Pig Feeding Trials on Copra and Whey

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 3, 15 September 1941, Page 193

Pig Feeding Trials on Copra and Whey

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M. J. SCOTT,

Superintendent of the Pig Industry, Wellington.

DURING the past year a number of feeding trials to demonstrate the value of copra or of whey have been carried out by farmers under the direction of the District Pig Council Supervisors in different districts, and have been summarised. Where known, the actual prices paid for meals or received for pig-meat have been used in estimating cost and returns; otherwise, meals have been charged at £l2 10s. per short ton, and pig-meat valued at 6d. per pound.

A uniform procedure has been followed, giving the essential facts and making the four, essential deductions namely, the cost of meal per pig during the trial period, the return per gallon of milk after paying (for supplements used, the feed used to produce lib. of carcass, and the cost of meal per pound of carcass gain. Whatever the amount of meal used per lb. of carcass gain is in excess of 61b. there is something wrong with the. quality of the feed, the quality of the pigs fed, or the quality of the attention given them. When the figure approaches 4.51 b. the owner has attained a state of excellence in all departments quality, pig quality, and management.

There is a ' close relationship between the feed used per. lb. of gain, the amount of meal used, and the earning, value of milk per gallon. These trials establish a fund of information on feeding problems, and as this information is collected under actual farm conditions, it is worth careful study by those interested in • getting better value out of their feed supplies. Farmers who have gone to the trouble of making these experiments have done an excellent service to the industry, and are to be complimented for their interest and effort. The identity of the trial is indicated by the name of the district in which it was made.

Copra Trials

Trial 1: Copra, milk, and green maize (Taranaki) . Seven Tamworth-Berkshire pigs were fed with lib. of copra, 4 gallons of skim-milk, and 81b. of green maize daily per pig for 43 days. These pigs

liiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 11111111111111 ii i n em mi ioi mi ii 11 in ii ii i iiiaMin i weighed 1341 b. when ’ the trial began, and 1911 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was, 471 b. per pig worth at 6jd. per lb., 255. sjd. Meal used at £9 6s. Bd. per short ton cost 4s. Ojd. per pig, and maize at a nominal charge of ss. per green ton cost 9d. per pig, leaving 20s. Bd. as the earning capacity of 172 gallons of milk. On this basis, milk shows a gross value of 1.44 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 5.301 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost l.Od. Trial 2: Barley and meat-meal, milk, and green maize (compare with copra above) (Taranaki). Six Tamworth-Berkshire pigs were fed with Jib. of meat-meal, -jib. of

crushed barley, 4 gallons of milk, and 8 lb. of green maize daily per pig for 43 days. These pigs weighed 1431 b. when the trial began, and 2041 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 501 b. per pig, worth at 6jd. per lb., 27s Id. Meal used at an average of £ll per short ton cost 4s. 9d. per pig; maize, as before, 9d., leaving 21s. 7d. for 172 gallons of milk, or 1.50 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 4.981 b., . and meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 1.14 d. In these trials, 1 copra is not quite - as good as a mixture of . meat and barley meals. Compare Trials 7 and 8. Trial 3: Copra and skim-milk (Pukekohe) . Six pigs were fed 21b. of copra, plus an average of 4.66 gallons of milk daily per pig for 45 days. These pigs weighed 1401 b. when the trial-started, and 2171 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 611 b. per pig, worth at 6d. per lb,' 30s. 6d. Meal used at £9 ss. per short ton cost Bs. 3d. per pig, leaving 225. 3d.; as the earning capacity of 208 gallons of milk, or*T.2Bd.

per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 4.891 b. Meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 1.64 d. The pigs had free access to grass. Trial 4: Copra and skim-milk (Pukekohe) . Six pigs were fed ljlb. of copra along with an average of 4.36 gallons of milk daily per pig for 45 days. The pigs weighed 1201 b. when the trial began, and 2041 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 691 b. per pig, worth at 6d. per lb., 345. 6d. Meal used at £9 ss. per short ton cost 6s. 3d. per pig, leaving 28s. 3d. as the earning value of 196 gallons, or 1.73 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 3.831 b. Meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost I.OCd. The pigs had free access to grass. Trial 5: Copra and skim-milk (Pukekohe). • Five pigs were fed on 21b. of copra along with an average of 2 gallons of skim-milk daily per pig for 45 days. These pigs weighed 751 b. when the trial began, and 1331 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 401 b. per pig, worth at 6d. per lb. 20s. Meal used at £9 ss. per short ton cost Bs. 3d., leaving Ils. 9d. for 90 gallons of milk, or 1.56 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was . 4.501 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 2.43 d. The pigs had free access to grass. Trial 6: Barley and skim-milk (Pukekohe). In order to study the effect of withdrawing copra over the last month, the pigs in Trial 5 above were fed on l/sth lb. of barley and 6 2/sths gallons of skim-milk for the last month. Their average liveweight at the start was 1861 b., and at the end of the trial 2171 b., equivalent to a carcass increase of 231 b.,, worth at 6d. per lb. Ils. 6d. Meal used at £l2 10s. per short ton cost 9d. per pig, leaving 10s. 9d. as the earning value of 192 gallons of milk, or 0.67 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 8.71 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 0.40 d.

Trial 7:'Copra and milk (Pukekohe) . Six pigs were fed on an average of 1 l/3rd lb. of copra (lib. increasing to ljlb.) and about 3 gallons of milk per pig daily for 96 days. The average liveweight at the beginning was 661 b., at the end 1841 b. The resulting carcass increase was 891 b. per pig, worth at 6|d. 465. 4d. Meal used at £9 ss. per short ton cost 11s. 7d, leaving 345. 9d. as the earning value of 279 gallons of milk, or 1.50 d. per gallon. Feed used to produce lib. of carcass gain was 4.531 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 1.56 d. Trial 8: Meal (barley, pollard, and meat-meal in equal parts) and milk (Pukekohe). (Compare with copra Trial 7.) Six pigs were fed on an average of 1 l/3rd. lb. of meal, plus 3 gallons of milk daily per pig for 96 days. Tallow at the rate of about loz. per pig daily was fed for the last six or seven weeks. The average liveweight of the pigs was 671 b. at the beginning ’ and 1681 b. at the end of the trial. The resulting carcass increase was 741 b. per pig, worth at 6Jd. 38s. 6d. Meal used at £ll per short ton cost 13s. 9d. per pig, leaving 245. 9d. as the earning value of 286 gallons of milk, or 0.58 d. per gallon. Feed used to produce lib. of carcass gain was 5.551 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 2.23 d. This return per gallon of milk is poorer than is usually obtained with milk and meal. From the amounts stated, it seems that the milk was insufficient to the extent of about half a gallon per pig daily all through the trial. Whey Trials Trial 9: Whey, meat-meal, and barley (Pukekohe). Six pigs were fed on Jib. of meatmeal, Jib. of barley and whey, If gallons up to 7 J gallons—an average of 4| gallons per pig, daily— 170, days. The average liveweight of the pigs, was 301 b. at the beginning, and 2101 b. at the end of the trial. The corresponding carcass gain was 1331 b., worth at 6d.

665. 6d. per pig. Meal used at £ll 6s. Bd. per short ton cost 19s. 10d., leaving 465. Bd. as the earning value of 798 gallons of whey, or 0.70 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 5.71 b. Meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 1.79 d. Trial 10: Whey, meat-meal, and barley; meat-meal reduced as pigs fattened (Pukekohe). . Six pigs were fed on Jib. of meatmeal and Jib. of barley, plus whey at rates varying from If up to 7 J gallons per dayaverage 4.9 gallons for 170 days. The average liveweight of the pigs was 301 b. at the beginning and 2061 b. at the end of the trial. The corresponding carcass gain was 1301 b., worth at 6d. per lb. 655. Meal used at £ll 6s. Bd. per short ton cost 18s. 9d., leaving 465. 3d. as the earning value of 819 gallons of whey, or 0.68 d. per gallon. Feed used to produce lib. of car cass gain was 6.001 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost l-73d.

Trial 111: Whey, pollard, barley, peas, and meat-meal (Taranaki). Eight pigs were fed ; with lib. of this mixture and 7 gallons of whey daily per pig for 56 days. These pigs weighed

1321 b when the : trial began, and 2031 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 581 b., worth at 6|d. per lb. 31s sd. Meal used at an average cost of £ 13 per short ton cost 7s. 3Jd.

per pig, leaving 245. l|d. for 392 gallons of whey, or 0.74 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 6.04d.';, meal used per lb of carcass gain cost 1.50 d. . . ')

Trial 12: Whey, copra-meal, meat-meal, and pollard (Taranaki). Eight pigs were fed with lib. of this mixture and 7 gallons of whey daily per pig for 56 days. They weighed 1081 b. when the trial began and 1751 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 541 b., worth at 6Jd, per lb. 29s 3d. Meal used at a cost of £l3 per short ton cost 7s. 3Jd. per pig, leaving 21s. lljd. for 392 gallons of whey, or 0.67 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass was 6.461 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass cost 1.62 d. Trial 13: Whey and linseed-meal, copra-meal, meat-meal, pollard, barley, bran, and minerals (Taranaki) . | ' Six pigs were fed with lib. of this mixture and 7 gallons of . whey daily per pig for. 56 days. They weighed 851 b. when the trial began and 1471 b. when it finished. The resulting carcass increase was 441 b., worth at 6Jd. per lb. 235. lOd. Meal used at a cost of £l3 per short ton cost 7s. 3Jd. per pig, leaving 16s. 6Jd. for 392 . gallons of whey, or 0.51 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass was 7.951 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 1.98 d. Trial 14: Whey and meat-meal (Hamilton). Fourteen pigs were fed on meat-meal (Jib. increasing to lib.), average 0.801 b., and whey (4J gallons increasing to 6 r gallons), average 5.5 gallons per pig daily for an average of 130 days. One pig died during the trial. . The thirteen remaining pigs weighed, 401 b. at the beginning and 1981 b. per pig at the end of the trial. The resulting carcass increase was 1161 b., worth at 6d. per lb. 58s; per pig. . The cost of meal per pig at £l2 10s. per short ton was

12s. 9d., leaving 455. 3d. as the earning .’ value of 717 gallons of whey, or 0.76 d. per gallon. Feed used to produce lib. of carcass 5.51 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 1.32 d. Value of Animal Fat In Pig Feeding Trial 15: Milk, molasses, meal (grain and meat), and fat (Pukekohe). Six pigs were fed with approximately 1J- gallons of milk, Jib? of molasses. 2 l-81b. of meal, Jib. meatmeal, and l-31b. of animal fat per pig daily for 77 days. The pigs weighed 1001 b. when the trial started and 1891 b. per pig when it finished. The corresponding liveweight increase was 711 b., worth at 6Jd. per lb. 38s. 5d.; meal used at £ 12 10s. per short ton cost 335. Id. per pig, leaving ss. 4d. as the earning capacity of 90 gallons of milk, or 0.70 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 5.01 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 5.6 d. Trial 16: As above, but without fat (Pukekohe). ' Six pigs received the same amount of milk, molasses, and meat-meal, but 2.7-81b.,0f grain-meal (grain was used to replace fat at the rate of 21b. grain to' lib. of fat). The carcass gain was 671 b., worth at 6Jd. per lb. 365. 3d. Meal used at £l2 10s. per short ton, cost 355. lid., leaving 4d. as the earning value of 90 gallons, or 0.004 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 5.61 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 6.44 d. ; Both these trials were conducted during the winter months. The use of fat does make it possible here to get some value out of milk, but the most striking thing about these two trials is that while the feed used to produce lib. of grain indicates good

pigs and conditions, . the excessive, amounts of -meal used make profits, low. On the other hand, the meal used in this way may have been more than justified if it avoided selling store pigs when the market was crowded. Trial 18: Milk, meal, and animal fat (Pukekohe). Six pigs were fed about 2J gallons milk, lj-lb. of meal, and : 2oz: of fat per pig daily for 124 days. They started the. trial at 451 b., and finished at 1861 b. per pig. The corresponding carcass gain was 1041 b. per pig, worth at 6Jd. per lb. 565. Bd. per pig. The cost of meal at £l2 10s. per short ton was 215., leaving 355. Bd. as the earning capacity of 326 gallons of milk, or 1.31 d. per gallon. Feed used to produce 11b. of carcass was 4.71 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 2.41 d. ‘ ■' Trial 19: As above, but without fat (Pukekohe). ' Six pigs were fed the same amount of milk' as in the previous trial, with a slight increase in meal as in Trial 17. The carcass gain was 1011 b .? worth at 6Jd. per lb. 545. 9d. per pig. Meal used at £l2 10s. per short ton cost 215., 4d., leaving 335. sd. as the earning value of 326 gallons of milk, or 1.23 d. per gallon. Feed used per lb. of carcass gain was 4.861 b.; meal used per lb. of carcass gain cost 2.53 d.