FARM AND GARDEN.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 313, 19 November 1910, Page 6

FARM AND GARDEN.

PIG-RAISING. Farmers will study their own interests if they take up pig-raising, and there is nothing so profitable 'on the farm as the pig (writes W. Smith, Victorian pig expert, in the official journal.) If it is the right thing to have a dairy farm, then it is also imperative to grow pigs, for the simple reason cows and pigs should always be run together, as a business.

When growing root crops and green fodder for his cows the farmer can easily grow a little extra for his sows and young pigs. If ) le studies the right breed of pigs he can increase his income four-fold; not only that, he will be giving the land manure in abundance. There is need for a great increase in pig-raising, it an extensive

i export trade is to be created, and the local demand maintained on its present profitable basis. Great Britain pays > annually £19,000,000 to foreign coun- : trise for pig products. Pork has been ■ successfully exported to London, and that market would take a large quantity at profitable rates if it were available. The best breed is the Yorkshire and Berkshire cross. The Yorkshire boar should be purebred; the sow should be of the Berkshire type, half to threequarter bred with plenty of size and well-shaped ham, deep ribbed, straight back, small head, good bones not too large, and close to the ground, with well-shaped feet, and plenty of hair, twelve teats, and of good breeding quality. Both sexes should be at least eight months old before they are allowed to breed. Get as many litters as you can; keep the sow in good condition, but not too fat. The average litter from good sows should be about eight; you can get five litters of eight pigs in two years, say twenty pigs per sow per year I never advise selling pigs at two months; keep them till they are five months old and about 1401b weight—at 6d per lb, they will return £3 10s each, or a gross return of £7O per year from one sow. If ten sows and one hog are kept on the farm, and have the same average, the gross income would be £7OO per year. A few .days before farrowing give the sow half a-pint of castor oil in her food; a week afterwards give her a packet of Epsom salts. The young pigs should be weaned at six to eight weeks old, not later. Castrate the male pigs at three weeks; do not allow the young pigs to lose their baby fat, but keep them going right from the start. If milk is available, sterilise by heating to 180 degrees, mix with wheat or barley crashed, and boiled potatoes; the water in which the potatoes are boiled should be thrown away. Mix the food well into a sloppy condition for young pigs. When they are three months; make it more stiff by putting less liquor in. When four months old, give plenty of dry food. A reliable ration is one gallon of milk, 31b of potatoes, and 4bl of crushed barley or wheat per pig per day. At this age they should make 151b per week, if well looked after, and at the end of five months should weigh 1401b. If peas are available, a pint oi peas per day ia a great improvement, before being marketed, as it improves the appearance of the skin, and makes the flesh more solid. It is essential to provide plenty of clean water in a separate trough for the pigs to drink; also to have plenty of charcoal and a piece of rocksalt in the stye. Always sterilise tha milk fed to pigs. This is of great importance, as it is a safeguard against the transmission of tuberculosis.