PIG-FARMING IN SCOTLAND [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sm,—Why must we unfortunate farmers so constantly have " the wonderful efficiency of the Danes " thrust down our throats ?
If the writer of the article on Scandinavia would do me the honour of staying a night here with me, I would show him a prosperous pig farmer who would meet us at the station, not in his best clothes, but in field boots and working clothes— he is not ashamed to be seen in them in public and has no time for changing. He would take " J. " round his pig farm, where he knows all about every one of his 400 to 500 pigs, including the weights of all destined for bacon or pork, and would not require to jump into the sties to see whether the pigs were properly looked after, as he is on his farm all day long, and helps his men in preparing the food, feeding, weighing the pigs, and so on.
If a sow had farrowed he, or the man who attended her, for they always have attention at such times, day or night, would not have left the sow till he was satisfied that she was comfortable and feeding the piglets—the instance given shows a decided lack of efficiency. By means of farrowing rails in the sty, which leave the *sow perfectly free to move about and change her position from one part of the sty to another, the mortality of overlying is reduced to a minimum, except in cases of a wantonly careless mother, and these are not bred from again.
If a crate were put over a newly farrowed sow in this country the S.P.C.A. would have something to say about it and it must be both cruel and insanitary. In fine weather the piglings three days old should be running out in the fresh air with their mother. The owner is also 27 years of age, and he has only taken up pig farming for three years, after leaving the Army, but his pigs have a great reputation locally and are good enough to win highest honours at the Highland and Agricultural Show, at which the best animals of Scotland and England compete.
I will guarantee that the average Scottish farmer is prepared to work as hard as the Dane, and does so, giving as much attention to detail. He can and does produce a bacon pig as good as or better than the Dane, and is getting rather tired of being run down by writers who, knowing little of agriculture, think it the proper thing to laud the Dane and decry their own countrymen.—I am, Sir, &c., ALEXR. P. HAIG.
Blairhill, Rumbling Bridge, Scotland.
[" J." writes : The next time I am in Scotland I shall certainly try to avail myself of your correspondent's generous offer. I have always regarded the Scottish farmers as among the best in the world, and I have seen how successful they become on the land in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. But one swallow or several swallows do not make a summer. The point I wished to emphasize was that the Dane is a hard worker and gives much attention to detail. I still think that the average of efficiency and hard work among the farmers of Denmark is higher than with us.]
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