Pig Clubs’ Section

Northern Advocate, 28 January 1939, Page 7

Pig Clubs’ Section

Specially written by W. A. BEATTIE

The present unfavourable season has-, found holes in the armour of most farmers. It is a fact, however, that in every district are a few farmers who have not suffered greatly by the unseasonable weather and conditions. It is a never failing source of interest to note who these farmers are, and'to find the secret of their success. It may be of interest to mention one or two outstanding cases, and the result may be to help others. It is almost impossible to write articles dealing with pigs without touching on the other aspects of farm economy, because pigs are almost entirely dependent for their existence on by-products of dairying, and any breakdown on that score upsets all arrangements. The number of pigs that can be put off. the condition of the breeding stock, and so on, are all dependent on cows in the long run, and the dairying part of the farm must always remain the most important. i

Seasonal Cycles Everyone knows, even if they don’t put their knowledge to good use, that seasons vary a great deal. After the wet seasons we have had, it is perfectly natural to expect that a dry one would follow. After successions of easterly storms, it is natural to anticipate a long spell of westerly weather, with its cold, drying winds. True farming consists in an appreciation of such facts. The real farmer may be caught at times, but usually he has something up his sleeve to combat nature’s subversive ways. In that lies the difference between the “cocky” and 1 the farmer. The way to overcome the unhappy results/ of the vagaries of Nature may differ in various districts, but in general the principles are the same, two instances may be cited. Good Results at Hoanga One of the outstanding farms, possibly the most outstanding, on the Hofinga flats, near . Dargaville, is that of ..Idt- Kay. While most of the settlers; oh this flat are experiencing a shortage of feed, Mr Kay is doing as well as ever, and has quite the best hay crops in Northland. His pigs are coming away excellently, because he is not experiencing any shortage of milk for them. One of the noticeable factors in his success is that vyhen he took the farm over some years ago, he; planted shelter trees. There are many hundreds of such trees . on the farm, and as these are well 'grown, the cold winds do not sweep (over the farm, as they do in other cases. V ; , ■ In his hay paddock it is remarkable that the nearer the shelter belts, the better the crop. The benefit of the shelter is obvious. Furthermore, the cold drying winds do not play on the animals, which are warm and contented. The first use of food is to keep up body heat and if a dairy cow is cold, she cannot be expected to milk as she otherwise would.

Grass Covering: Another point is that the grass is never allowed to become so short that it ceases to fully cover the ground and protect the soil from the effects of the wind. Provided there is a good sole of grass and clover with some length on it, the wind does not have nearly the same drying effect. To do this involves two things, carrying the correct number of stock, and having reserves of hay and ensilage that can be used when there is any tendency to overgrazing. For financial reasons, most farmers try to carry a maximum of stock, but unfortunately they base their numbers on the conditions in good seasons instead of average or even poor seasons. The average returns from dairying show that if farmers were to cut down their herds a good deal they would on whole increase their production. It takes courage, however, to cut down the number of stock. Those who control farmers’ finances feel that their security is being diminished if the herd is reduced, and this is a brake on what would in many cases be an excellent move. Overstocking in Pigs The question of overstocking applies very much to pigs. The effect is twofold. First, there is usually trouble at the end of the season in getting the pigs away, and the result is winter stores. More insidious than this is the effect of cutting down the proper feed supplies of the breeding stock, with resultant temporary sterility, small litters and so on. That the average breeding life of a sow in New Zealand is less than six litters is, in my opinion, directly traceable to this source. If most farmers would only take the plunge, and cut down their stock, they would immediately find less worry and more money would be the result. Top-dressing Mr Kay places great value on the effct of a small top-drssing irt spring,

Weather Conditions and The Pig-Breeder

as well as the main one in autumn. By spring he means July or August. In this way he gets that growth that can keep his ground well covered, and that gives an abundance of early feed. The paddocks are kept well topped to encourage leaf, and he certainly has the leafiest hay crop J have yet seen in Northland. Even a hundredweight of super in* July, he states, has a great effet in enabling him to follow out his principles of mangagement. Kaitaia Farm Mr A. B. Macdonald’s farm at Ruaroa, Kaitaia, is also a picture this year, despite unfavourable conditions. The avoidance of overstocking, correct manuring, and harrowing of his pad-

docks in the autumn and spring have been the main reasons for his success.

Not only is there abundance of feed for the cows, but he has excellent hay and is building up a nice reserve that will free him of all worries should a bad winter ensue. , Kis cows are doing excellently, and the result is that all his pigs are in great condition. v After last year’s spring we can look forward to a good one next season. Should this take place, it would be a great oportunity for farmers, instead of increasing their stock, to build up reserves cf hay, estimating their stockcarrying capacity b$ this unfavourable season rather than by the favourable one. The vital question Is, how many-

stock can be held in good condition in a poor season.

To be a good farmer, one has to feel one’s way very carefully. Each farm has its own problems that can only be solved as a result of experience, and that experience must not be too dearly bought.

A test used in the manufacture of safety glass for Ford cars is to submerge a sample in boiling water for eight hours. If low boiling point solvents are present, they make bubbles, as they would under the heat of the sun'.