DESTROYING PIG LICE

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1687, 17 November 1925, Page 3

DESTROYING PIG LICE

CLEANLINESS AN ASSET. These animals make no choice of seasons for feeding on the animals or propagating their species, but are always ready to take advantage of lack of vigilance. The worst feature is that they too often get a strong hold before they are noticed. 'Then it requires a long fight to get rid of them, states a writer in the “Live Stock Journal,’” England. The plastering of the animals daily with mud will not rid the animals of vermin, nor can they be destroyed by any kind of rub-bing-post arrangement or scratching device that may be constructed for the use of the pigs and otner animals. The only effectual remedies at the disposal of the farmer are those of a greasy nature, such as lard or crude petroleum, kerosene, carbolic acid, or carbolic sheep dips. The fast two are of the same nature, and come from the same source, the acid being the stronger, and requires greater care in handling. If the pig house is saturated with any of these his days are numbered, but the trouble is to give them all this greasy bath at the same time. Some are sure to escape. And, besides, we are in doubt whether any of .these preparations will destroy the eggs unless used stronger .than desirable. This fact renders it netessary to use any remedy often and persistently till all eggs disappear. The pests always congregate where j it is difficult to dislodge them—in the I ears, back of the ears, under the jowls, ! in the creases on the lower part of , hams, and back of the forearm. If eggs are seen at these places the farmer may be sure that there are plenty of lice present on the bodies of the

animals. Probably the most effectual and convenient destroying agent for the farmer to use is kerosene. This should not be used .in a reckless way, especially on young pigs. Its effects are much more lasting when applied in winter than in summer. When the pigs are running on grass the oil is soon rubbed off. It will be more lasting in effect if applied in the evening, - as the pigs do not travel about much j during the night. Applied at this time j the oil does not injure the skin, as it often does when applied in the morning, and the animal is exposed to sunshine during the day. It is sometimes necessary to make a careful application to the inside of the ears; these are the safest hiding places for the 1

lice. PIG POINTERS. A FEW PRACTICAL ,HINTS. A teaspoonful of air-slaked lime in the food of each pig once a week is recommended, or, better still, a pint pot full of lime water. It furnishes the necessary bone-building constituents. Lime water is particularly valuable for sows rearing their litters and for young pigs.

It is>a good plan when a sow is about to farrow to try to encourage her to make her nest 'in the centre of the pen, as she is then less likely to have trouble when the young pigs arrive. Some sows will pack all the straw they can get into the corner of the pen and in lying down will frequently overlay and kill the suckers as they arrive. The sow only requires a small quantity of bedding, though some sows never settle down quietly until they have succeeded in securing enough litter to make a roomy nest. IMPORTANCE OF LIME.

In order to obtain a sufficiency of lipie in its food, the pig should have to consume daily one or other of the following quantities of food: -Skimmilk, 181-bs; sharps, 191bs; peas, 221bs; rye, 28'Ibs; whey, wheat, or barley, s!2lbs; maize, 781bs; potatoes, lOOlbs. It is therefore obvious from the magnitude of these figures that lime is one of the substances of which pigs are always in need. The addition of separated milk to barley etc., will provide an increased proportion of lime, but cannot furnish the full amount needed for healthy growth, and, whatever the diet, adequate provision must be made for the lime requirements of the- pig, either by means of ashes or by adding powdered chalk or limestone, bone flour wood ashes, or a proper mineral mixture to the food.