MILK FOR PIGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 547, 30 June 1909, Page 10

MILK FOR PIGS.

-WHAT IS IT WORTH AS FOOD?: In New Zealand tho value of skimmed milk for pig-feeding is usually put down at Jd. per gallon l and wliey at Jd. Evcii then it is held by some that tho chance of getting this valuo back through tho pigs (at present meat prices) depends very much on the skill of tho pig-keeper. It gives some pleasant encouragement, therefore, to- find that, in .Ireland, tho skimmed milk fed..to pigs.has been definitely .'ascertained to be . 2d., per gallon. Such .an estimate will surprise' New. 1

Zealand dairy farmers, and may stimulate the demand for State experiments in pig: raising. With-tho progress''of pasteurising in. relation to the milk and whey foods, tho guestion. of tho proper methods of pig-feed-iug is likely to attract increased attention. In tho Irish experiments referred'to; recorded in tho "Journal,of tho Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland," it is shown that "there is lio great difficulty in ordinary circumstances in obtaining (by pig-feeding) as much as 2d. per gallon (for the skim milk), while ■ the prico is much more likely to exceixl than to fall short of the penny." This; is on tho assumption that tho'pigs are of an average class, .and that pork soils at 41s. per cwt. The pigs in the experiment brought 48s. 3d;,' which ,was sufficient to give 2d. per gallon for the milk; Tho pigs, which were fed on' milk, meal, and potatoes, matured in three months, while those from whom tho milk was withheld took fivo months to reach the samo stage. Tho latter also consumed 5201b. food to produco 1001b. of live, weight, as against only 3821b. required whero milk was added.