"What Crops Can I Grow for the Pigs?"

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 4, 15 October 1941, Page 309

" What Crops Can I Grow for the Pigs?"

Following Great Britain’s z increased order for bacon, |||||||| which was announced last month, many farmers will be asking, “What crops can I

grow for the pigs?” Root crops will in most cases be the logical answer, and an IHIIIIIIIH outline of the merits of various crops is given in this article.

r TTHE final choice of what root crop TIE final must depend largely to grow must depend largely on soil fertility, availability of labour for cultural operations, and climatic conditions. While the crops under discussion in this article are intended principally as a guide to what might be grown, more detailed information will be available in any locality from the local Instructor in Agriculture. Briefly, points favouring good root crops ,may be summarised as follows: — (1) Heavy crop and dry-matter yields per acre-root crops can suitably supply the bulk of the pig’s rations. (2) Less need for large purchases of concentrates or other feedstuffs. (3) Ability to make full use of skimmilk, rejected fruit, or other food wastes. On the debit side of the food account labour costs , must be reckoned, as also the need for balancing up the root ration with other protein-rich supplements. Importance of Dry Matter Yield As an illustration of the importance of high dry-matter yield per acre, mangolds may be compared in their drymatter production with that of a commonly fed cereal, barley. An average 40-ton crop of mangolds . (dry-matter 13 per cent.) will produce 104 cwt. of dry-matter per acre compared with 14 cwt. from a 40 bushel crop of barley (dry-matter 86 per cent.). Although the mangold crop is capable of producing very much more dry material from the same area than a

By —

D. M. E. MERRY,

Instructor in Agriculture, Nelson.

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'iiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiii cereal crop, there are vast differences in feeding qualities. , ' ' Just as the performance of your car depends on the correct petrol-air mixture, so also will growing pigs make most headway with a suitably-balanced diet of carbohydrate and protein. In general, root crops are over carbo-hydrate-rich, whereas some grain, and

particularly lucerne, pea-meal, or linseed meals, are over protein-rich. Hence the necessity for feeding such concentrates along with root crops, which provide the bulk of the ration. As an indication of the area which should be set aside for cropping, it has been stated that one acre of good crops should be provided for every 30 cows milked, or an allowance of 2-| tons*per cow plus 10 tons for every ton of grain bought. In non-dairying districts otherwise waste foodstuff, or reject apples in fruit-growing centres, may be profitably converted to pigflesh with the assistance of homegrown root crops.

Factors Influencing Yields (■ ' ■. . In wet districts it is usual for roots to have a lower dry-matter content than in drier districts. Again, soil fertility, stage of maturity, and the variety all have an effect on drymatter yields. From the practical point of view, best returns are obtained from fully-matured crops grown in not over-wet soils. Mangolds / z . If suitably grown, mangolds will outyield practically any other farm crop. Their added virtues are their; keeping qualities, especially if • “pitted” or “clamped,” and their high favour with livestock. , The Yellow. Globe and Tankard varieties are perhap? the more generally suitable, particularly as they grow wholly or party above ground and are less likely to be checked by weeds in the later stages of growth. Yields of 40 tons or more per acre are not uncommon. ■ Mangolds are, however, low in protein and lime, a factor which adds to the need for feeding them along with other supplements of higher protein content. While turnips and swedes are suitable for early season feeding, mangolds may be used throughout the winter to early spring. ' .. . . ' . Swedes and Turnips The swede and turnip crops are widely favoured for pig feeding. Swedes have a dry-content of approximately 11.5 per cent, and turnips 8.5 per cent. A 35-ton crop of swedes will thus provide about 80 cwt. of drymatter per acre, and turnips 59 cwt. From the feeding point of view, swedes are the better, and they are also considerably richer in protein. Although slower to mature than turnips, swedes are better keepers, and can be fed in the later: season. Carrots Carrots are not so extensively grown as swedes, although they, too, are of excellent feeding value. The attention and labour necessary to ensure high crop yields, together with the difficulty of lifting the deeply-rooted varieties, are prejudicial, to their more widespread usage for pigs. ; The carrot has a dry-matter analysis of 13 per cent.,, and? an average 35-ton crop would yield '■ 91 cwt. dry-matter

per acre. While higher in dry-matter than swedes, carrots are slightly lower in protein value. If clamped, they keep well. Sugar Beet Sugar beet is increasing in favour, and contains approximately 23 per cent, dry-matter, of which 16 to 17 per cent, is sugar. Excellent feeding results have been obtained with the crop, but unless climatic and soil conditions are particularly suitable it will ; probably pay best to grow mangolds. z .. A 20-ton crop of sugar beet will produce 92 cwt. dry-matter per acre. Sugar beet, if clamped, will keep as well as, if not better' than, mangolds, and is eagerly sought after by stock. Potatoes .. If grown specially for pigs, potatoes compare unfavourably in production costs with the crops already described. In Canterbury, where practically 60 per cent, of the Dominion’s .potatoes are grown, about 15 per cent, of the tubers are selected for seed, leaving 10 per cent, for pig feeding. In years when potatoes are cheap the “chats” can be profitably bought for this purpose. The potato is. rich in carbohydrate, and has a dry-matter content of 25 per cent., of which 18 per cent, is carbohydrate. ( The average New Zealand yield is 5 tons per acre, although considerably higher yields than this are often obtainable. Artichokes The artichoke is an excellent pig crop, especially if the tubers are planted in an otherwise unused corner where they can be left to grow over a period of years. They must not be fed until the. tops have died down, and then only with discretion; otherwise no “seed” will be left for succeeding year’s crop.

Artichokes have a dry-matter content of approximately 20 per cent... and yield about 12 tons per acre. They are a palatable and nutritious feed. Pumpkins and Stock Melons In the warmer districts pumpkins and stock melons will be a valuable addition to root crops. They are of high feeding value. Their dry-matter content is about 15 per cent., and while yields per acre are ' often matters of debate, an average figure is 35 tons. They can be grown through maize, although the highest yields are obtained when < they are grown as a special crop. It is not proposed to discuss the growing of cereal crops, peas, or maize specially for pigs. Peas are nevertheless one of the most valued of leguminous crops for feeding with roots because of -their. high protein content. The time-bid adage, “It is not always wise to have all your eggs in the one basket,” still holds in growing root crops for pigs. Several suitable crops are usually to be preferred to the whole area in the one crop. Again, the value of green feed, particularly in the form of pasture or young lucerne, must not be overlooked. It has been estimated that pasture can supply up to 15 per cent, of the pig’s feed requirements; therefore, good clover-ryegrass swards are of material advantage. . Finally, however, it should be borne in mind that pigs are most profitable where quick live-weight gains can be made. This necessitates the wise feeding of a suitably-balanced ration, including pasture, roots, and concentrates, with any other cheap or waste feedstuffs available.