CO-OPERATIVE PIG-RAISING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10134, 3 November 1910, Page 5

CO-OPERATIVE PIG-RAISING.

AT CLAREVILLE. The directors of the Taratahi Cooperative Dairy Company have gone in for pig-raising on co-operative lines, and have erected piggeries on modern principles close to the factory. Yesterday a representative of the Wairarapu'Age accepted the invitation of Mr Harkncss, manager of the factory, to pay a visit to the piggeries. Our representative fortunately happened along at feeding time, and dropped across the manager of the piggeries, Mr J. Kilmistif. who gave him full details of the working. There are twelve pens, each having roomy houses, with a bo.yd floor a tew inches above a concrete foundation or floor. The woonen covering is moveable, and tuns adds greatly to the work of eleaung. The reason for having a wooden ihor above the concrete is that the latter would be could and rough for the animals to sleep on during cold weather, which is an indication !hn.t the comfort of the animals is considered. There is a concrete trough and platform in each pen, the occupants of which average twenty-four in number. A wire fence separates each pen. At present there are about 335 pigs at the farm, principally halfbred Berkshires and Yorkshires. There are a few Tamworths. All were purchased in the district by the manager, who acts as buyer for the company, and he informed our representative that a thousand could have been procured if wanted, which is an indication that pig-raising is not lacking in the district: The, piggeries have not been working more than six weeks, and at tlie time of the visit drafting . had been completed, and a fine pen of 24 mixed sorts were seen to advantage. They arrived there far below the standard of condition, but are now well on the way to market, and are to be topped off with corn, and should be ready for the factory at about Christmas time. The principal food is, of course, whey, which is pastuerised tip to IGOdeg. before being fed to the pigs ,and the weaners have a relish hi pollard mixed with their whey. A divided trough on a trolly, with a pipe connection to the pen troughs, is the method adopted for distributing the food, and saves a good deal of labour. Care is taken that the animals do not gorge, but, as careful as the manager is, an occasional ones consumes more than is good for him. For these—who do not get beyond restoration—the manager has a method of dealing with them offctaully, and at the time of the writer's visit, three who were as near death's door as possible without passing in, were recouping in the convalescent -ward, and appeared as lively as if nothing had been wrong, and quite prepared to eat more than ever if the opportunity occurred. Of the total number of pigs, 150 arc weaners, and a finer lot one could not wish to see. The •whey that is at present being used, was in former seasons wasted, and there is still plenty of whey for a larger number of pigs. Tn addition, a number of suppliers take whey home, but are aware this privilege ceases as soon as the, manager finds that'ho requires the whole supply. Feeding commences at 7.30 in the morning, and is carried out three times a day, so that they are not wanting. The directors are considering the question of breeding at the farm, and also installing a corn crusher. For a new concern the appointments are quite up to the times, and further improvements are contemplated, and these, include a shed, which goes up this week.

The directors are to be complimented upon the move tliey have made in the matter of co-operative pig-rais-ing, and there appears every reason to believe that the concern will return handsome dividends to the shareholders. Tn Mr Kilmister they have a manager who thoroughly understands the work, which alone is a;- : factor to success.