A Farmer’s Notebook PIG-RAISING IN SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24605, 29 November 1941, Page 10

A Farmer’s Notebook PIG-RAISING IN SOUTHLAND

GREATER NEEDS FOR EXPORT EFFORT TO INCREASE PRODUCTION Big numbers of baconer pigs are wanted this season for export overseas. The people in Great Britain need them as well as our own men in the N.Z.E.F. A recent survey of the pig position in the Dominion revealed the fact that numbers in sight are not sufficient to meet the demand. Once again it has been clearly shown that the South- Island produces little more than half of the pigs required for local consumption. For a number of years past the North Island has exported to the south almost 45 per cent, of the bacon required for local consumption. It seems strange that the South island, which produces the great bulk of the wheat and oats for the Dominion, is unable to grow sufficient bacon to feed its people.

In spite of the fact that the quantity of dairy by-products—whey and skim milk—is very limited in comparison with the north, many farmers have made pig-raising a financial success under South Island conditions. It appears that the real reason for the lack of interest in pig-keeping is that a great many farmers who have engaged in the business have not found it profitable. Also, that those who have failed in it have not seriously analysed the reasons for their failures. In practically all other branches of primary production South Island farmers are progressive. Where methods are found to be uneconomic, they immediately take steps to overcome incorrect procedure and management. PRACTICAL FARMERS There are always a good number of men who, by careful study and hard work, have evolved methods of making a financial success of the many and varied branches of farming, and pigraising is not an exception. Thus we find today that there are many practical pig farmers who are only too willing to pass on the information they - have to others. Also, the research, work and organizing done by the pig councils have made it easy for any farmer to secure the most up-to-date and practical information on profitable pigraising. The importance of pigs for the production of bacon for the new export season has been effectively brought out in this month’s issue of The New Zealand Journal of Agriculture. On the Director-General’s Page the position is stated as follows: “Arrangements have now been finalized with Great Britain to purchase 11,000 tons of baconers for the year ending September 1942. Some time ago it was announced that Great Britain would purchase 5090 tons. These 5000 are now included in the 11,000 tons. All carcasses are to be shipped as Wiltshire sides made from pigs of 111 to 1601 b carcasses. The 11,000 tons represents the slaughtering of 210,000 baconers for export, and these, along with the 250,000 baconers for local use, mean that for the next 12 months more than half the pigs slaughtered will have to be taken to bacon weights. The Marketing Department will continue purchasing baconers throughout the season.”

Although difficulties of the shipping problem have in the past caused uncertainty in the demand for pigs for export, it can be seen that the present arrangement with Great Britain by the Marketing Department means that every possible baconer pig will be required for the war effort during this export season. It is hoped that farmers in Southland will do everything possible to bring pigs to baconer weights. CHIEF HANDICAP One of the chief handicaps to economic pig production in this province has, no doubt, been that comparatively few men have gone to the trouble and expense of providing the necessary accommodation on up-to-date scientific lines. However, this drawback is gradually being remedied and several lay-outs of approved plan have been installed. One of the most recent is one near the Oteramika dairy factory. It is a Danish house system, and is nearing a state of completion. This type of house has been found to be the most suitable for Southland conditions, and as the results become generally known, no doubt a greater number will be erected. Tire Danish house system is strongly recommended by the OtagoSouthland Pig Council. It is expected that the system will eventually go a long way towards making pig production more attractive in the south. One of the essentials for profitable pig production is a thorough knowledge of the nutritional value of food-stuffs. The pig council has supplied most useful information on this point. The most simple method of describing quantities of feed is on the “meat-unit” basis. A “meal unit” is the value of the nutrition contained in 11b of grain of barley quality, so that 1 meal unit is:—lib barley, or 11b wheat, or 11b pollard, or 1 l-51b oats, or 1 gallon skim milk, or 1 lb meat meal, or 1J- gallons whey (if meat meal is used in conjunction), or lOlbs mangolds, or 91bs swedes, or 51b sugar beet, or 81b carrots, or 4Tb boiled potatoes, or 1 lb peas, or 31b lucerne chaff, or 101 b green lucerne. Having mastered these quantities, it is a fairly easy job to make up the rations for pigs of any weight. Suckers from three weeks should be creep fed on meat meal and pollard mixed half and half. They will eat about 2oz a day for a start, and this should be gradually increased to two meal units, grain and dairy by-products by the time they are eight weeks old, when they should weight about 401bs live weight. From this weight onwards the quantity a day should be increased according to the weight of the pigs as follows:—From 40 to 601bs they should get up to 3| meal units; from 60 to 901bs, 4 meal units; from 90 to 1201bs, 5 meal units; from 120 to 1501bs, 5J meal units; from 150 to 2001bs, 6 meal units. It must always be remembered that until a pig is 80 to 901bs live weight it is still a baby and should receive at least 2 meal units of high quality feed; that is, meat meal, grain and dairy byproducts. From that stage onwards feed of lower food value can be fed, but it is always advisable to feed at least 1 meal unit of high quality feed.