FOOD FOR PIGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21277, 2 September 1932, Page 5

FOOD FOR PIGS

MEAT MEAL TRIALS BENEFIT OF CREEP SYSTEM Twenty.-four feed trials in which skim milk formed the base of the ration were carried out by the Waikato Pig Recording Club, during the season just ended, writes the Waikato correspondent of the Weekly News. Reporting on the results of the trials, the recording officer, Mr. H. M. Peirson, said the average live weight of the 155 pigs recorded was 961b., eqiial to 641b. dead weight. The average cash value of these pigs at 4d per lb. was 21s 4d per pig, while the cost of the meat meal used at Id per lb. would be 5s lOd per pig, each pig giving a nett return of 15s 6d. An average of 211 gallons of skim milk was consumed and the cost equalled .88d per gallon. Whey gave even better results. The feeding value of whey was shown to be half that of skim milk. In the five whey trials conducted, the weights of 35 pigs were recorded. The average live weight of these pigs was 1011b., equalling 651b. dead weight. At 4d per lb. these pigs would realise 21s 8d each. Meat meal, of which's9lb. was used, cost 4s lid, and a nett return of 16s 9d per pig would be received. The 492 gallons of whey consumed equalled .41d a gallon. Instructive Information Mr. Peirson, said the information gleaned in these trials was very instructive, especially when compared with the results obtained by the Harper-Adams College, England, where the live weight gain in 16 weeks was only 651b. a pig for the 550 pigs recorded. The Waikato Club's average gain was 911b. in the same period. It could be taken for granted that the English trials would be carried out under ideal conditions, whereas the club's trials were conducted under ordinary farm management, which, on some farms, still left much to be desired. The economic value of the 401b. weaner was again demonstrated by the club's latest trials. Light weaners required as much food as heavy weavers and yet showed a small daily rate of gain. It was therefore necessary to have heavy weaners for profitable production. A further advantage of, doing pigs well in the suckling stage was emphasised by the fact that it had been found that the average weaning age of 194 pigs was 56 days, and the average daily gain from birth was .631b. In the 15 days following weaning the pigs made an average daily gain of ,831b. a pig. It would be seen from these figures that ho set-back took place after weaning. System ol Suckling

Mr. Peirson attributed the success thus achieved to the use of the creep system of feeding suckling pigs. A corner of the peu is boarded off enabling the piglets to got inside the boarded-off area and keeping the sow outside. The meat meal is fed to the piglets in a hopper, a benzine case with tho interior bisected diagonally. Tliis system also ensured the sows being in good condition after weaning th§ litter, and it enabled the weaning to take place at an earlier date than usual. It was thus possible for a sow to have two litters a year. Concluding, Mr. Peirson said the winter feed trials conducted by the club definitely proved the value of having two litters a year, for they showed that the second litter, which was formerly regarded as unprofitable, could be finished off or could be carried through the winter at a profitable rate.