10 June, 1919.] Closer Settlement Studies. 367 



CLOSER SETTLEMENT STUDIES. 



THE PIG INDUSTRY AT ROCHESTER. 



By R. C. Lorimcr, Dairy Supervisor. 



As an illustration of tlie rapid progress that 'has been made in the 

 pig-raising industry on the irrigated closer settlements around Rochester, 

 the following information may prove interesting: — Six years ago 

 monthly pig sales were held at the Rochester Municipal Market, at which 

 an average of about 30 fat pigs were yarded for sale. With the advance 

 of settlement, however, the number submitted at monthly sales soon 

 overtaxed the yarding accommodation, and it became necessary to hold 

 fortnightly sales. This relieved the situation for some time, but the 

 number of pigs coming forward continued to increase to such an extent 

 that eventually weekly sales were held. Recently, however, the yards 

 have been so overcrowded at weekly sales that it was evident more 

 accommodation would have to be provided. Consequently, the council 

 has now had the yards enlarged by the addition of 20 up-to-date new 

 pens. 



In addition to local sales, large consignments of fat pigs are for- 

 warded fortnightly to the Western and Murray Co-operative Bacon 

 Factory at Braybrook. The following figures, which have been prepared 

 from accounts of sales kindly supplied by the local selling agents and 

 the agent for the Co-operative Bacon Factory, show, approximately, the 

 number and value of the fat pigs sold at Rochester during a recent period 

 of ten successive weeks : — 



Number of fat pigs sold . . . . 2,760 



Average number per week . . . . 276 



Total value realized . . . . . . £8,791 



Average value per pig . . . . . . £3 3s. 8d. 



From these fig-ures it will be seen that the sales for the year would 

 amount to about £45,000, and in this total no account has been taken 

 of private sales. 



The majority of these pigs have been bred and fattened on the 

 irrigated closer settlement blocks within a radius of 12 miles of 

 Rochester, where the mild and healthy climate has been found particu- 

 larly suitable to the industry, there being an almost total absence of 

 disease amongst pigs in this locality. 



Combined with dairy farming, pig-raising has been found the most 

 profitable way of utilizing the by-products of the dairy, while to those 

 settlers who intend to become orchardists eventually, the pig has pro- 

 vided a ready source of income to tide over the period of waiting for 

 the fruit trees to come into profitable bearing. 



A few of the settlers engage almost wholly in the business, and have 

 been fairly successful. The Berkshire, Large York, Middle York, and 

 Tamworth breeds each have their advocates, and various crosses of these 

 breeds are tried, with the object of obtaining a good type of bacon pig. 



Pigs in the Rochester District thrive wonderfully well when grazed 

 on lucerne, supplemented by a very light ration of pollard or skim milk. 

 When approaching the marketable age, the pigs are penned up and 

 topped off with a ration of pollard and grain. Pollard is the chief 



