FATTENING PIGS.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1923, Page 6

FATTENING PIGS.

THE MOST PROFITABLE SYSTEM

USE OF SELF FEEDERS

The value of the self feeder in pig raising has been demonstrated in England and America, and the system is highly popular with fanners :u those countries, where it is (burned the. feed-

ers prepare ;the pigs lor market in a more economic and expeditious manner than any ether system of feeding, says "The Leader." Australian farmers have been slow to realise the economy and other advantages that are entailed in making the pigs feed themselves, and in consequence self feeders are not in use on many of our farms. There are a few farmers, however, who have adopted this labour-saving system of fattening their pigs, and the results in their eases have been most gratifying. Mr G. Kerr, who is one of the few farmers in the Hamilton district engaged in pig raising on a large scale, has been singularly successful in his farming operations since 'he added a se4f feeder to the improvements on his closer settlement block on Strathkellar Estate. The pigs on his farm are run in a small grazing paddock, containing the self feeder from the time they arc weaned until they are almost ready for market. They r(re then put into pens about a fortnight to permit of topping off and cleaning up. Since he adopted this system Mr Kerr has been able to get the animals into marketable condition about a month earlier

on the average than when he was hand feeding exclusively. In addition he has found that the pigs are healthier and move thrifty, and that considerable time is saved in the feeding operations. His feeder was constructed to plans drawn up himself, atad holds sufficient food to keep the Animals. going for four or five rays* However, it would require refilling within .that time if the number of animals feeding from it Were increased, and as Mr Kerr points out, it is advisable to make inspection daily in order to make sure that the food supply is regulated properly. He feeds ground peas, oats, wheat and barley through the feeder, according to the crops raised on the farm. His is one of the few farms in the state on which practically everything grown is marketed through live stock.

Self feeders have been used with great success for a number of years at Hawkesbury Agricultural College, the late principal of which (Mr H. W. Potts), in "Pigs and Their Management," points out that "the results obtained in a long and convincing series of tests conducted at agricultural stations in America and Canada .are of sufficient \alue to warrant the general adoption of the self feeder, particularly where the pig is given the opportunity of selecting such breeds from the various chambers of the feeder as will give him a b/iianeed ration." Under the system referred to, which is designated "free choice feeding," the pig secures maximum gains; he exhibits correct judgment in selecting not only the right class of food in proper quantities for balancing his ration, but such food as will fit in economically with the outdoor system of grazing. The food placed in the self feeder can be modified and mixed in order to supply deficiencies and nourishment in the pasturage. The profitable character of this system is mere pronounced in the final fattening stages, when foods in concentrated form, such as maize, wheat, pollard and barley are given balanced with special protein foods, such as linseed meal, meat meal or lucerne meal. Where dairy farming is carried on in conjunction wtih the pig-raising operations, and skini milk is available, grain c oods alone may be fed through the self-feeder. The experiments carried out, at lowa station showed that the pigs ate more evenly and regularly when permitted to feed themselves. Those fattened with the aid of a selffeeder showed an increase of 10 per cent, profit in contrast with those fed exactly the same rations by hand!

In referring to points t'hat the farmer has to watch when employing soi''-feed-ers, Mr Potts states that it is necessary to attend to the self-feeder daily. The pigs should be slowly accustomed to any change in diet. The feeder should be placed on a dry, well-drained area, free from the invasions of filthy and dirty matter. The troughs should be kept (dean, and care should be taken to see thai, the food flews freely fmir. the lioppe!'. The troughs should be inspected regularly tc ensure that the food is sweet and. edible, and to guar;! against sour food accumulating after rainfall. It is advisable to move the feeder t> a clean place occasionally. The troughs of the feeder used by Mr Kerr at Strathkellar are divided into small sections by means of iron bars across the top of the troughs. Each section is just wide enough to provide feeding rpace for one animal. In this way crowding and bullying is avoided, and it is impossible for the pigs to lie down in the trough.