PIG MANAGEMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19024, 26 May 1936, Page 16

PIG MANAGEMENT

THE MAIN POINTS MR GQRRINGE’S ADDRESSES (Herald Correspondent.) A huge number of farmers attended the address given in the Ormond Hall on Saturday evening by Air. lv. W. Gorringe. Though many of Air. Gorringe’s remarks have appeared elsewhere in this paper, a brief summary of the main points in his address and facts elicited in answer to questions will serve to refresh the minds of farmers interested in pig production. On the matter of houses, built of 16 bales of straw, he said the house should be moved at least every six months, but- preferably oftener, changing tlie bales about to expose their other sides to the weather. Sacks may be hung in front to prevent rain driving in. The roof may be lined with hay, held in place with cheap netting, to counteract frosts. This typo of house holds 20 pigs. If the ground is wet when the house is built, one should put down a grating for the floor hay. Grazing paddocks should be live chains long by one chain wide. 'This size prevents the ground being bared and enables the harrows to bo used on them. Figs should be moved about on the rotational system, and the straw houses may be moved with them. There should be 4in. of clover and rye when turning the pigs into a paddock. It is important that the sow should be kept in good condition. A month before farrowing feeding should commence, .including in its ration half a pound of meat meal per day, fed dry. After farrowing no feed is given for 24 hours, then feeding is commenced, giving a small amount at first and gradually increasing the quantity. Up to 21b. of meat meal per day may be given to the sow running with a litter of pigs. The straw house is suitable tor farrowing, no guard rails being necessary. The sow will build her own nest out of the hay on the floor. Two days after farrowing break up the nest and scatter the material over the floor. Aleat meal is the most valuable food for pigs, containing as it does 58 to 62 per cent of protein, which is the body building element. Contrast this with the 1 per cent protein in root crops and about 5 per cent in skim milk. Half a pound of meat meal per pig per day is the ration, and is fed dry to enable the jugs to gain the greatest good from it. Aleat meal may be given to young pigs before weaning, starting with an ounce per day and gradually increasing, always feeding it dry. During the winter, in the absence of skim milk, pigs thrive on roots, etc., the best being mangolds,- fed with the ration of meat meal, all this with the grass and clover in tho paddocks. Instead of roots, ensilage may be used by putting it through the chaff - cutter and mixing it to a slush with tepid water sweetened with molasses. Lucerne hay may be fed in racks. To get the pigs to eat it call them around, and then splash the hay with water containing molasses; this will he necessary only once. In tho absence of skim milk have a supply of water in the yards, sweetened with molasses; this will cause the pigs to drink sufficient. The boar and dry sows may run in the open fields and do not require feeding.