PROFIT IN PIG RAISING

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1930, Page 6

PROFIT IN PIG RAISING

NEW FEEDING METHODS PROVED. VALUE OF MEAT MEAL IN WINTER Visions of building np the pig industry in New Zealand until the Dominion becomes a force to be reckoned with on the export trade are held by Mr. K. IV. Gorringe, instructor in swine husbandry to tiie Department of Agriculture, who is giving a series of lectures throughout South Taranaki and, when desirable, is visiting farms, giving personal instruction and advice as' to the management and layout o.f piggeries. . Pigs, contends Mr. Gorringe, are more profitable and more productive acre for acre than any other animal on the farm. He. had noticed from recent statistics, said Mr. Gorringe, that Taranaki was very much behind other districts in pig raising, possibly because of the adoption of ■ calf-rearing schemes, which, he was afraid; had been very much overdone. Calf Fearing was a speculation, but in pig raising there was an assured profit if.it were conducted along proper lines. Pig raising elsewhere in New Zealand, especially in the Auckland province, had progressed remarkably and there were three times as many pigs there as elsewhere in the Dominion. In a dairying centre such as Taranaki lid could hardly realise that pig production had not been studied more closely than -it had been, and it simply meant that a dairy farmer who did not pay especial attention to pigs ivas losing money. In the past pig raising had been managed by the majority of farmers on very haphazard lines, and the importance of proper management could not be too seriously stressed, Every farmer should rear his own pigs and thq question was how much he was to realise from the centure. A certain average of pigs had to be reared and fattened, and it had to be remembered that the sow was most important. The feeding of the brood sow was of paramount importance, and if the sow was not fed properly it naturally followed that the litter would be weak. Malnutrition of the sow was the principal cause of many losses in litters, and in no other country in the world was such casual : attention paid toMeeding as in New Zealand: Many sows here were fed on mangolds and artichokes solely during the winter, when there was a shortage of milk for feeding out, but there were plenty of concentrated foods available, only farmers did not use them because their value was not realised. The young pig had many troubles with parasitic and germ life, and proper attention to the feeding of 'the brood sow gave the litter a better chance to combat them.

The department had been carrying out extensive experiments with meat meal, and the results Jiad been so excellent that the department could now show the farmer that by feeding meat meal to the brood sow very definitely improved results would be obtained. If a farmer only got 12 pigs in a year from two litters from a sow, the Dominion could in export trade realise millions of pounds. At present the average was about four, deaths in the litter being of far too high an average, and a pig, acre for acre, produced half as much again as any cow if propej’ly looked after.

Denmark had exported £22,000,000 worth of bacon, and pork last year, against £20,000,000 realised in that country for butterfat. The Dane counted on rearing from 8 to 12 pigs per cow, and used meals and concentrated foods, and it paid handsomely to do so. The average New Zealand farmer thought otherwise, and when skimmed milk and whey were not available he did not want his pigs, and frequently sold them at a loss at that period. Now, by .feeding roots to pigs in the winter, with meat meal as a supplementary food, the store period was eliminated, and a farmer should have no necessity to purchase store pigs. Pigs this winter had put on as much as half a pound per day by a combined feeding of meals and roots, and some of the results obtained in a series of comprehensive tests,. some of which, were not yet completed, had been amazingly successful. The various agricultural colleges had been conducting very exhaustive experiments, and it had been found that by feeding'pigs on as many mangolds or other roots a day as they would eat, and half a lb. of medl dry in a trough, daily, the pigs returned 19s. per ton of mangolds. However, on tests on farms, the return had been up to £2 10s. per ton of roots, or, £1 expended on meat meal had returned £4 in’ profit. Mr. Gorringe said that he personally had conducted experiments on 16 different farms in both islands, and the results had been extraordinary, with all breeds and at all ages, and with all classes of winter feeding, the meat meal being used as a supplementary food in all cases. If meat meal were fed out next* winter with whatever roots were available, no milk would be needed, and if warm quarters and ample water supply were provided, for every £1 spent on meal from £4 to £5 would be returned. Meat meal cost a trifle over Id. per Ibi, and fed out at the average of half a pound per pig per day produced one pound growing weight for every pound used. In meat meal there was 62 per cent, of protein, and up to per cent, of fat; in a mangold there was 1.01 per cent, of protein and practically no fat. In the whole of the tests there had not been one death, despite the fact that the pigs had been fed in the open, with only sties to sleep in, having the full range of the paddocks' during the day under all weather conditions. Most faririers had aii idea that. they had to buy grain for their pigs, but grain was only necessary to fatten, meal for g*eneral feeding being decidedly better.,' Farmers could now confidently go into pig raising with the knowledge that winter feeding had been solved, and there was now no necessity to worry about tho store problem, with consequent loss on sales at the beginning of tho winter, proceeded the speaker. It had been suggested that if the farmer could get larger litters and get them on the market later, the export trade of pork could be revived and materially extended. In Taranaki there was no system of co-operative marketing, and there were many avenues of prospect. There were markets for pigs from a 601 b. porker to a 3001 b. chopper, but the overseas requirements were those that had to bo studied, and the soon they were the better for the raiser. ' The position was that thousands of pigs could be sold to overseas firms, which would enter into contracts if they could obtain the type to suit their requirements, but the demand could hot be. filled.' By a combined study of correct methods of raising and a sound knowledge of the Home trade- requirements,' a huge and profitable market would be. available. ' ! —

There'was no reason why every farmer should not make big 'money out of pigs if he would only adopt proper methods of raising and treat the pig as an animal representing a source of

revenue and not merely as a scavenger for whom any sort of quarters and treatment was satisfactory. 5 The smallest area any farmer should use was an acre and a half, which could be enlarged as the numhei* of animals was extended. A nice sloping paddock "was preferred to give drainage, and protection from the wind was essential. The use of a portable stye was desirable, with open paddocks giving sufficient grazing with a variety of crops, and the pig was a natural grazer. Pig grading had to come in New Zealand shortly, and the only way a farmer could be paid for quality was purchase by the hook weight. A variety of breeds was naturally favoured by farmers, but what had. to be studied was the type of animal needed abroad. Lean pork was in demand in Britain to-day and the butchers were demanding long cuts. In. the speaker’s opinion, there were only two satisfactory crosses —the Berkshire Tamworth and the Large White, and they were the types that should be concentrated upon. Length in a porker was as essential to-day as it’ was hr the baconer, and a pig should not be grown to excessive fatness. The Home markets were ready to absorb the whole of the Dominion’s supplies, but the Dominion had not even the type to supply the demand.

Go-operative marketing had also to come in' the future, and it was hoped that Taranaki would follow the lead set in North Auckland. The pools in operation there and the finance had been hard to arrange at the outset, but the difficulties had been overcome, and there were now sufficient funds accumulated to pay out for each pool in full without having to wait the market realisation. Mr. Gorringe concluded by stressing the fact that education and enthusiasm in pig-raising were essential to put ths industry on a sound foundation, and that success in an expansion of the profitable Home trade demanded the combined efforts of farmers.

GOLF PROGRESS AT HAWERA. CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS, '. . The following players have qualified in the Hawera Golf Club’s championship events:— Senior. —O’Callaghan 79, Little 82, Quin 85, Syme. 90, Wills 90» Whitehead 90, Sturroek 90, Cox 90, Baigent 91, Morpeth 91, Blair 93, J, Anderson 93, McKenzie 93, Pratt 94, Pease 94, Lewes 96; . ’ f • ■ ■■ Intermediate.—C. Turner 91, Champion 91, D. Ryan 92, Clarke 93, G. Powdrell 94, Simpson 94, Jones 94, S. Anderson 95, Ritchie 97, Grace 97, Bright 98, R. Page 98, W. G. Sutton 99, Smith 100, Muir 100, Robinson 100. Junior. —Robb 95, McHattie 96, Dalgetty 97, Mortlock 98, Emeny 98, Tar?, rant 102, W. Powdrell 103, Bull . 105, Young 105, A. G. Walker 105, Snowsill 107, North 109, Caldwell 110, Horner 110, Zinisli 110,-Morris 111. The draw is ,as follows: — Seniors—O’Callaghan . plays Lewes; Baigent plays Cox; Wills plays Anderson; McKenzie plays Syme; Quin plays Pratt; Blair plays Whitehead; Sturrbck . plays Morpeth.; Pease plays Little.. . . • „ Intermediate,—Turner . plays Robinson; Ritchie plays S. Anderson; . G, Powdrell plays R., Page; W. G. Sutton plays Clarke; D. Ryan plays Smith; Bright plays Simpson; Jones plays Grace; Muir plays Champion. Juniors. —Robb plays Morris; Young plays Bull; Emeny plays North; Caidwell plays. Mortlock; Dalgetty plays Horner; Snowsill playg Tarrant; W. Powdrell playe A. Walker; Zinsli plays McHattie. A medal handicap competition was conducted in conjunction with the quali-.

. S. Anderson ........ ' 95—20—75. Recent matches in the cT&.b’s limit, handicap competition resulted: Stead beat Wiltshire; Slater beat ' Veitch;. Williams beat, Stratton;,,, EEpnier .beat.. .Hammond;?.Tbswill,beat Wes't'away* Jo, complete the third round the following games must be played at once; Homer

v. Williams; Slater v. Morgan; > W« Powdrell v,..Richafds, . .. • A trophy has been given by an anonymous donor for a “limit” championship. The draw . sheet* will be posted in the clubhouse by to-morrow but it would help to <ret the competition under way if the following games were played immediately: Dingle plays Horsburgh; Hancock plays Morgan; Veale plays Surrey; McCarthy plays'- Wiltshire; Whyte plays Jordan; Ablett plays Bramwell. The Anderson Cup final over 30 holes will also be played this week-end between. Sturrock and Sutton.

* MERE MERE NEWS. FINAL EUCHRE AND DANCE. There was a record attendance at the final euchre party and dance held on • Tuesday evening. The ladies’ first prize was won by Miss -Murray after a play-, off with Mrs. J. Patched. The men’s first prize was won by Mr. J. Davison after a play-off with Mr. M, Thomson. The consolation prizes went to Misaj Norwood and Mr. M. Fennell, fhe secretary (Mr. M. Murray) presented the points prizes for the second round of the euchre to Mrs. H. Davison (28’ points) and Mr. J. Davison (32 points)., After supper the chairman (Mr. H. Davison) on behalf of the euchre and dane® committee, thanked Mr. W. Murray, who has generously supplied music for the dancing and to show their appreciation asked him to accept a small gift. The chairman also thanked Messrs. Looney, Bloor and Hardwick for the use of their residences for the euchre. Dancing was then continued. The winners of the Monte Carlo dances were Miss McCarthy and Mr. M. Murray, and of the second Miss McCarthy and Mr. A. E.. Williams. Music for dancing was supplied by Messrs. Murray, J. Bloor and McDonald. Mr. J. Bloor was master, of ceremonies. .. . The fortnightly meeting of the Ladies’ Guild was held at Mrs. D. L. residence, and there was a g9°d a.tteiidance. The next meeting of' guild, will be at Mrs. G. W. Williams’, resiy, dence. ■. >?.> ml. Mrs. W. Murray has returned, after spending a few days with her, da ; i)gh^er p , Mrs. W. Murrow, Marton. r . a ;t

fyino' rounds, the best cards being:— Robb .... 95—24—71 Little ...... .... 82—10—72 D. Ryan .'... .... 92—20—72 McHattie .... 96—24—72 Emeny ..... .... 98—26—72 Mortlock .... 98—26—72 Champion .. .... 91—18—73 C. Turner ... .... 91—18—73 .... 93—20—73 Dalge’tty .'... 97—24—73 W. Powdrell . .... 103—30—73 Jon.es i .... 94—20—74 . Tarrant .... .... ■ O’Callaghan .... 79— 4—75 . Sturrbck .... .... 90-1.5—75,