PIGS FOR PROFIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18761, 15 July 1924, Page 12

PIGS FOR PROFIT.

VERY PAYABLE INDUSTRY. HOUSING AND FEEDING* BY BESUBGAM. Many farmers who devote time and •attention to their cows, regard the pig as an adjunct only to farm hfe, tc consume waste products. When it is fully realised that as much as £90 per annum can be made from one sow, those indifferent pig-breeders will surely strive to view the greafc pig industry in a different light, especially now that the export trade haa been started, and that there is ample scope in our Dominion to breed, jraise, and sell annually millions of pigs. It must be remembered that England alone imports no less than 55 millions worth annually of pigs, and their by-pro-ducts, while the present supply, at the moment, in this Dominion is negligible. Tho British trade is being, done by foreigners at present, and this should not be while we ourselves could grow the feeding materials, and the pigs, w our suitable climate, better than they can be produced in most other parts of the globe. Whatever the land value may be, the pig product shows the highest possible return. No milk is necessary, though it is desirable if available, but in any case foods should be grown to top off, when milk is used as the principal diet. If the farmer uses his head a little more on this pig-raising it will not be necessary for him to us© his bands so much to achieve complete success. Swine husbandry is a most payable proposition, and there is no such thing as luck in pig-raising—it is either good or bad husbandry. The farmer must study the pig, and learn to give him a good fighting chance in order to achieve suecuss, and obtain the desired profits. This advico is given, because it is necessary; and because there is no animal on the farm-that suffers through negbet more than the lowly, but useful pig, and there is no other animal there that responda more, assuredly with fair and decent treatment. The primary great defect on many farms to-day, is that there ars too many pig feeders, and far too few pig breeders. There is a great store business going-on in this country, and the man who bought his pigs in the seleyards was. only a feeder, who is always, handicapped in two ways, by paying too much, and secondly, as no man can judge what is inside the pig when buying him from the outside, -the animals may be check full of germs, which are constantly at work against the feeder. As young pigs cost about 10£ d per week to rear under best feeding conditions, it is a big handicap on the feeder if he pays more than 10s per head for any ten-wesks-old weaners of doubtful parentage, the breeding of his own stock being infinitely preferable from all points of view, An_ experienced pig-breeder of this country, has sliown that one of his average sows, over a four-year period reared 84 pigs—leaving the sow and 10 of hor progeny in hand at the end of the term. His money returns showed a cash value of £80 per annum over a period. This breeder urges that the sow should not farrow earlier in life than 12 months, and that she should not be penned up. He assured the writer that any fanner could get that return if the pigs were kept under fair and decent conditions. As a standard for successful pig raising one must study the animal in his natural state, and avoid housing, or keeping them in dirty pens, or disease infested plots or quarters. Preventive measures are necessary to combat disease. The pigs must be properly housed, and the piggeries built facing the sun, which must be allowed to enter freely, as germs are bred in dark and damp places—the sunlight being their enemy. Farmers should always ke,ep records of costs and results of foods given, when it will be found that v/ith a properly balanced rat'o7., milk foods would go twice as far. Lucerne should bo a basis of their crops, and artichokes will be found to be better than turnips. It is not wisdom to feed dairy produce scjely, other foods should be added the value of the waste milk products of the farm would be greatly extended. The light is certainly shining ahead, for the careful pig-breeder—and feeder —-the prospects for years ahead being decidedly encouraging to those already .engaged in, or about to embark in this worth-while jjldustry..