Profitable Crops for Pigs.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 58, Issue 2, 20 February 1939, Page 154

Profitable Crops for Pigs.

Growing Cheap, Supplementary Feed.

A. LONGWILL,

B.Agr.Sc., Supervisor, Auckland District Pig Council.

giftiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiritiitiiiiiiiiiiiuinuniuiiiuiiniNniiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirii'iiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiuiiii.iiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiinniiiimiinM [ Home-grown crops to cope j j with the feed problem when | dairy by-products are-inade- | quate for the requirements | of the pigs on hand are with- | in the reach of most farmers. | An outline of a cropping | | programme isgiven,together I j with an analysis of the value | | and costofthefeed produced. | I I n ii u u b i m

Z~>| ROWTH of store pigs from 50 lb. GROWTH of store pigs from 50 lb. to 1401 b. between Ist May and Ist August at a cost of only 6s. per pig for bought-in feedstuffs ; the successfully wintering of forty store pigs without the loss of a single pig ; £4 net per milking-cow 'from the pigs—are actual results obtained by dairyfarmers, and, as such, should have a peculiar significance for every one who is desirous of improving his pig returns. One of the features common to all such results is the provision of a small area of crops for supplementary feed for pigs. It is not suggested that this factor outweighs the general management factor, but it is surely rather a direct reflection of the latter, and the man who has the foresight to provide for a cheap supply of feed to carry pigs over the lean period, and, incidentally, to finish them when the prices are highest, is also the man who provides housing and feeding at the right level throughout the season. This provision of cheap supplementary feed for pigs, at those periods of the year when the dairy by-products slump markedly, is .an excellent means of securing greater profits from the pig section of the farm, thereby benefiting the whole farm economy. Cropping Programme, It is not too early to consider what steps can be taken during the coming year to provide home-grown crops to cope with the feed problem when dairy by-products are inadequate to supply the requirements of the pigs on hand. The cropping programme adopted should fulfil the following requirements : ' (a) Fit in with any cropping carried out for the dairy herd. (b) Make provision for the economic wintering of sufficient pigs to cope effectively with the flush of dairy by-products. (Where conditions for wintering are good it would be safe to produce a surplus for sale in the spring.) (c) Even up the feed-supply at any period when the milk-supply drops suddenly, so that the pigs can be finished as intended rather than sold to be unloaded on a gorged and weakened market.

Just how far a cropping programme can be carried out will depend on the labour available in individual cases as well as on other obvious factors which govern the relative profit of growing or buying-in supplementary foods, but it can be stated that for average farms where soil and climatic conditions are suitable it will be found profitable to grow some crops for one or more of the above-mentioned purposes.

Choice of the Crop.

The choice of crop usually depends on individual conditions, including soil and climate, and labour available for preparation, sowing, harvesting, and feeding the crops. It should be determined, also, by the yield obtained for the effort spent. It is useless growing a crop you favour when another which yields twice as much could be grown with equal success. In cases where labour is inadequate, the choice may rest at present on a crop which the pig can harvest for itself. The following crops are dealt with as a selection of those most suitable for pigs and applicable to the varying conditions encountered throughout the country. A variety of crops will usually be found most satisfactory, and any farmer in the Dominion should be able to select at least two or three of these crops to grow each year under a rotational system for his pigs. The accompanying tables are inserted to help determine which are the most profitable crops. Familiarity with in-

dividual crops may have a bearing on the choice, but the average yields in tons per acre and pound . starch equivalent per acre will give some indication as to whether, it would be worth while trying a new crop.

Value of Grains.

Where they can be satisfactorily grown, grainsparticularly barley and maize—provide an admirable means of balancing and improving, by rendering more concentrated, rations based on skim-milk or buttermilk. Bulky feeds, such as roots, are not worth using unless some meatmeal or grain is fed with them. One pound of meal per head per day makes roots worth while.

It is impossible to deal with the cropping practices in detail, as these vary from place to place according to soil and climatic conditions. They are therefore summarized in the table, and this summary should be regarded as a rough guide only. The assumed yield per acre of the various crops is on an arbitrary basis, and does not necessarily represent an average crop ; it would get us no further forward if we worked on the average crop for the whole of New Zealand. Yields vary considerably not only as between districts, but according to the time and care given to the preparation of the soil, subsequent weeding, &c.

Relative Merits.

It is a simple matter to compare two crops from the aspect of relative profit, where the yields are known. Good yields are essential to profitable cropproduction. By using the figures given for the arbitrary yields of starch equivalent per acre for each of the crops to be compared it is easy to work out by proportion the yield for the crops you can produce. By taking into account the production costs per acre, the respective yields of starch equivalent per acre will give a reliable picture of the merits of the crops in question.

The following table sets out the details of soil, manure, cultivation, seeding, &c., appropriate to the crops named :

This table sets out a yield per acre, with the corresponding amount of feed produced and approximate costs per i.ooolb. of starch equivalent; one ton (2,240 lb.) of barley contains 1,568 lb. of starch equivalent ; one of pollard, 1,350 lb. :

The protein equivalent, a figure which represents the protein value of the crops, is given as a further aid to compare the relative value of the crops. This figure again corresponds to the arbitrary yield

given. Protein is costly but very useful, especially in winter, and by growing some of the richer protein crops, such as peas or lucerne, the cost of protein supplements which require to be purchased when the

skim-milk fails can be reduced. For the whey-feeder, protein is of great value at all seasons of the year. In the costs of production quoted, full rent for land has been allowed, as well

as cultivation, harvesting? storing, and transport costs to the piggery where necessary, so that the costs as quoted enable a comparison to be made as to whether it really pays to grow crops or to buy-in. For example, if good-quality cereal concentrates can be landed at the piggery at £7 10s. per 1,000 lb. starch equivalent— about £ll 10s. per ton of barley-meal will not pay to grow anything that costs us more than that on the farm. On the basis of the yield that any individual farmer can expect from any particular crop he can estimate the area required to provide the winter feed for the number of pigs he wishes to winter. Daily Requirements. The approximate daily requirements of starch equivalent* and digestible protein for pigs of 50 lb. and 100 lb. live-weight to maintain reasonable growth are : .

A small quantity of protein-rich meal, such as meat-meal, pea, &c., should be used wherever roots are being fed in order to keep up the level of the digestive protein supplied. Making allowance for this, 1 ton of carrots or other roots will be just about enough to feed two pigs of the above weights for ninety days. The area required for pigs can be calculated from this. Usually it will be necessary only to add this area to that already being cropped for the dairy herd. Planning the Supply. A variety of crops rather than just one crop will prove best in planning the winterfeed supply. The period at which they are available varies to some extent, and this can be made use of in smoothing out feed-supplies over a longer period. The combination of maize and pumpkins where these can be satisfactorily grown (soils with plenty of organic matter, and suitable climate) is excellent, although perhaps, not producing a higher average food supply per. acre than sugar-beet or mangels. Under conditions of labour scarcity all these crops may be at a disadvantage compared with the oft-dis-paraged artichoke. Barley and peas can

be recommended only for those districts suited to their proper harvesting, and these are usually divorced from the main dairying and pig-raising districts. In these districts the root crops which yield highly will be most successful, due regard being paid to the resistance to such pests, diseases, &c., which may be present. Meat, linseed, or pea meals, according to relative values, or else combinations of the first with either of the other two, should be used to supplement such crops. The difficulty of harvesting sugar-beet is one which should not be allowed to hamper the proper appreciation of this outstanding crop for pig-feeding. Various types of harvesting-machines are in use in the Northern Hemisphere countries where the crop is largely grown, and similar implements would pay for their construction in this country if they enabled this crop to be utilized properly. Carrots and Swedes. , Carrots are worthy of special mention, the, guerande variety having a definite advantage in that, not having a deep taproot, it is easily pulled, and feeding out is correspondingly easier. . Swedes are an excellent crop where they can be reliably grown. Ensilage is more problematical, except for mature sows and boars. Store pigs do not take kindly to it unless it is sprinkled with molasses water and supplemented with a protein concentrate, in which case they can often be induced to take it readily. In the growing of crops to supplement the dairy by-product consideration must be given to the soil conditions and other facilities' for carrying pigs during bad weather. The combination of these factors may in some casesat present, at any raterender the wintering of pigs unprofitable. Supplementary crops are still useful in getting the pigs finished for slaughter.before the winter sets in. On the other hand, where conditions are suitable it will be profitable to grow a sufficient crop to provide for a surplus of forward stores in the spring-time, when prices are at their best for this class of stock.

Limitation of Numbers.

Generally, it will be best to limit the number of pigs wintered to that required to cope with the dairy by-products available after allowance is made for the sows and their early spring litters. One winter store pig for every three cows in the herd should be sufficient for this purpose, and, on the basis of a 150 lb. starch equivalent per pig wintered and the yield per acre of the various crops, the following areas should be cropped for pigs on a farm carrying sixty milking-cows (wintering twenty store pigs) : (а) One-third acre mangels, carrots, swedes. (б) One-quarter acre sugar-beet. (c) One-third acre pumpkins and maize. (d) One-quarter to one-third acre of a variety of these crops. It would require about 6 acres in barley to produce the equivalent in food value to 1 acre of any of the above crops where yields are proportionate to those shown in the above table. Conclusion. In conclusion, it is quite fair to assume that most dairy-farms have some area of ground— some worn-out pigruns— would benefit from cultivating before regrassing, and in the process it should be worth while taking a crop off the area. This should certainly be the case if it is possible to utilize the fertility left by the pigs in their runs. * If there is a danger of this ground being infested with the eggs of pig-worms 5 cwt. of burnt lime per acre applied before ploughing (this being fairly deep) will help to reduce the danger but will not entirely eliminate it, and therefore it may be possible to feed out the crop grown in the pig-run to cattle, which will not be affected by the parasites of the pig, while the crop for the pigs can be grown on “ clean ” country.' Look over the farm now and see if you cannot find some area that can be improved by the use of the plough and which, simultaneously, can be made to provide for a good start for your pigs and higher net returns from them next year.

Feeding Value of Meal for Pigs.

W. A. T. (OHURA) Will you please let me know the difference between the feeding values to pigs of pollard and barley-meal ? I was informed some weeks ago by a manager of a big pig farm that barley-meal was five times as good as pollard, and since then I have seen in a farming paper that there is more food value in pollard. Which is advised by the Department of Agriculture ? I know barley-meal is slightly more expensive.

Superintendent of Pig Industry : By the international standards in use, the feeding value of pollard is approximately 60 feed units (starch equivalent) per 100 lb. of pollard, and of barley, 72 feed units per 100 lb. If prices are in keeping with these relative differences there is no choice between the feeds. Both are improved if used in conjunction with meat-meal, J lb. to | lb. per day per pig, even when skim-milk is used. Double up the meat-meal in the absence of skim. •fr * 4-

•Starch is a standard product, and the values of all feeding-stufis are measured by it. One hundred pounds of feed in question will produce as much fat, growth, or other energy as would the stated amount of starch. Thus, 100 lb. of sugar-beet will produce as much as 15 lb. of starch, so that sugar-beet has a starch equivalent of 15. Starch equivalents for all feeding-stuffs have been determined by careful experiment, and are the best standard known for comparing different feeds.

Crop. Suitable Soil. Manure required. Cultivation. Sowing. Time. Seed/Acre. Spacing. Concentrates— Maize Light loam or silt Light loam or silt 30 lb. .. Organic, or 3 cwt. super .. 28 in. to 3 ft. Maize . Fine, firm tilth; Organic, or 3 cwt. super .. October Fine, firm tilth; 30 lb. .. October 28 in. to 3 ft. intercultivate Barley' Light loam 1-3 cwt. super .. .. ... intercultivate Reasonably fine and Early August on i| bushels 7 in. drill. Oats 1-3 cwt. super .. Ditto Autumn or spring 2-3 bushels Linseed Broadcast. Linseed Sandy loam Sandy loam 1 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. bonedust 1 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. bonedust Deep tilth —firmed Deep tilth—firmed October October .. 30-40 lb. 30-40 lb. Broadcast. Peas i-ii cwt. super; 1 cwt. lime Fine, firm tilth .. November 3 bushels 14 in. drill. Beans /. Medium 3I bushels Semi-bulky foods —. Medium » » 3 j bushels 99 Potatoes Light loam 3 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. sulphate of Reasonably deep, September 1 ton 28 in. to 30 in. potash fine, and firm Artichokes potash 3 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. sulphate of fine, and firm Ditto 12 cwt. .. potash. v (First year only) Ditto 99 • • 12 cwt. .. ,, Sugar-beet .. Good, deep loam 20 in. to 28 in. potash. (First year only) Good, deep loam 2 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. 30-per-cent. 2 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. 30-per-cent.Fine and firm; October 4 lb. 20 in. to 28 in. potash ; J cwt. sulphate of amFine and firm: October 4 1b. .. single, and intermonia cultivate Bulky foods (high in water or fibre) Maize stalks (see Maize, above). Pasture ensilage above). Various potash ; | cwt. sulphate of ammonia 2-3 cwt. (complete) single, and intercultivate Harrowing, &c. . . 7 in. drills. Lucerne (green) Light soils, free-drain-1 ton ground limestone; 2 cwt. Fine, firm, and very November 20 lb. ing subsoil super ; and 2 cwt. lime clean') Pumpkins ing subsoil Good loam .. .. super ; and 2 cwt. lime 2 cwt. super clean.) Fine, firm tilth 2-4 lb. .. 6 ft. rows. Chou moellier Moist loam 2 cwt. super ; 2 cwt. lime r „ October October ij lb. .. lb. .. 28 in. ridge. 28 in. ridge. Thousand-headed kale .. <D / t) November November 2 lb. 2 lb. » Kohl rabi' ,, 1 ... 2 lb. ,, • • Carrots Fine, . firm, 1 Light loam 05 1J cwt. super ; | cwt. 30-per-cent. October-January 2 lb. 99 Carrots Fine, firm, § Light loam October-January 1} cwt. super ; % cwt. 30-per-cent. 2I lb. 2J lb. ’ .. 21 in. rows. 21 m. rows. Swedes .. potash 3 and clean p. Alluvial loam 28 in. ridge. potash Alluvial loam 1 ton lime ; 4 cwt. super and lime 1 ton lime ; 4 cwt. super and lime g and clean p. Fine, firm be tdD November November f lb. f lb. 28 in. ridge. Mangels .. mixture seed-bed Deep mellow and loam October mixture 3 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. 30-per-cent. 4-6 lb. .. 0 Deep mellow and loam a seed-bed V 5 3 cwt. super ; 1 cwt. 30-per-cent. Fine, firm g Fine, firm October 6 4-6 lb. .. .2 potash ; 1 cwt. sulphate of am-seed-bed, < \ . monia single Pea haulms (see Peas, above). e). A potash ; i cwt. sulphate of ammonia seed-bed, single J -J

Table 1.

Crop. When available. Assumed Yield per Acre. Approximate Cost of Production per 1,000 lb. S.E (at Piggery). Remarks. Amount. Pound Starch Equivalent. Pound Protein. Maize June 60 bushels .. ,800 275 £ 5 0 d. 0 See also feed value in stalks. Barley February.. 46 bushels .. 1,650 140 6 0 0 Requires moderate rainfall, dry harvest season. Oats January .. 40 bushels .. 960 120 9 0 0 Linseed .. . Requires moderate rainfall, dry harvest season. (By-product Linseed February.. February.. 7 cwt. 7 cwt. 94° 94° 150 150 9 9 0 0 0 0 Requires moderate rainfall, dry harvest season. (By-product for for pigs.) Peas 30 bushels . . 1,260 , 325 8 0 0 Pigs folded on stubble clean up shed peas. Beans April 30 bushels . . ,180 350 8 10 0 Subject to aphis attack, &c. Soya bean useful. Potatoes 10 tons 4,000 190 4 0 0 Rejects only used for pigs. Artichokes . .. 10 tons 4,000 160 2 0 0 Crop may stay down for several years. Sugar-beet .. May-June 25 tons 8,300 315 •7 10 0 Maize stalks 1 Green February.. 15 tons 3,000 235 4 0 0 Frequently used for milking-cows. Dry .. June 4 tons 2,000 150 Reduce cost of See also value of maize (grain), above. maize Pasture ensilage December on 9 tons 2,250 375 2 10 0 Total production per annum. Lucerne (green) January .. 15 tons 3,000 750 2 0 0 Mav be grazed, fed out green, or hayed. Pumpkins .. March 50 tons . .. 9,000 800 1 10 0 If sown among maize (after scarifying once), crops lighter. Chou moellier February. . 20 tons 3,600 600 4 0 0 Fed off in breaks or carted into pens. Thousand-headed kale 15 tons 2,950 450 5 0 0 ,, ,, Kohl rabi .. If leaves used green, yield of root reduced. ’ Kohl rabi .. June-July June-July 20 tons 20 tons 3,500 3,500 250 250 4 4 0 0 0 0 If leaves used green, yield of root reduced. Carrots March 40 tons 7,850 530 2 5 0 Sow manure well below seed. Mix seed with moist sand five to six six days before sowing. Hoeing essential. Swedes May45 tons 7,350 700 : 2 0 0 Excellent crop where diseases, &c., not serious. Mangels .. June-July 60 tons 9,100 ' 540 I 15 0 3 cwt. salt/ac. may be added to the manure. Ripen four to six six weeks. Do not feed to boars. Pea haulms— Green January .. 8 tons 1,220 360 6 0 0 Feeding in green succulent state. Dry April on .. 2 tons 800 150 (see Peas, above) May be fed as hay, allowing pigs to do the threshing.

Table 2.

Live Weight. Starch - Equivalent. Digestible Protein. lb. lb. lb. 50 il 1 1 100 4 i 7