THe JOURNAL 



OF 



LIBRARY 

 NEW YORK 

 BOTANICAL 



Yfie department of Mgricufture. 



Vol. VII. 



Part 12. 



10th Decembep, 1909. 





THE PIG AS A PROFITABLE ADJUNCT TO DAIRY 

 FARMING. 



J. M. H. Connor, Dair// Stiperuisor. 



It is surprising to find what a limited attention is given to the pig in- 

 dustry in Victoria as compared with other countries. Dairymen, generally, 

 do not appear to realize the great possibilities of this important industr}'. 

 Denmark has 32 factories, capable of treating 1,000,000 pigs annually, 

 realizing a total revenue of £3,500,000 ; whilst, in the United States, the 

 number of pigs kept totals 58,000,000, their value being estimated at 

 £67,000,000. The exports of pork products from the latter country are 

 valued at £12,000,000 per annum. Tn 1908 there were 211,002 pigs kept 

 in Victoria, as against 273,682 in 1906, showing a decrease of 23 percent. 



No other stock kept on the farm will give such handsome returns in so 

 short a time as a good sow. A good brood sow, provided she receives proper 

 ti'eatment so as to keep her in a thrifty condition, will farrow two litters of 

 pigs in a year ; these will run from eight to twelve pigs in each litter. If 

 properly fed and cared for, the young pigs should be ready for market by 

 the time they are four or five months old at the latest. 



The business of pig-breeding in Victoria has generally been conducted 

 in an unmethodical manner, and there has been lacking that persistent care 

 and determined adherence to the principle of breeding which have rendered 

 the best efforts in establishing the most popular existing breeds of other 

 farm animals so successful. To illustrate that the rearing of pigs is a most 

 profitable adjunct to dairy farming, one has only to take into consideration 

 the prices realized for suckers and pigs generally at the auction sales held 

 (luring the recent Royal Agricultural Show. 



Mr. Edward Jenkins, of " Stephenhurst, " Korumburra, who obtained 

 first prize for the best Yorkshire sow and litter, with his beautiful sow, 

 " Aurum" and litter of twelve suckers, realized the total sum of 77 guineas, 

 the boar pigs bringing as high as 10 guineas, and the sow pigs up to 6 

 guineas. Mr Jenkins also exhibited the Berkshire sow, "Lady Dorothy," 

 and secured second prize for sow with litter. She has had two litters, each of 

 seven pigs, during the past twelve months. The owner kept four of the best 

 sow pigs for future breeding, and sold three for 3 1 guineas. I'he last litter sold 

 at the Royal Show, consisting of six boars and one sow, realized 62 guineas, 



14759. 2 B 



