A CANADIAN PIC RANCH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 58

A CANADIAN PIC RANCH

A few months ago, whilst travelling through the States and Canada, I came across a very interesting pig ranch, situated a few mvles from Toronto, in the province of Ontario. Several points in the management impressed me somewhat forcibly, and I think there are some lessons to be Learnt, both as regards the management of the stock and the method of breeding. It is by no means a mammoth concern, as the breeding sows do not number more thap 150, representing an output of about 2,500 youngsters in the course of the twelve months. The farm consists of about forty acres of light, . sandy soil, with an abundance of natural shelter, being bounded on three sides by a wood. The farm is, or rather was at the time of my Visit, run entirely in the interests of the pigs, but I was led to believe that preparations were on foot for the erection off a somewhat ambitious poultry plant. The trade catered for is solely the production of pork, and no attempts have as yet been made to retain the pigs for bacon. In fact, Mr Wilson, the courteous manager, who conducted me over the place, did not beLeve there was money to be made in the bacon trade, and preferred the more rapid overturn of capital by selling the youngsters when about six months old. At this age they usually average from 190 to 2001 b. and there is always a ready sale for p>*gs at this weight. The price of pork, .taking the year round, good and bad seasons, averages about six-and-a-half dollars the IOOLb, which werko out ax a little over 5s a score. I do not think we would be content with such a price in this country, but Mr Wilson seemed quite satisfied, and considered the production of pork paid m ell at this figure Th’is must certainly be the case, otherwise the farm would not be continued. SEVERAL BREEDS OF PIGS have been experimented with, in order to find out which was the most suitable, and, consequently, the most profitable, m ith the result that the Berkshire and middle White have proved the be t. These are the only two breeds, therefore, kept to any extent, although a few Tam worth sows are maintained for crossing with the Berkshire boars. This has been my experience, and for many years past I have favoured this cross for producing porkers—the Berkshire boar on a sow—and have bred a large number of this description. This cross appears to grow and develop more quickly, they axe considerably hardier than the pure breeds, and as far as my experience goes, and Mr Wilson entirely agreed w*ith me, the litters are rather better. Dur ng the winter, when very severe weather is experienced, the cross breeds are produced, and during the spring and summer the pure breeds. As I have already said, the trade is for pork alone, and a h.nge quantity is disposed of locally; but. from some sample consignments sent to England, wh.ch paid splendidly, the probability is that in future this branch wll be specially catered for. In this case more capital is to be put into the farm, which will be very considerably enlarged. THE YOUNG SOWS are mated with the boar when from five to six months, old. which has the effect of somewhat stunting the growth. However;. it is considered that this pays better than keep ng them longer, a point which is, I think, open to grave doubts. D s thought, however, that it has no serious effects upon the offspring, and does not retard their growl h to any ap '•reoiable extent. I was told that the average litter during the last two years had worked out to a little over e.ght, which must be considered extremely satisfactory. When the sows are four years old they are killed and made into sausages, as when they have attained this age they are looked upon as past iheir prime, and useful for no farther breeding. The youngsters are weaned when six weeks old during the summer, and e.ght weeks during the winter. Each sow is reckoned to produce five litters in two years. When the youngsters are weaned they are placed in sties for about a fortnight, and led generously upon sprouted grain and slops. After this time they are removed into the open, where they remain until ready to be killed. The times of feeding are 7 a.m and 4.30 p.m. They are penned off into herds of about fifty, and live altogether in the open air. Some of the pens are in the wood, which affords excellent protection from the sun and the wind.

The breeding sows are fed entirely upon slops, save during the six or eight weeks whilst they have their young with them. During this time they re--1 reive meals consisting chiefly ol second grade flour, bran and barley meal, mixed with sprouted gram. The last-mentton-ed, food is very extensively used vt n the States and. Ganada, with* I believe, ex.-

oellent results/" Special machines am en. ployed to prepare the grain, it being allowed to soak during twenty-four or forty-eight hours, thus considerably increasing the feeding value. The slops, to which I have referred above, are obtained from Toronto, a few miles away, in huge quantities. Several specially constructed carts are always travelling between the city and the farm, filled one way with the refuse, and the other with the produce. DURING THE SPRING and summer months the stock live entirely in the open air, only receiving what shelter they can procure from the trees and the hedges. They axe kept in pens half an acre in extent, and no attempt is made at maintaining the grass in good condition, in the space of a few weeks all having disappeared. The pigs are not rung, and thus are able to root as much as they like. They live as nearly as possible to nature, and certainly they looked exceedingly healthy and vigorous when I last saw them. This system off having the stock scattered about the farm entails a good deal of labour, especially in feeding. The food is taken round in a cart, something after the style of a water cart, and with, a hose the food can be poured straight into the troughs. At first," I was told, they attempted to use barrows, then, buckets hung upon wheels, but the labour was so great as to almost entirely SWALLOW UP THE PROFITS. During the colder periods of the year it is necessary to house the pigs, and for this purpose there are three long ranges of sties, each extending for 250 feet. They are twenty-six feet wide, and are divided into two sections by a six foot passageway down the centre. Each sty measures ten feet square, so that in each range there are fifty sties. A miniature railway runs down the centre for conveying the food, and ior removing the manure. The inside flooring is wood, but the run, extending ten feet in front of each . sty, merely consists of the ground itself. The floor off the inner compartment is raised two feet above the ground, in order to ensure dryness, and there is'a wooden slope leading to the run. Shavings are entirely used for litter, the turpentine having a- very good effect upon the he -Ith of the pigs. The walls and roofs of the build ngs are of double thickness, with an air space between, in order to maintain an even temperature within. —E.T.B. in the “Agricultural Economist.”