PIG FEEDING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVI, Issue 3399, 28 July 1932, Page 2

PIG FEEDING.

SUGGESTIONS TO SHEEP FARMERS. Some time ago, Hawke's Bay pigbreeders were issued with a questionnaire in respect to the feeding of pigs on meat meal and meat meal associated with roots. These questionnaires were issued to pig farmers all over the Dominion and, in addition, a number of special experiments in the feeding of meat meal were carried out in Hawke's Bay and elsewhere.

Mr. K. W. Gorringe, Instructor in Swine Husbandry, disclosed the re-

suits of these experiments when he stated that the advent of an association of roots and meat meal of winter feeding was going to be of enormous importance to all stock, while with pigs he held that it was indispensable. Many experiments with pigs had been carried out, and all were successful. Half a pound of meat meal per day per pig, associated with as many roots as the animal could consume during the day, with a little fresh water and a warm house, was all that was required. Out of experiments carried out extending from Marlborough to the Central Waikato, and including 260 pigs there were not one death and the pigs averaged half a pound gain per day. Every £1 spent on meat meal would return a £4 dividend. Experiments, Mr. Gorringe went on to state, had shown that a daily dose of minerals, blended, and given at any time of the pig's life and with any food, increased the growing capacity of the animals enormously. A 60-pound weanev would to the average farmer, seem out of all reason, observed Mr. Gorringe, yet that was what a litter averaged as the result of giving the animal minerals in association with approved feeding. Referring to the feeding of barley, Mr. Gorringe said that it seemed as if they could do without it, but they could enhance the quality of the side by adding a little grain at the latter stages of the feeding. There was a chance for every dairy farmer to grow three times as many pigs this year, and bring in more revenue. Mr. Goringe said that he had a message for the sheep farmers also. Pigs could be grown just as well without cows as with cows. If a portion of a sheep farm, say, 50 acres, was set aside for the growing of pigs and a man employed to look after them, that 50 acres would bring in a very good return. Mr. Gorringe said that he was banking on the pip, being the greatest asset of the small holding scheme, and added that 10 acres would not carry more than seven cows, but it would be possible to get 240 porkers off this area in 12 months. One and a-half to two acres of mangels would see all the pigts through right up to Christmas with meat and minerals. He considered it would pay a sheep farmer to put an unemployed man on a portion of his farm for the purpose of keeping pigs. Why should they not mix their farming?