PIG FEEDING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 June 1931, Page 11

PIG FEEDING

LINCOLN COLLEGE RESEARCH

WHEAT INSTITUTE’S SUGGESTIONS TO NORTH ISLAND

The question of North Island dairying centres growing wheat and barley for the feeding of pigs there in the sheaf as compared with threshed grain lias been investigated by the Wheat Research Institute recently, and suggestions forwarded to Rig Breeders’ Associations. At the meeting of the Institute reference was made to that investigation, when members expressed disapproval of the manner in which the North Island parties interested treated the whole subject. The reference to the matter in the Director’s report stated:— “On our suggestions for growing wheat and barley in the North Island dairy centres for the use of pigs there,

an answer was received from one of the chief Rig Breeders’ Associations saying that grain could not be bound and slacked because of the lack of binders, and that if it were cut and stacked loose, as hay, birds made their way into the stacks and ruined them.”

In regard to the investigation, the report stated: — A great number of pig fatteners wish to use grain and milk. The pig fattening areas in New Zealand are almost exclusively in the dairying districts. and these arc unfortunately separated from grain-growing districts by a stretell of ocean, so that transport of grain to them raises the price beyond reasonable limits.

The distribution of the pigs and the wheat and barley growing in New Zealand is shown in the following figures, which emphasises the disjunction of the two types of farming: North Island—

Rigs 440,000 Wheat (acres) 2,000 South Island — Pigs 12,000 Wheat (acres) 220,000 There is no doubt that grain can be grown in the dairying districts, but several objections are raised. _ One of these objections is that special maehineiy is needed, and the provision of this would he uneconomical for the small areas needed. Since mangels and turnips are grown in these areas, and since hay is cut and stacked, it is clear that the’ only implements not available are the binder and the thresher. It seemed, therefore, that if wheat and barley could be economically fed to pigs without being threshed, this particular objection would to a large extent be negatived. The Institute therefore asked for, and the Director of Lincoln College kindly consented to conduct an experiment of feeding pigs on wheat and barley in the sheaf. The experiment was designed and the figures are supplied by Air M. J. Scott.

TESTS AT LINCOLN The trial was made on six large white bacon pigs; these were weighed weekly throughout the course of the experiment. They were each fed with one gallon of skim milk per day, and with as many wheat sheaves or barley sheaves as they would clean up without obvious waste. The sheaves were merely thrown on to the concrete floor of the stv. The whole experiment lasted over 'll weeks, but the figures for onlv six weeks are reproduced in the table, as these are the only ones in which grain sheaves and milk were being fed together. Since the trial was designed to show the feeding quality of grain in the sheaf as against threshed grain, it is necessary to have as a basis of comparison, a figure showing the live weight increase of pigs when they are fed with threshed grain and milk. This figure is about 500 pounds of feed for 100 pounds live weight increase, and it is based on the trials made at Lincoln College during the past four years. These trials were 12 in number', involved 70 pigs, and averaged 60 days per trial, so that the figures may be taken as reliable. The results showed that wheat in the sheaf was as economical to feed as wheat threshed and fed from the bag. Further, feeding barley from the sheaf was also as economical as feeding it as threshed grain. Thus the main question asked by the experiment was answered.

COSTS OT GROWING IL remains to be seen whether it is economical to grow grain in the dairying districts. The practical difficulties in the choice of varieties that would resist lodging of the straw and such diseases as rust are those that the Institute offered assistance in overcoming. Other difficulties having to do with the cultivation, and the preservation of loosely built stacks from the ravages of birds, could only be overcome by practical experience. Any calculations on the payableness of growing the crop would have to be made on the assumption that the farmer grows his own grain to feed his own home-bred pigs. Any expenses in threshing or transport would greatly reduce any possible profits. Mr Scott has sfcown in his report on pig-feeding experiments what with pork at 6d per lb, and wheat at 6s per bushel, each gallon of skim milk fed to pigs along with the grain is worth over one pennv per gallon. This is the factor that "makes the growing of wheat for pigs in the dairy districts worth consideration. „ If in the light of this experiment any pig or poultry-growers’ organisations desire to make experiments on growing wheat for their special purposes, the Wlieat Research Institute offers its assistance. * . I)r. Hilgcndorf explained that the investigation had been carried out by the 1 Institute m order to show that it was prepared to carry out work which was j valuable to the North Island as re!search. , , Mr C. H. Hewlett said that when he had been in the North Island—and lie referred to several occasions—ho had mentioned the question of districts there growing their wheat and barley for pig feeding, but the answer had always been the same—“lt is too much trouble. They seemed to be in favour rather of it being grown in Canterbury at a loss. Mr Jas. Carr: But they must all appreciate the value of barley as a food. Mr Hewlett: Yes, but the Government discourage us by taking the duty off. , , Mr Carr: They'll never grow barley while they can get it at the present * Mr W. \V. Mulhollaud pointed out that the poultryman at least should be vitally interested in any suggestions ill, regard to the growing of wheat for themselves near at hand. Dr. H. G. Denham : It is a fact that it is not economic to have steel manufactured in a locality where there is no large supply of coal adjacent. The position with the poultrykccpcrs is much the same. They cannot hope to be able to compete with other countries when the poultry is away from the feed supply. The place for poultry is in Canterbury in the riverbeds if there is no intention to grow wheat in the North Island, for those purposes. The section of the report was adopted. ~ Always keep “N AZOL’ ’ bandy! Sciontifioally treats coughs and colds at the points of infection. Gives prompt >elief The new double size contains 12U full doses for 2/6. Smaller size at 1/6 contains 60 doses. Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure for Influenza Colds.