PIGS AND PROFIT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 107, 19 April 1933, Page 4

PIGS AND PROFIT

REGULAR FEEDING NEEDED PROPER CARE OF WEANERS. FURTHER ADVICE FROM AIK Ale KIN NON. We have already published portions of the paper written by Mr W. McKinnon, of Gisborne, in relation to pigs and profits.—ln the following article the questions of feeding and management are continued. Returning to the whey and skim milk feeder: Many fanners do not regard whey as a food at all, while others collect a considerable sum from its use. One farmer will take £l5O per year from the whey, while another will take £25 from the skim milk from the same area. The difference lies in the man. One understands the pig’s anatomy, while the other does not. To keep a pig fasting for about 15 hours, and then to gorge him on whey or skim milk will not yield a profitable return. This is not feeding. The animal requires a tough constitution to survive it. I know of farms where pigs are not fed until after a late breaklast; their last meal at night being before milking. Remembering its limited capacity, and the low feeding value of whey, it is a wonder that the farmer takes anything at all from bis piggery. Whey and skim milk should be fed often and preferably in moderate quantities. The use of the largo trough may prove a labour-saving device, but it is uot the best way. Long fasts should be avoided at all costs. Little and often should be the motto. AVOIDING LONG FABTS. Farmers like their cup of morning tea. I "am convinced it pays to give the pig his. After milking give him a little more before taking breakfast. In addition to the feeds throughout the day', something should be given after milking at night. Those of you who have not found whey feeding profitable may discover the leakage here. The long fast and then the big feed often with hot whey or skim milk is responsible for that frequent bowel trouble, which if not attended. to, in time, may prove fatal. I am convinced that pigs fed in this way suffer from chronic indigestion, and how can they be expected to thrive? I should remind whey feeders of the value of meat meal. I regard it as indispensable, and even a few ounces per pig per day will convert a loss into a profit. You cannot afford to feed whey without the use of some meal or oil, and so far as experiments have gone the meat meal has given the most encouraging returns. Provided that long fasts are avoided whey can be fed warm without harm, and no ill effects can result from feeding it when several days old. Science lias proved that it does not lose any of Its feeding value. The fresh, of course, is preferred. If fed in small quantities, skim milk can be fed warm from the separator with good results, provided the long fast is avoided. Some farmers keep the milk until several days old. This is unnecessary; in fact, unwise. Weaner pigs prefer the milk warm from the separator, and when a handful of sharps is added it makes an ideal food for them. The young pigs must have it little and often. Barley meal is good, but for the very young ones I prefer the sharps. Regularity in feeding has been adopted by the most successful- men 1 have known. We know how necessary it is to observe regularity with our dairy herd, equally dividing the day for the two milkings. This may seem a small matter in pig raising, but I am assured its observance contributes to success. THE PIG’S ANATOMY) 1 have referred to the pig’s anatomy and its limitations in dealing with bulky roods. A glance at the construction of its mouth will show that it was not intended for liquid foods. Our methods are contrary to nature’s. The strong tusks and heavy grinders suggest fern roots and flesh foods, grains and nuts. A set of gills would be more in keeping with our system of feeding. Therefore, I would stress the addition of meals and oils that will enrich these liquid foods upon which the pig has been made solely to depend. I have 1 een trying to fathom the cause of the prime pig in the litter gradually declining without any visible reason and becoming the runt and often dying. I believe it is ofteu caused through the early drying off of the particular teat belonging tu that pig. You are aware that the young pig always has the same teat throughout the six to eight weeks he is ou the mother. That fighting that goes on at times is through one of the youngsters taking its wrong place at meal times. In the previous litter a young pig may have died early, and this teat would dry off early. With the following litter this teat would again begin to dry off, although its occupant would be going strong. Jt is the failure of the milk that causes the pig to decline. For this reason, if for no other, young pigs should be encouraged to drink by themselves as early as possible. Early independence decreases the risk of mortality as well as gives much stronger pigs at weaning. It also assists the sow. Eight or 10 lusty pigs tugging at the sow for eight weeks will test her constitution and often weaken it for the following litter. The powers of production of the breeding sow arc marvellous, but the life of many a good sow is shortened because ws have not assisted her with the weaners.