PIG RAISING

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3215, 11 August 1932, Page 7

PIG RAISING

HEAVY MORTALITY IN SUCKERS. CAUSES ANALYSED. It has been calculated that up to 25 per cent, of a litter of young pigs is lost prior to the weaning ag* which constitutes the severest loss to pig raisers. An instructor in pig raising of the Department of Agriculture discusses the causes in the following article. Of all the losses with which the pig raiser has to contend, none is so severe as that) associated vnth mortality in young pigs prior to the stage at which they are ready for fattening. One authority states that up to 25 per cent, of a litter is lost before the weaning age, and up to 20 or 25 per cent, additionally do not reach the market at the age at which they would return a maximum of profit. Certain it is that if the average sow produced a litter of ten at birth, not more than six of these j pigs would be marketed as porkers or baconers. Under ordinary conditions the larger the litter the greater is the risk of loss, though this should not necessarily be the case where proper care and attention are given to the animals. An analysis of the causes responsible for these losses will be productive of good, and will enable readers to study their own returns, and where possibly cut out losses that can be prevented by careful management. ANALYSIS OF CAUSES. A case illustrative of one cause came under nolice a few days ago, where a sow had given birth to 15 healthy pigs, but had lost her milk supply, with the result that the good wife of the farm was bottle feeding eight of the strongest of the litter. This was a case in which the sow was rather too fat and the farmer too enthusiastic, for instead of strictly limiting the diet of the sow and encouraging a liberal supply of milk, the sow's food supply had been too liberal. Inflammation of the udders following on the fevered condition of the body at farrowing time had resulted in the milk ducts becoming so inflamed the milk could not pass freely to the teats, and, in consequence, was reabsorbed into the system and the suckers were unable to secure the necessary supply. If this had not happened it is quite possible the tloo liberal feeding of the sow would have resulted in too liberal feeding of the suckers, with resultant white scour and weakness. Possibly an even higher mortality rate would have then resulted, for over-feeding of the sow at the time of, and after, farrowing invariably leads to her producing more milk than the suckers can digest, and is followed by that very serious complaint commonly referred to as white or yellow scour. Strict limitation of the food supply of the sow a day or two before farrowing and for a few days afterwards should be the practice. Every breeding sow at that period should be given a good purgative. Four fluid ounces of castor oil in a warm meal mash as the first feed of the day is suggested, a pinch of salt being added to give a slight saline flavour to food that Would otherwise be somewhat oily. This careful feeding plus a clean dry pen and quietness in the surroundings in which the sow is to farrow will always lead to better results and pay a handsome dividend. Where suckers must be bottle fed fresh milk I from a healthy cow, fed in a warm condition with a pinch of sugar and a pinch of salt added, is advised, and the suckers should be fed at twohour intervals for the first few days, after which they should be encouraged to feed from a shallow dish or trough. Strict cleanliness and sweet appetising food is essential, otherwise they will not make satisfactory progress.

. Another farmer had suffered severe losses through pigs being stillborn or born too weak to survive, and further losses from sows that failed to breed, or again failed to make a satisfactory job of rearing their litters. In this case it was evident that the breeding was largely at fault. The use of cross-bred boars is not recommended at any time, for the results are invariably unsatisfactory, particularly where the boar and sows are closely related. Especially is this the case where records of breeding are not kept, and where the business is conducted on other than up-to-date lines. There wouM be every possible advantage in culling the crossbred boar and replacing him with an animal of up-to-date type from a reliable stud. In such an instance the fanner would be gladly assisted in selecting a suit'able boar, and, further, it would be advisable to cull the sows also, for they had weakened as a result of se- ! vere climatic conditions recently exj perienced in the district. A change ! of food was also advised, as well as Uhe desirability of an improvement in the quantity and quality of the food used. Finally, well-balanced rations supplemented by greenstuff's, mineral matters, and good clean i drinking water were points that were emphasised.

WHY PIGS ARE STILLBORN. It is evident this troub'e is entirely due to faulty diet and to improper handling of the sow. It is qu.te unnatural for a breeding sow to produce dead pigs at birth, and there must be a cause for this trouble, hence we look to faulty breeding as the most probable cause. Many sows, for instance, receive no other food than skim milk, and this is often diluted with water or fed in a sour decaying condition. This ration is quite unsuitable and inadequate. Skim milk should never be diluted with water, for its feeding value is certainly not increased, and the feeding of a large quantity of weak swill only creates digestive disorders and leads to an intense craving for bulky foods. Many sows are compelled to run in a bare yard in which there is no grass or succulent herbage matters, such as lime, phosphates, salt, and other boneforming materials. Again, other sows are turned out into grass and lucerne paddocks and have no concentrated heat and energy producing foods, while in other cases, though there is good variety in the ration, the sow is unable to provide the necessary sustenance for the young, owing to a lack of vitamins. In a general way it does not pay to retain sows as breeders that fail to give satisfactory results; it is quicker and better to cull them and introduce better and more reliable strains. Good, reliable breeding stock can be purchased almost at prices well within the reach of all farmers, and no attempt should be made to continue with unprofitable stock while better stock can be procured at these rates. As constipation and other bowel distorders are often responsible for fatalities in pigs, careful attention should be given to the feeding to avoid such a condition. Disorders of this description may be relieved by the use of castor oil, Epsom salts, or other purgatives, and, during treatment, the animals should be compelled to take regular and sufficient exercises. Sunstroke, heat poisoning are among probable causes of sudden death without (probably) any premonitary symptoms. The most serious disease responsible for heavy losses, like Swine Fever, are, fortunately, non-existent in New Zealand or in Australia. DECAYED FRUIT AND BRACKISH WATER. __ A recent case where mortality had followed the use of green and decayed fruit and pumpkins, brought the following statement from the pig section of the Department of Agriculture and Stock:—"We have no record of green fruit having caused trouble with breeding sows, but would not recommend that the fruit be given too freely at any time. It would be better to allow them to ripen somewhat before use, and give them in conjunction with concentrated feeding stuffs.-, .perhaps 'sjome- of the pumpkins may have been decayed, and possibly the skim milk tank may be in a filthy condition, carrying a coating of decayed protein matter that is poisonous and likely to cause severe trouble, particularly among breeding cows close to farrowing. Then, again, the cows may have been chased by a dog, and may have been injured internally by jumping over logs or crushing one another in an attempt to rush through a narrow gateway. We presume there are no poisonous weeds about the pig padtrouble, though now and again we dock that will be likely to cause have records of 'ergotised' grasses and cereals causing trouble. Ergo-! tised rye has, on numerous occasions, i been reported as a probable cause of abortion in stock. Mouldy and musty feeding stuffs are always dangerous, and should on no account be used." Still another case came under notice in which a farmer had suffered loss, and close investigation found that the water with which the pig food was mixed contained a very high percentage of salt; it was very brackish water. It will be seen, therefore, that there are many causes for infant mortality, for these are but a few of the "possibles."

FREE INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE.

The Department recommends farmers who have trouble with their pigs and other stock to communicate immediately with the nearest departmental officer, stock or dairy inspector, veterinary officer, or direct with the Department of Agriculture, so that suitable action may be taken to investigate the cause of ill-health or death. When forwarding particulars, describe as fully as possible the type, age, and conditions of stock affected, the foods and water used, and method of using, weather and other local conditions and the first and succeeding indications of disease.