MODERN PORK RAISING.

New Zealand Mail, 20 August 1902, Page 55 (Supplement)

MODERN PORK RAISING.

“Agricultural chemistry and adanted rations,” an American breeder writes, “have produced marked changes in pork making since the feeding problems have been worked out on a scientific basis. The result in pig feeding circles has been a shortening of the porker’s span of life and a corresponding leugthening of the feeder’s hank account.’’

In the old days, when the autumn farrowed pigs were carried through the winter .on the stinting and stunting plan, with the idea that a pig must be a year old or upwards before turning off. are happily past. Now the maxim with progressive feeders is a short life and a growing ope. Every day from start to. finish that the best possible growth is not secured makes a leak in the profits. In fact, the p : g’s future in no small degree depends on the prenatal 'Condition. If his dam or sire is neglected, and becomes unfit by improoer feeding, too close confinement or other common mistaken practices, the litter is handicapped from the start, and can never make the growth it otherwise would. An average daily growth of 311-1 in pig feeding makes a good estimate for the up-to-date feeder to aim at during the first six months of the pig’s life. w hon this, or even a* gain coTirtW-rtp. less than that figure, is attained a good margin of profit is assured. A record of a litter by the writer is thus given:—Nino pigs, farrowed early in March by a crossbred P«la mi-Ohma-Chesliiro sow, sired by a Berks lire boar, were fed a few days under sin months. The sire and dam had both rVi-wivUd from well-cared-for, growthy stock hvd

been given plenty of range, and were in good, but. not fancy, condition. The i' verb 011 the sow two months. At the time of weaning they were tak“S fall rations of wheat middlings mixed with slightly soured skim milk, besides eating heartily of clover in pasture. lhe same method of feeding was followed until the pigs were four months old, with the addition of some whole wheat meal during the fourth, month. During the fifth month a little maize meal was gradually added to the other feeds. During the sixth month more maize meal was added, until the grain ration was composed of middlings and maize meal, half and half, combing with sufficient skim milk to make a thick slop. Grain and milk were mixed in advance from one feeding period to the next, three feeds daily, in just sufficient quantity to be greedily cleaned up. Comfortable, dry beds were provided, _ and no day in the six months of their lives were those pigs once off f'heir reed. The last of August the pi gg were marketed, when the litter showed an average weight of 1711 b each. At a fair estimate, the skimmd milk oonbad a feed ing value of 15d per 1001 b.