RAISING OF PIGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 136, 10 June 1940, Page 15

RAISING OF PIGS

INCREASING VALUE

PREVENTION OF DISEASE

HINTS FOR FARMERS

For many years the pig was regarded in agriculture as the receptacle for farm refuse. No care or attention was given to it, and in few cases did it ever become a really profitable sideline to the' farmer. These conditions, however, have all changed, and in recent years the pig has become a more and 'more important member of animal life on the farm. With this increase in importance, breeders are naturally paying more attention to the housing of the animals and to their general welfare. Although a great deal has been done along these lines, there is still room for very considerable improvement. Very few pig fatteners have a real insight into the health of their pigs. Much common sense is contained in a recent bulletin issued by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce regarding disease prevention, which states, inter alia:— "A piglet recently sent to Canterbury Agricultural College for examination reflected the state of affairs which exists on many farms where pigs are kept. The little fellow was sadly stunted, bearing out the statement of the owner that he had not been thriving. A cursory examination showed him to be carrying large numbers of lice, a state which in itself was sufficient cause for his unthrifty condition. A pig louse is one of the external parasites which may be classed as 'fortunate.' It gains its livelihood with a minimum of exertion and without killing or transmitting to its host any disease. The result is the farmer is inclined to permit the louse to continue feeding on his pigs. The method of eradication is simple, clean, and effective, and consists of giving the pig a liberal coating of waste or fuel oil. INTERNAL APPLICATIONS. "The post-mortem examination of the pig revealed an even worse state of affairs. His internal condition was such that considering the severity of his afflictions he was actually doing well to have been alive. His ability to make use of the small quantity of food he had been tempted to eat was being interfered with owing to the intestinal round worms. Even more serious than the presence of these internal parasites was a bacterial infection of the intestines which thoroughly deserves the awe-inspiring title of 'necrotic enteritis:' Either of these troubles will play havoc with a young pig; combined, they ensure that their host lias no hope of thriving. The chest cavity was in no better condition than the digestive system, and both the chest walls and the lung tissues showed signs of recent inflammation—pleurisy and pneumonia. An examination of the blood served to confirm the obvious conclusion that the pig was lucky to be alive. Blood tests showed him to be suffering from severe anaemia, no doubt, in part at least, due to the combined effect of the various ailments mentioned. "This pig is but an example of many which are inspected each year at the request of farmers who complain that their young stock are unthrifty, and who in many cases will offer as an explanation that ,the boar is no good, or that the sow never rears a thriving litter. Implied in the explanation is the suggestion that they are unfortunate in having breeding stock which are constitutionally weak and lack the ability to make profitable use of the food supplied. The annoying feature of the presence of these ills is that all of them are far more easily prevented than remedied. With fchis aim in view a national instructional service is available through the pig clubs and district pig council to all farmers who keep pigs. "Profitable pig-keeping is based on turning relatively valueless foodstuffs: into valuable pig meat and the efficiency with which this can be done depends upon the management of the pig herd. Where large numbers of pigs are kept, and particularly where many pigs are bought in, the provision of a dip similar in design ,to the smaller type of sheep dip is an essential part of the farm equipment. The dip is partly filled with water over which is floated a layer of oil, and the pigs are swum through this mixture. A complete coating of oil ensures the destruction of all the lice." From the above it can be seen that disease is really the important limiting factor in the raising of pigs. The two most common diseases are contagious pneumonia and necrotic enteritis. ECONOMICAL METHODS. However, to the vast majority of pig raisers it would be unquestionably to their advantage to study the most economical method of raising pigs. The veterinary experts have shown again and again that the above pig diseases are often spread by store pigs, and any farmer purchasing them is liable to buy ( diseased pigs which not only do not thrive themselves but which very likely infect the other pigs on the property. The question which naturally follows is how can these diseases be avoided. One answer and a very sound answer is "breed pigs instead of buying them." Experience has shown that the soundest approach to the problem is by the purchase of good sows. It should not be thought that well-bred sows are immune to contagious diseases, but the likelihood of their being affected when purchased is relatively small. More important, however, is the fact that a single small risk of disease is run when buying good sows, instead of repeated great risks with every batch of store pigs purchased. It has been asked again and again how diseased pigs are allowed to be offered for sale. The reason in many cases is that the vender has no knowledge that his stock is diseased, as the pigs are in the carrier stage of disease and naturally appear normal on inspection at the market Such pigs are liable to develop the disease in an active state when they are subjected to sudden change in environment, such as transport over certain distances with its attendant starvation. SOURCE OF INFECTION. The greatest loss is not so much these carriers, which become active and frequently die. as the potential source of infection which they provide for all pigs with which they come in contact. This explains how, if store pigs have to be purchased through the markets, they should be placed in isolation for at least a fortnight before coming in contact with other pigs on the property, and should, as has been suggested, be dipped. The female pig is not necessarily a good so*, and the purchaser's only safeguard is the reputation of the breeder. A good sow is one which will produce and rear a good litter. The purchase of pregnant sows which •have already reared one good litter j seems the most rational method of buy- j Ing sows for breeding. It must be well

remembered that the extra initial cost in buying the best available cannot be Better repaid than in the purchase of sows for breeding. Too much importance cannot also be stressed regarding the use of a good boar.

Boars should be obtained from repuI table breeders who by their care and (attention have shown that their pigs are thoroughly sound in every way. It is also essential, as with other breeds, to secure the best blood lines available. Many New Zealand stud pig breeders in the past few years have i imported valuable boars and sows from Australia and England. The progeny of these importations are now available and breeders cannot do better than take advantage of the wonderful opportunity which the enterprise of these importers has made available to them. An instance of the way in which two breeders who have made considerable importations have been supported is shown by the sale of Large Black and Large White pigs on account of Mr. B. E. Keiller, "Tumanako," Palmerston North, and Mr. G. M. Whitelock, "Grinton," Palmerston North. Buyers were present from Wairarapa, iTaranaki, Hawke's Bay, Waikato, Auckland, and Marlborough districts, while the local competition was very strong. The top-priced Large White sow was purchased for a Victorian client at 36 guineas. A splendid example to all breeders was the manner in which the pigs were brought forward, which showed that they had been very well cared for indeed, and housed under the best possible conditions. -