RAISING OF PIGS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1924, Page 15

RAISING OF PIGS.

SUITABLE PASTURAGE. The higher prices now being paid for pigs, and the improved prospects for a steadily increasing demand for bacon and ham both in the Dominion and overseas, emphasise the necessity for much better care being taken of this very profitable branch of the farming industry. Artichokes make good feed for .nter, and the pigs will do the labour of rooting them out. One pig raiser in th e Te Aloha district last year secured a very prolific crop of the he stated that artichokes for pigs were splendid and inexpensive. Other farmers have noted the success attending this man’s enterprise, and here and there throughout the district are patches of this succulent and easily-grown vegetable. Tubers may now be planted. Lucerne or rape make excellent pasturage, and the lucerne hay, if finely chaffed, and mixed with pulped mangolds, makes splendid winter feed. Every pig breeder or raiser should grow a small area of mangolds, and he will find 4 no more economical winter food. Of course, for sews rearing a litter, or for weaners, nothing is better than milk, supplemented by a handful of crushed barley, which should be grown on the farm. A patch of ground in the vegetable garden could quite well be utilised for the purpose. Tn pig breeding, the best quality only should be kept—those of the mongrel class, as a rule (in common with dairy stock) do not pay for their food. Every pig breeder has his own special fancy, and each breed has its own special qualities; but a good type of Berkshire is excellent, and suits Auckland provincial conditions well. In this part of the province elaborate piggeries are not essential—just sufficient to shield the pigs from the hot sun, or during an exceptionally co)d, wet spell. A sow will successfully, farrow in a corner of the paddock in mid-winter, and do well; though naturally the opportunity to farrow in a clean bed of straw in a stye should, if possible, be given. The main thing is to have them in good condition, so that there will be an abundance of milk for the young ones. The open air, with reasonable shelter, is better than a filthy, badly constructed stye. Small movable huts on runners are excellent—they should be juet large enough to accommodate one sow and her young ones. The sows, as they come near farrowing, should be separated from the others, and for a few days previous to. and after, farrowing, their food should consist principally of sloppy bran. As in the case of lambs, it is essential that young pigs do not receive a check after they ar e weaned. Nevertheless, if often happens that, through gross neglect, they are worth more at weaning time than at a month later.

If intended for pork, fattening should never cease; and if for bacon, or for breeding, they should get such food as will keep them in a thoroughly healthy condition. That is the opinion of a very successful pig breeder who is a recognised authority. Much irritation to pigs is often caused by the presence of large numbers of lice, and the best remedy is the application of some cheap oil. By the way, an American invention to combat this evil is an excellent one, and the apparatus consists of a roller which runs in an oil bath something like a grindstone. The contrivance is placed in such a position that it enables the pigs to mb themselves on the roller. The rubbing causes the roller to revolve, and its surface is automaticallv kept moist constantly with oil, and lice are eradicated with a minimum of trouble to the owner of the pigs. Sows should be mated as soon as their young ones are weaned, and every sow should rear two litters in twelve months. Some farmers make the mistake of allowing the boar to go to the sow as soon as she delivers her young ones, but this obviously is a wrong practice. The sow is so weakened by her task of providing sustenance for the unborn young that she is not in a fit condition to undertake the dual task of mothering her young ones and storing up vitality for the needs of the next litter. The succeeding litter is usually a small and weakly one, so the gain is nebulous.