H.—29,

" The present status and past development of the industry are set out in the following table :—

" The estimate of the number of killings for 1939 is based on the killings to the end of March and the percentage these have been of the total for past years. A variation of 1 per cent, to 2 per cent, from this figure is to be expected. " In view of the excellent export market available, the consistently good prices that have been offering for pig-meats, and. the known worth of pigs when handled with modern conveniences and up-to-date methods of feeding and management, this falling off in production is to be regretted. Pork-production particularly has failed, probably because pork can be produced with a minimum of equipment and a maximum amount of inconvenience, whereas bacon, entailing better accommodation on account of the longer feeding-period, is usually produced on places with better conveniences, and has not fallen oft' so seriously. " Pedigree-sow Recording.—This service continues to receive increasing support, chiefly from pig clubs. For the year ended 31st March, 612 sows have been entered for test, 412 have completed records, and 245 have been good enough to be included in one of the five grades. A quarterly report, giving performance of sows and the names and addresses of the owners, is published in the Journal of Agriculture. In view of the fact that only 60 per cent, of sows that complete the test produce litters that are heavier than 70 lb. and 210 lb. at ,three weeks and eight weeks respectively, some concern can be expressed for the quality of breeding-stock or for the attention given to them at this critical period. Many of the litters that have failed to reach the graded standard do so on account of being too light only at one or other of the three or eight weeks' weighings, indicating that it is the attention they receive rather than the quality of the pig that is at fault. "Pig Census. —This was inaugurated in 1937. Returns of pig-production have been collected from approximately five hundred farmers all over New Zealand by field officers of the Department, summarized and tabulated at Head Office, and the results returned, through field officers, to those supplying information. From the information supplied it has been possible to arrive at the importance of using different amounts of meal, of producing big litters, of selling certain weights of meat for every sow kept, of using certain quantities of home-grown feed, and of other factors pertinent to profits in the industry. Analyses under these different headings have been published regularly in the Journal of Agriculture. A standard form of report has been adopted, and each farmer supplying information receives a sheet showing the production per sow, pigs born, bought, sold, and died, feed as skim-milk, meal and other crops required to produce 100 lb. of pig-meat, pounds of pig-meat produced per sow and per 100 11). of butterfat, and the calculated earning-value of skim-milk per gallon. These figures can be compared with similar figures for all other farmers in his district who supply census information, and whose returns are similarly indicated by a reference number. This service, by providing standards with which a farmer can compare his own production, promises to be as useful to the pig-producer as herd-testing has been to the dairy-farmer. Steps are being taken to extend it. Its value in the future will be in keeping with the use that farmers wish to make of it. " National Instruction Service. —Reports from District Councils, of which there are now nine, indicate a continued maintenance of interest in this movement. Approximately two hundred and fifty pig clubs are now formed and functioning. All distribute pedigree breeding-stock, and with few exceptions the clubs are giving satisfaction. A noticeable improvement in methods of pig-production is evident in all districts as a result of the instruction and advice given by District Council Supervisors. " Grading of Baconers. —This has now been in operation for just over one year. The average turnout of baconers is approximately 64 per cent. No. 1 primes, 24 per cent. No. 2, 8 per cent. No. 3, and 4 per cent, of second quality. The lowest monthly percentage of No. 1 primes was sixty-two in January, and the highest sixty-nine in September. Where the grading is done after the pigs are backed down it is very reliable, but where the measurements are taken with a " trier " and the pigs are not backed down grading is not satisfactory. A number of parcels of graded pigs have been reported on from England, and with one exception the grading there has agreed closely with the grading done in Now Zealand. " Carcass-quality Scheme for Baconers. —This service was inaugurated in October, 1938. Any pig intended for bacon will be tattooed by the District Council Supervisor, on request by the owner, at any age between the porker and baconer stage. All tattooed pigs are reported on by the work's grader, and the owner receives a report on the carcass quality and maturity rate from the Department after the pigs are killed. The object of the scheme is to find out which breed, cross, or strain of pigs provides the best type of baconer, both from the viewpoints of quality of carcass and rate of growth.

15

v Number of Sows Total s Year. , , , T Year ended As Haconers. As Porkers, at 31st January. 30t h September. 1934 .. .. .. 98,299 827,315 313,135 727,315 1935 .. .. .. 111,793 936,700 346,948 589,752 1936 .. .. .. 116,058 1,091,845 427,178 664,667 1937 .. .. .. 112,921 1,117,856 494,315 623,541 1938 .. .. .. 104,803 1,091,933 478,642 613,291 1939 (estimated) .. .. .. 1,050,000