MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19451, 15 December 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Sarcoptlc Mango. A case of sarcoptlc mange is reported from liic Gisborne district, j This is one of 1 hose troubles experienced where the necessary sanilapy conditions arc not maintained, the. feeding is not ns complete as it should be and the pigs in consequence arc not .in a vigorous condition, I|, is due to the presence on and in' the skin, of a liny mile, the female of which burrows in lb (5 skin in which to lay I lie eggs. An intense itch Is set up, causing I lie pig to spend iiiucli of its time rubbing I he affected part. The affection frcduenlly commences behind the ears, bill soon spreads In oilier parts of Ihr -body. The lirsl signs are small pimples which burst and ooze a serous fluid, which dies

and forms scabs. Later the affeoted area becomes covered with scabs and 'scales, hair is lost and the skin thickened and this condition is aggravated by constant rubbing. Condition is lost and numerous younger Pigs may die. The infeotion is spread from pig to pig directly and also by way of bedding, posts, etc., which may remain infective for some months. As the disease is notifiable under the Stock Act suspected cases must be reported to the nearest inspector of stook. Oil will suffocate the mites, but to be really effective the oiling must be thoroughly done. The best way where a dip is not available is to use a large tub. Partly fill this with water, and have about G inches of oil (any crude oil or old crank-case oil will do) on top of t'he water. The pig should be thoroughly immersed. All bedding should be burnt and all pig houses and woodwork thoroughly cleaned out, being disinfected if possible with a blow-lamp. < . * * « *

Pig Recording In Poland. In view of the faot that Britain has entered into a trade agreement with Poland, to exchange coal and manufactures for produce it is interesting to know that pig recording has been established in that country as one of the means of developing the pig industry. The excellent example of Sweden has been followed. The Polish method makes a feature of •testing twelve lots of four pigs eaoh from different centres.- At the age of 68 days the pigs are submitted to a fattening test and the number * of days taken to reach first a weight of 85kg. (A kilogram equals 2.21 b), and then slaughter weights are determined. By these records are established the gain In live weight a day, slaughter loss and the distribution of moat and fat on the carcase. * m m a

Lord Bledlsloe’s Opinion. Referring to pigs In his address to the Grassland Conference Lord ißledlsloe said that New Zealand was the only country out of the many whose agricultural 'conditions he was acquainted with where the smaller dairy farmer has attempted to make a livelihood without the supplementary aid Which swine husbandry affords. If •pigs were kept in due proportion to cattle an extra did to'2d a pound of ■butter-fat could be confidently looked for, and this in days when bUtterfat was of low commercial value might mean all the difference between profit and loss to the grassland farmer.

Cod Liver Oil. Reference has been made In these columns to the case of a litter on a poor milking sow that was doing very poorly but which made amazing growth >yheri some cod liver oil was supplied. Reading Dairy Researoh Institute, England, reportß -a similar experience. A lot of pigs, 20 in number, were being fed an excellent diet (barley meal 50 parts, pollard 35 parts, soya bean meal 8 parts, meat meal 5 parts, ground limestone 1J parts and salt i Part) but did not receive dried whole milk as did other pigs in the trial, the dried milk tak-

ing the place of the soya bean meal and meat meal. Four of the pigs which did not receive the dried millc died towards the end of the experiment, although at first they seemed •to thrive on their diet, and the remaining of the 20 pigs, though showing symptons of ill-health were apparently cured by the administration of cod liver oil. The Reading .Institute •cannot understand the cause of pigs •receiving an apparently good diet going wrong, but the significant thing is that the pigs receiving dried whole milk made excellent progress and that when the pigs not doing well received cod liver oil they recovered and made good progress. Two other interesting experiments reported upon by the 'Reading Institute are the testing of soya bean meal against meat meal, when the former was found Just as good'as the latter (but, of course, there is meat meal and meat meal), ahd that a shortage of iron in the sow’s milk leads to anaemia in young pigs.

* * • • Buying Foundation Stook. Farmers who are thinking of running a few pigs in keeping with the progressive polloy being so widely advocated would be well advised to pro-

ceed rather qannily in the buying of foundation stock. Pigs can be brought in the saleyard but this is to be deprecated for the novice Is unable to ascertain anything about the breeding of the animals nor whether they have been In contact with disease. There is usually no chance of determining from what manner of farm the animals have come, whether they have

come from a farm where cleanliness is the keynote or from a farm where unsanitary conditions prevail. Superfluous fat hides many a defect, filling up hollows and smoothing down humps, a fat pig often appearing an attractive looking proposition. Apart

from providing an entirely unsuitable market carcase the presence of too much fat can be definitely disadvantageous In.other aspects. If deposited in excess in the reproductive organs it may seriously impair the breeding capacity; if disposited in the udders of females it may . interfere

with milk production; and if a sow farrows in this over-fat condition, she is more prone to lie clumsy and to lie on her pigs. 'When selecting his foundation stock, I lie farmer would bo doing himself a service in seeking the advice of some experienced breed-er,-a man who knows market requirements. 'l’lic ideal way lo buy pigs is to buy lliciii on kite farm where one may have Ihe opporlimily uf seeing bolli the dam alol Ihe sire and iiispceling ally oilier lilters Ihey have lefl. The dam shmihl lie a good milker ami should have not fewer than 12 well-placed teats. The best

Imlienlion one may get of the boar's iinaliliealions is to examine as many as possible of his litters. lie assured Iha I he is a good specimen of his breed, of good conformation and displaying constitution lo a marked degree.