RAISING OF PIGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 17

RAISING OF PIGS

FEEDING MANAGEMENT "AVOID FALSE ECONOMY" It is astonishing how many pig breeders err on the side of undue economy in feeding. It is of no use to argue that if the pigs have cost little to feed they are sure to pay —a stunted animal is never profitable, writes " Pigman " in the Farmer and Stockbreeder. Wo are all aware that costs can be reduced by the common-sense use of pasture, green foods and roots. In a case in point, unfortunately, discretion was not used until experience had been bought dearly. The pigman was not to blame; he had to work to a plan mapped out for him. During the summer months all was well. The majority of the pigs were on new pasture containing a good percentage of wild white clover, and they had a fair allowance of meal. The trouble began when the pasture died away and marrow-stera-kale arid white turnips were given, while all meal was stopped for the brood bows and older gilts. The younger gilts were allowed lib. a day each and •as much kale as they could eat. The others had white turnips pulled and carted to them, without trimming. Pigs Always Hungry What a difference in a month! Gone was that contented and " well-doing" appearance; the pigs were never at rest and were always hungry. Of the first five sows in to farrow after two months of turnip feeding and no meal, three slipped their pigs, and the litters of the others were born small and weak, while there was an average of five born dead per litter. Tho pigs indoors fared no better, except that they had a bed and were not continually roaming about. The turnips were put through a fingering machine and then boiled and fed at the rate of 4001b. (of raw turnips) to 501b. of a meal mixture containing 60 per cent middlings, together with as much kale as they could eat. I saw March, April, May, June and July pigs weighed the last week in October. The older pigs weighed from 1201b., down to 701b. and 801b. for the July pigs. Losses averaged four per week, evidently from some stomach troubleacute inflammation, from what I could tell. Sows and litters were fed on the same diet. The litters farrowed in September died off to an average of five per sow at weaning. Mistake Rectified Tho owner, unfortunately, knew nothing about correct feeding. Someone had told him that, as he had plenty of turnips and kale, he could save a lot of meal. As the losses piled up week by week and there were no pigs for the butcher, the owner realised at last that something was wrong. " Cut your hale and turnips by half, and increase the meal allowance by the same amount, was tho advice of a man who knew what the trouble was. In a fortnight all losses ceased and the pigs regained a contented look. They would never make up what they had lost, but I was reminded of the advice given me by the late Mr. Sanders Spencer: " Ask questions by all means, but be sure to ask people who know."