PIGS AND PORK

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 2 March 1935, Page 16

PIGS AND PORK

SUPPLEMENTARY RATIONS MANURIAL VALUES CROPS SHOW HIGH RETURNS

One of the first things which impressed me when I looked carefully into the question of costs of production was that in pig-keeping feeding stuffs form a higher proportion of costs that in the case of other farm stock, writes Mr It. H. Davidson in the Farmer and Stockbreeder (London). The manurial value of the ration is also greater, and may theoretically be as high as 10 per cent of the original cost. In the case of a 40 or 50-sow unit it is only too easy to get through five tons of meal a week or more, so that at the ends of a year the manurial value may amount to something like £2OO. Obviously a sum of this kind is, a total loss if it is allowed merely to accumulate in permanent grass or to be squandered through the manure being left lying about or removed free of charge. On the other hand, it is necessary to keep pigs on as fresh ground as possible in order to keep down the concentration of diseases which, taken together, produce “pig-sick” land. It iss true that resting the land is by itself considerable helpy but it is hardly enough. The cultivations which are necessary to produce crops expose to the surface a much greater part of the affected soil, and the many influences which are toxic to parasites’ eggs and disease germs and spores have greater scope for action. Asstiming then, that the land has to be cropped, what type or types of! crops will be mqst suitable ? The amount of manure applied will normally bo heavy, in many cases extremely so, and will, on the whole, be of a highly nitrogenous nature. The general farmer may give a moderate dressing to a large area and take a corn crop, but for the man who is specialising in pigs, grain is out of the question. In either case green crops and roots are indicated, as they are suited to the type of manuring.

SUPPLY OF GRFKGST FOOD. In considering the amounts to be grown, the first call is obviously for a' supply of green and succulent food for the stock. If adequate pasture is ■available, supplemented by lucerne for the dry period of. summer, then green food is required for a period during the winter.. In addition, however, larger pigs, particularly brood sows, can be fed economically on. reasonable amounts of roots in place of the usually more costly meals. In fact, for winter feeding some roots are almost essential, as sows fed all the time on meals do not give as satisfactory' results, and tend to get fat. As green food for winter, I know of nothing better than kale, and I prefer the thousand-head variety. Cabbages are quite sound, but have a tendency to cause constipation in pigs. Few other crops will stand the frosts of winter so well as thousand-head kale, and, particularly when it is left unthinned, there is nothing in the way of a fibrous stem which the pigs cannot eat. It is also a crop which will stand practically unlimited manuring.

The best root crop to select is that which grows best in the district. *lt would be foolish to attempt to grow swedes, when the results are poor in comparison with mangolds. Both are useful when they provide large succulent roots, but it is possible that mangolds are even better in their effect on milk production than other roots. Small quantities sliced or pulped are useful for putting in along with dry meal or sucking pigs, and there is reason to believe that sugar mangold 4 even better for this purpose. The trouble about the latter is that, like its. relative, the sugar beet, it is rather apt to holt in a dry summer.

VALUE OF POTATOES In many respects potatoes are the ideal crop to grow in conjunction with pigs. Not only can the chats be fed to good advantage, but the whole crop could be so utilised, if necessary, without too great a loss. The potatomarketing scheme, . however, offers some difficulties; in that a beginner canot start to grow this crop without paying a penalty. Apart from roots and green soilingcrops, the only other thing to consider is! the kind of grass to lay down for pigs, and on this particular subject there is not too much evidence. Pigs are rather sore on pasture, which notoriously becomes weedy after they have been grading for some time. A high proportion of clover is undoubtedly to be desired, but pigs have a habit of biting out the roots if the grazing is at all poor or reduced in quantity.

T have not yet had sufficient experience with lucerne alone as a pas-

ture plant to say whether this is really he best for grazing pigs. From a nutritional point of view it is certainly the best, but there are certain difficulties associated with getting a plant and with/maintaining it. For a general mixture use indigenous and tested strains whenever possible, and never buy anything hut the best for the purpose, whatever the cost.