STUD PIGS

Shannon News, 23 November 1928, Page 4

VALUABLE STUD PIGS

SOW AND LITTER REALISES 72008.

Recent reports from the British Isles indicate that since the termination of the world war pedigree breeding has increased to a. marvellous extent, iu the Homeland, one firm of auctioneers alone (Messrs. John Thornton and Co.) reporting that they have handled no fewer than 50,000 pigs through teir sale rings during the past nijtt years. Special attention is called to the following records obtained at auction sale in the British Isles during recent years:— Highest price for a sow and litter of any breed —722 guineas. Highest price for single pig of any breed—-700 guineas. 5

Highest average for a sale of any breed of pigs: 82 head averaged £122 15s 2d.

The following' are but a few of the very high paid for stud pigs during the years 1920 to 1927: Boars. —'During this period, boars in the following breeds' realised, prices as follows: —Large Blacks, 570, 550, 220, and 100 guineas. , • In sows the top price was 720 guineas for a sow and litter at the sale of Lord Rosebery's stud in 1920. Other high prices in this breed were 340, and 170 guineas,' paid in 1926 and 1927. The highest-priced Gloucester Old Spot sow was one of Captain H. P. Hamilton’s sows, sold in 1921 for 520 guineas. Mr H. Groom sold in 1922, one Large Black sow for 500 guineas. One of Mr Robert Ibbotson’s Tamworth sows sold in 1924 for 200 guineas, while in 1923 and 1925 two Middle Yorkshire sows realised 160 and 115 guineas. Two Large White sows sold in 1926 and 1927, realised 340 and 170 guineas respectively, and belonged to Mr E. Wherry and Mr G. Payne, wellknown British breeders. Berkshires also have realised exceedingly high figures, the top figure being reported in 1920, when the Duke of Westminster sold one Berkshire sow for 610 guineas. At the Reading fehow sales in 1921 a Berkshire sow realised 400 guineas, while during 1919, at the same salcvard, 320 guineas were accepted for a selected Berkshire sow of excellent type and quality. Other sows realising high figures , in this breed were disposed of at auction at 190, 130, 60, and 46 guineas. In Berkshire boars the top price reported .was received at the Reading sales in 1920, when a boar realised 370 guineas; during 1921 and 1922 two boars sold at 200 guineas each, while during the years from 1923 to 1927 gales wore reported at 70, f>2, 75, 71, and 80 guineas. Tamworth pigs did not appear to command such high figures, tuough the late Mr Robert Ibbotson topped the boar sales with 150 guineas, also tntsow- sale with 200 guineas, both sales being reported in 1924. Major J. A, Morrison sold a boar in 1927 for 78 guineas and a sow for 42 guineas; while Mr E. do Hamel, in 1920, secured J-tO guineas for a choice quality young sow Prices from 20 to 75 guineas were common during the periods named.' In Lai'ge Blacks Mr T. F. HoolOy sold a champion sow for 700 guineas, while in 1922 Mr H. Groom topped the sales with 500 guineas. Prices realised for other sows were as' follows: — 240, 220, 115, 100, 70, 60 and 42 guineas. In boars prices were very high as the following will indicate:—s7o, 380, 290, 280, 220, 170, 48 and 42 guineas. , Gloucester Old Spot, pigs were m good request, and included among the highest prices paid for these were 600 guineas in 1919 at the 11.A.5.E. sale for a boar and 400 guineas at the same sale for a sow. Other high-priced boars realised 320, 200, 150, 75, 35, 32 25, and 24 guineas. Other high-prieod sows realised 320, 57, 30 and 20 guineas.