LICE ON PIGS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3840, 30 November 1936, Page 8

LICE ON PIGS

DEALING WITH THE PESTS. THE VALUE OF OIL. Oil is death to lice on pigs, but it is troublesome to apply in the ordinary way for special methods are needed, says a well-known English writer, Mr Theo, A. Stephens, in the Farmer and Stockbreeder. “In all the yards and other places to which my pigs have access, I have what I call a “joy post,” I use any stout post 6in to 12in in diameter, and 6ft long 3ft is sunk in the ground and made firm. Round the top part, with stout cord or wire, I firmly fix a few old sacks. After fixing, these are well covered with oil, grease, and paraffin. The pigs do the rest, and make full use of these rubbing posts. “However badly infested with lice they may be, they will quickly rid themselves of every one. The sacking needs fresh application of oil every few days and must be renewed as required. I use any old oil or grease—used oil from my car and tractor, grease from the house, etc —but always mix a little paraffin with it. This not only makes it more effective in destroying the lice, but it stops the pigs eating the sacking.” In a subsequent issue of the paper, Mr Stephens says:— “Referring to a recent note of mine explaining my method of dealing with lice on pigs, a correspondent, who usually has 250 pigs on his farm, thinks his method is preferable. He writes: I get some good insect powder, and when the pigs are feeding, just dust each one down the back. I can do 20 in two minutes. I repeat the dose in ten days, and can safely offer £1 for every louse found on them until they come in contact with other pigs and get a fresh stock. A pound tin, costing two to three shillings, will last me a year. “In spite of what my correspondent says, I still prefer’ my method. I know’ the efficacy of insect uowders. but I believe the oil has beneficial effects, apart from killing lice. Pigs are apt to get dry and scabby skins and the oil loosens all these patches, keeps their skins clean and the pores open. If there were no such things as lice, I should still make it a rule to oil my pigs occasionally.”