ROOTS FOR PIGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21576, 22 August 1933, Page 14

ROOTS FOR PIGS

BENEFICIAL RATION Tho value of root crops in the economical • raising of pigs is stressed by Mr. E. Minter, of Birkenhead, in a letter in which he urges that, in view of tho possibility of a quota being imposed on butter exports, every attention should be given to tho development of the pig industry.

"New Zealand pork makes first-class bacon," he writes. "There aro quite a few people who have tho idea that pigs cannot bo raised unless there is a supply of skim milk or swill. On tho contrary, the feeding of rotation crops is most beneficial to them. Crops such as maize, pumpkins, swedes, barley, carrots, peas, lucerne and artichokes can bo grown in tho North Island all the year round. "Artichokes grow profusely on gum lands, and although they aro looked upon as a pefet in a garden, they aro ideal for pigs, which prefer them to any other root crop. I noticed that in the Hamilton trials, £lb. of meatmeal, with the artichokes, fed to tho pigs daily, gave every satisfaction. "I have hoard of a farmer at Tauwhare who sold all his dairy cows to devote his ' holding to the raising of pigs by rotational cropping. His income has been considerably increased by this .venturo. Wo aro fortunate in having some of tho world's best experts to give advice regarding the raising of two litters a year on such a plan."