DISEASE IN PIGS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20785, 21 July 1937, Page 3

DISEASE IN PIGS

NEED FOR CAMPAIGN Addressing the New Zealand Veterinary Association, at its annual conference, Mr D. Marshall (Hamilton) expressed the opinion that, excepting tuberculosis cases, 90 per cent of pig mortalities and of disease as met both on farms and in freezing works was due to one or more of the following causes:—Bad housing, dirt and overcrowding, defects in temperature and faulty management, with a certain further allowance for the introduction of infection-bearing pigs from sales, and defective constitution in some strains of the various breeds. ' “In any campaign against swine

disease in this country, therefore, it would appear that most pressing need is for sufficient instruction, practical demonstration, and, if necessary, compulsion, to be brought to bear on the inefficient pig farmer, in order to induce, persuade or compel him to remedy these glaring defects in his swine husbandry,” said Mr Marshall. “Where there is proper provision of housing and tedding, avoidance of dirt and overcrowding in runs and houses and at feeding places, where the effects of changes of temperature and cold winds are nullified by shelter and bedding, where feed is balanced to the extent of providing requisite proteins, carbo-hydrates and essential vitamins and minerals, and fed in good condition, and above ail where there is an intelligent and Interested supervision, which is the keynote of the whole, swine disease is reduced to negligible proportions. "Very valuable work has been done in this direction by the pig recording clubs. I speak from experience of one only, that in the Waikato. In spite of the limitations imposed by inadequate funds, this club did excellent work, creating an interest among neighbouring farmers, which resulted in considerable improvement in the way in which pigs were kept, fed and looked after, with a corresponding reduction in’ pig troubles in these places. It seems, therefore, that an extension of this system, which, I understand, is to be carried out with the help of the 2d levy, should go far toward lessening swine disease.”