NEW MILK FOR PIGS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1934, Page 27 (Supplement)

NEW MILK FOR PIGS

. PROVES A PROFITABLE VENTURE. An experiment in feeding new milk : to young pigs to fatten them off has i been carried out by Mr. S. Gunn, Matamata, during recent weeks, and has turned out to be a profitable venture. Having 13 stores unsaleable in April, at a time when farmers were sacrificing stores and weaners, Mr. Gunn thought an endeavour might be made to get them away to the works as small porkers instead of giving them away on a depressed market. The question which next arose was how best to do it. Skim milk alone would be too slow, so new milk was decided on. . Seven more stores were bought at 10s each, and these, with the 13 on hand, which were valued at 9s each (market price), made a total cost for pigs of £9 7s. These 20 pigs were put in a stye and given in addition to skim milk 401 b. of new milk daily—2olb. in the morning and 201 b. at night. This milk was not mixed with any other food. Ten pigs were sent away fat in ten days, and each batch of ten pigs had 4001 b. of milk, making 8001 b. in all. The new milk was valued for the .purpose of the' experiment at 9d per pound butter-fat. The test was .4.5, which meant 181 b. of butter-fat for each batch, making an approximate cost of 13s 6d per batch of ten. pigs, or £1 7s for the 20. Of the first batch only, nine were sent to the works, and these were nice quality animals and returned at the works £7 4s 7d nett. The second batch of ten pigs returned on the hooks £8 5s 2d nett, making a total of £l5 9s 9d. From this must be deducted the cost of the pigs and milk, £lO 14s, which left a nett profit of £4 15s 9d, or 5s per head for the 19 over an average of 15 days. NGAHIWI, PUKEARUHE. ' ■ . It can safely be stated that no history of the great dairying industry in Taranaki would be complete unless it included mention of the development of the Ngahiwi Pedigree Jerseys,.which has grown side by side as it were. The fame of the Pukearuhe district, with its historic charm, no less than its position amongst the leaders in the grass land and root crop competitions, makes it an ideal district for the establishment of one of New Zealand’s leading pedigree Jersey studs. For 30 odd years sires of the great old Taranaki strains that really made the name of Taranaki Jerseys famous were selected with the greatest care.. Firstly for their high test, and then when Mr. Freeth recognised that perhaps a fresh system of. pay out may be established and recognising also that the Jersey cow could be bred as well for milk as test, this aspect of Ngahiwi’s breeding plan was evolved. The result has been that a world’s record is claimed for 50 firstcalf heifers under Government C.O.R. test with an average of 82301 b. milk. Four junior .two-year-old heifers bred at Ngahiwi have the remarkable average test for the season of 6.94, 7.03, 7.2 and 7.22. When one takes into consideration that the highest average test on the Island of Jersey so far was 6.8 it will show what a remarkable position is held by Ngahiwi Jerseys. \ ■ The hallmark of success to-day in the dairy world is the butter-fat or cheese per acre obtained. If you wish to be amongst the leaders buy your next herd sire or bull calf from Ngahiwi. Most of this year’s bulls are by their famous herd, sires, Ngahiwi Silent Knight C. 8.8., best daughter 821 fat, gold medallist. Ngahiwi Gold Jacket, a coming C. 8.8. (with luck) best daughter 834 fat, special gold and silver and bronze medallist. > The best of terms can be obtained from , W. J. Freeth, Ngahiwi, Pukearuhe, of ‘ any of the stock firms will gladly book you your rcquirements.—Advt.