MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Northern Advocate, 15 September 1934, Page 14

MODERN PIG-KEEPING

British Pork Market. It is very satisfactory to know that the British Government has made the quotas of foreign pork for the last six months of this year 40 per cent, less than those for the first six months of this year, and that New Zealand exports of pork are not to be restricted. Apparently the restrictions are to mainly apply to the shipments of the United States and- Argentina. * Last year the United States exported to Britain 83,322 cwt against 32,978 cwt in the previous year and Argentina exported 166,356 cwt against 108,854 cwt in 1932, For the first six months of this year the imports of chilled pork into Britain were 538,541 cwt against 253,034 cwts in the corresponding period of last year, an increase of considerably over 100 per cent. The Greedy Pig. Research work in Scotland is proving the enormous value of pig recording. It has found by actual weighing of pigs and the food they consume that there are strains of pigs that are profitable to keep and strains that are unprofitable. That there is the “economic” pig and the “greedy” pig. Trials have proved, says A. D. Buchanan-Smith, that a “greedy” pig will consume 10001 b of meal to reach 2001 b of live weight while the “economic” pig will reach 2001 b of live weight on a consumption of only 6001 b of meal, or not much more than half the food required by the greedy pig. It is certainly something of an eyeopener that while some pigs require s|lb of meal for each pound of live weight gained, other pigs under

identically the same conditions require only 3|lb. According to the Scottish estimates it thus costs £1 more to feed the “greedy” pig than it does to feed the “economic” pig. These facts about the “economic” pig are confirmed by research workers in other parts of the world. Over a period of years the Danish figures show a variation of from 2.5 to 4.81 b; in Germany the variation is from 2.3 to 3.81 b. Interesting as the figures are, those from U.S.A. are still more illuminating. In lowa and in Minnesota the “greedy” pig ate twice as much protein part the ration as did the “economic” pig. The “greedy” pig is not confined to any particular breed, but is to be found in strains of all the breeds. It is only pig-recording that will unerringly expose the undesirable strain. While pig-recording has not sufficiently advanced in this country to enable breeders of pedigree stock to discover the strains that are of the “greedy” type and those that are of the “economic” type, who has not experienced the “greedy” pig, generally a tall, rough-boned pig that no food seems to satisfy, quite distinct from the quiet easily satisfied pig that seems to thrive under all conditions of feeding.

Swine Erysipelas. It has been pointed out in this column that the wallow, which only cools the stomach and lower extremities of the pig. is not only unsanitary, but is a frequent cause of erysipelas. A reader wants to know the symptoms of this trouble. In the first case the cause is a small bacillus which, unlike the virus of swine fever, is very resistant to the influences of sun and weather and may remain latent in the soil year after year. There is apparently no method of treating the disease. The only thing is to confer immunity by giving serum and vaccine at required intervals.

The disease occurs in three forms, the mild, the acute and the chronic. In the mild form the skin over the chest, neck, back and over the thighs becomes flushed at first, later changing to purple and i'ed, the affected areas being shaped generally like diamonds. squares or circles, and raised like wheels. The diamonds, etc., persist for four days or so and then the pig apparently recovers. Later some of them are attacked by the chronic form and eventually succumb to heart disease, others developing swollen joints and lameness.

In the acute form prostration is marked and breathing laboured. Eyes become inflamed and discharge slimy matter. The whole body may assume a reddish or purplish hue. Large areas of the skin slough off. Consti-

pation is present at first, but later this gives way to scouring. Control of the disease is very difficult because affected pigs although unthrifty sometimes do not appear to have much the matter with them. Often they look normal if thin, but become distressed by exercise. A cough generally develops. After this emaciation and weakness are very marked. If there is any reason to suspect the presence of the trouble it should be at once reported to the local stock inspector. Fortunately, the disease has not yet appeared in this country.