PIG – MEAT PRODUCTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21216, 10 December 1938, Page 15

PIG - MEAT PRODUCTION

VALUE OF INVESTIGATIONS UNCOVERING WEAKNESSES IN FARMING MANAGEMENT The value of investigations carried out during the past year in regard to the production of pig-meat, per lb of butterfat on dairy farms, was dealt with in an interesting manner by Mr M. J. Scott, director of the Pig Industry, during the course of the conference of Agricultural Instructors held at Palmerston North and attended by several officers from the Department in Hawke’s Bay. In outlining the work which was being done, and its objects, Mr Scott stated that during the past year much valuable information had been gathered from officers of the department i in various parts of the Dominion. These had been gathered together and analysed and as a result there would be available to pig farmers information regarding every phase of his work. This would have the Important effect of giving to the farmer an indication of any weakness in his management methods, the correction of which would result in improved returns. In making the investigations InforI mation was obtained from no fewer , than 500 farms. In the summary given Iby Mr Scott, however, the information I was taken from only 152 farms, the ! remainder being rejected mainly on i account of the incomplete nature of ! the information given. Pig-Meat Produced ; "In the analysis the farms were ar- | ranged into groups, according to the amount of pig-meat produced per 1001 b lof butterfat. These groups were as follows:—Under 201 b, 16 farms; from 211 b to 401 b, 72; 411 b to 601 b, 60; 611 b 'to 801 b, 26; 811 b and over, 8,” said Mr Scott. I “The analysis revealed several most Interesting points, of which the folIlowing were outstanding:— j “(1) The low returns tend to be associated with big herds of cows and relatively few sows. The high returns with few cows and many sows. Cows per sow fall from 17 to 5 as the returns improve. “(2) Production per sow increases from a quarter to half a ton of pigmeat as the returns improve. “(3) The number of pigs born, sold and died improve as returns improve. “(4) Feed used to produce 1001 b oi pig-meat is the most remarkable feature in the analysis. This showed a change from 1,6801 b to 4391 b for the production of 1001 b of pig-meat as the returns improve. The amount of meal used is apparently a matter of indifference, as is the amount of other feed. The reasons for efficiency in the use of feed are not to be looked for in the amounts of grain or meal or in the amount of other feed used or in the kind of pigs sold, so much as they are in the care and attention given by the man who feeds the pigs.

Regular Feeding' “Where pigs are fed regularly with enough feed to keep them growing naturally, where feed is clean and free from harmful organisms, where internal parasites are absent, thus allowing pigs to be healthy, and where houses are warm and comfortable —in those circumstances pigs use feed efficiently. Efficient use of feed is the chief cause of good returns, cows per sow and production per sow appear to be an effect not a cause. “This explanation will be most unpopular with many who look upon -. cheap grain-supply as the chief source of profits,” said Mr Scott. “As an incentive to exercising greater care in the use of feed, cheap grain, together with good housing and conveniences, plays a considerable part in getting good returns. Of the eight farms obtaining good returns, six are in Canterbury and two in the Taranaki area, but they might be equally expected in any other province.”