BRAN FOR PIGS.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 4

BRAN FOR PIGS.

FEEDING TRIALS. Trials -with feeding bran to pigs have been carried out at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln, but are to be continued and extended, according to a report before the meeting of the Board of Governors of the College, held yesterday. The report states: In September last feeding trials were undertaken with bran as a pig feed, and five different lots of pigs have been fed with bran as the chief ingredient of the ration. The first three trials were done with pigs just weaned and in every case the use of bran caused a slowing down in the rate of growth even to the extent of interfering seriously with the health of the animals. The age of the pigs is definitely recognised as the most important factor in determining the amount of fibre that can be consumed and consequently in the fourth and fifth trials older pigs of about 901b live weight are being used. These have been on trial now for about five weeks and to date have grown at the rate of ljlb per day. This is as -fast as they could be expected to grow, even on the most suitable feeds. They are not as plump as wotild be expected for such growth rates, and the trial is being continued and extended. During the past month (writes our London correspondent on March 31st) no New Zealand butter has been sent to Germany, and there is very little likelihood of there being any demand from that quarter this side of the summer. The authorities in Germany are strictly rationing the money sent out of the country, and importers have to keep their outside demands at the very lowest. Danish butter in England has fallen to the low figure of 102s per cwt. f.0.b., which works out at 116s landed. This to-day .compares with 109s for New Zealand butter. In the south of England the retail price of Danish is Is 3d per lb, and in the north Is 2d per lb. New Zealand butter is being sold retail in the south at Is 2d per lb and in the north at Is Id p<*r lb. The market for New Zealand cheese is very sound. Stocks are low and prices are at 62s for coloured and 63s for white.