PIG INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 May 1940, Page 9

PIG INDUSTRY

ADDRESS AT CARTERTON NEED FOR INCREASED PRODUCTION. (“Times-Age” Special.) There was a representative attendance of pig breeders at the property of Mr P. H. Andrews, Moreton Road, Carterton, yesterday afternoon, when Mr H. M. Pierson, of the Government Department, gave a demonstration on breeding stock and bacon pigs. His remarks were followed with great interest by those present. In the evening Mr Pierson delivered an address in the P. and A. Society’s rooms to a fair attendance of those interested in pig breeding and raising. Mr E. T. Bliss, chairman of the local pig club, welcomed the lecturer. Mr Pierson in the. course of his address displayed a large number of lantern slides and Mr Johnston, supervisor of the Wellington District Pig Council, explained very fully the various pictures that were projected on the screen.

Mr Pierson stated that it was said that there were still a large number of people in New Zealand who did not know how to successfully rear litters of pigs. This was principally because the sows had not been looked after properly. It was only by proper methods of feeding that a sow would produce good litters of pigs. There must also be suitable housing facilities and warm quarters for the best results to be obtained. Mr Pierson quoted figures to show that the pig carcase production had been decreasing for some time and today it had become a serious problem. The dairy cow was the foundation of the pig industry and the by-products from the dairy farm were useful means of feeding. Good sanitation and good management were the means of eliminating diseases. Proper housing and clean quarters should be the aim of all pig breeders, and by these means it would be possible to achieve the £5,000,000 mark in the pig’ industry, which was being aimed at by the Department. Pride of ownership and good litters were the successful starting point of the farmers pig raising, and to secure large litters the sow must be well looked after. Mr Pierson said that the present war conditions in Europe had been the means of reducing the supply of baconl and pork from 'Denmark and it was up to New Zealand growers to realise that the British market for bacon and pork was open to them. They should therefore endeavour to give the Homeland what had been taken away from them through Denmark being in German hands. Several questions were asked and answered by Mr Pierson who, throughout the evening handled his subject in a masterly manner. Mr Keiller, President of the Pig Council at Palmerston North, said that England being at war with Germany had lost her supplies from Denmark. England had asked the Dominions to produce more and as far as farmers were concerned the pig industry was one of the means of doing so. It woitld only mean an increase of 2 to 3 pigs to make the effort worth while. Mr Keiller said that Canada had doubled her output of pigs. He regretted to say that New Zealand had gone back, although we had increased our output of bacon. He stressed the point that every farmer should grow root crops to feed stock with. A hearty vote of thanks proposed by the chairman was passed to Mi- Pierson for his address.