Pig Feeding Research

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 5

Pig Feeding Research

THE GROWTH-PROMOTION

FACTOR

Preliminary experiments which may lead to substantial modifications in pig-feeding practice have been carried out by Mr George Dunlop at the Animal Nutrition Research Institute, Cambridge (England). They are based on the results of rat experiments at Sir Gowland Hopkins' laboratory, which showed the existence of a hitherto unknown dietary factor in liver and some other natural foodstuffs.

This factor, termed physin, is growthpromoting and appetite-stimulating. Mo3t rations for pigs used in this country are grossly deficient in the factor. Mr Dunlop found that when physin —supplied in the form of liver —was added to adequate diets of natural foodstuffs, there was an increased response of approximately 40 per cent. The discovery of the physin factor has thrown new light on the position. The suggestion is made that the beneficial effect of milk on growth rate is mainly due to its physin content. It has been proved that the dry matter of raw liver is approximately forty times as rich in physin as dried whole milk. It would rarely be economic to include liver in the ration of pigs on the farm; but other feeding stuffs contain physin, and when definite information of the physin content of these foods is known, the introduction of effective and economic milk substitutes (Will be possible. Meantime, from available knowledge, the physin content of certaiu foodstuffs may be arranged in the following order; Liver, liver meal, dried whole milk, whey, green food, fish meal, meat meal, or extracted soya bean meal.

This report would indicate that New Zealand pig producers are fortunate in the diet they are able to supply their stock, at very little expense. Green feed can be supplied all the year round, from pastures or by crops; milk is our main pig-food. Both are rich in physin, as are meat and liver-meai. Further research by our own workers into the qualities of liver-meal might well be undertaken. It might be a good plan to have liver-meal specially prepared for pig-feeding, so as to obtain the greatest possible benefit from the supply available. New Zealand would have, relatively, a greater supply than any other country. There are possibilities here for very useful research work.