Crops for pigs

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 69, Issue 5, 15 November 1944, Page 439

Crops for pigs

. ' y -By. ■

A. T. .SHANNON,

Field Economist, Hamilton.

Outstanding Results on Waikato Farm

Farmers should take advantage of the £5 per acre subsidy on crops for pig feeding. Here is the experience of a Waikato farmer, which shows how annual cropping may be used to increase pig production.

I ’HOUGH many farmers are aware 1 that the many farmers of crops that the judicious use of crops for pig feed can considerably increase net profits, they are often reluctant to launch a cropping programme without the conviction that comes from seeing the results of the experience of others. The force of . example brought out in this article is all the more striking, because it is fully supported by unassailable records placed without restriction at the disposal of the writer. While the value of cropping for pigs is established beyond doubt in the minds of a great number of pig producers, a further incentive to undertake cropping as a means of expanding pig production for Britain is offered by the State subsidy of £5 per acre on crops for pigs. “I have nothing to hide. Anyone can come and see how the pigs are run here, and there is no real reason why it can’t be done on many other farms.” This was the feeling expressed by the sharemilker, Mr. W. E. Reid, and backed up by the farm owner, a well-known and -established settler in the Pukerimu district, Cambridge. “There is this, though,” continued Mr. Reid, “it is not a bit of use expecting results if a man isn’t keen and neglects his pigs. They must have adequate shelter, ample good food, and constant attention. If they get that, and with ordinary luck, there is money in pigs, but you have to put in the work.” The Layout An inspection of the pig section of the farm is a treat for any pig fancier.

Covering roughly 1| acres are 26 subdivisions on which there are 11 doubleunit 18 x 9 pig houses and three single-unit huts. The fencing is almost wholly pig netting, wire fencing being out of favour because of the difficulty of shifting and the scratches on

the pigs caused by the barbed wire. The shelters are iron roofed, with wooden floors well off the ground, and draught proof. This is brought about partly by sacking hanging down over the entrance to within a foot of the floor and steeped with oil as a prevention against ticks. Inside is a restricted quantity of hay, which keeps the pigs cosy, but is insufficient to hamper the movements of the small pigs. The entire layout is divided by a 15ft. drive allowing ample room to drive the truck between the whey drums. Outstanding amongst the features of this layout is the use of a large quantity of fine shingle from a nearby pit opened specially for the job. Not only is the main drive shingled to a depth of a foot, but almost all the pens are covered for about 20ft. back to provide a warm, dry area for the troughs and to reduce mud to a minimum. A comparison with the few pens not yet shingled shows striking advantages in general cleanliness and 5 preservation of the

pasture. It is needless to remark on the value of this or to say that the remaining pens are listed for shingling at the first opportunity. However well ordered may be the layout, it is the results that count most. Here is the visual evidence on August 13. Ten of the 20 sows had farrowed, their litters being about six weeks old, and healthier, more thrifty piglets it would be hard to find, with not a runt amongst them. The litter sizes were: 1 of 4 pigs, 3 of 7 each, 2 of 8 each, 1 of 9, 3 of 10 each, total 80 pigs from 10 sows, an average of 8 pigs per litter. All these sows and those yet to farrow are in excellent condition, revealing careful husbandry and controlled feeding. What is even more appealing is that in the 1943-44 period net sales returns, less costs of purchased meal and incidental costs, show a profit of almost £4OO, and this is on whey feeding from 140 milking cows. Admittedly there are several special circumstances, but obviously this high level of returns invites a searching investigation for the benefit of other pig producers, and in setting out the following account unprepared documentary evidence has been drawn on to the full, principally figures on which income tax returns have been based. “I have always been keen on pigs,” said Mr. Reid/“and my experience of maize growing on the east coast and what I have read’ and seen of crops suitable for pigs made me feel there was a good thing in pigs if the crops and feeding were taken on in the right way.” The co-operation of the farmer was secured and a layout constructed as an early part of the plant. In 1942-43 6 acres of old pasture were set aside for pig crops, comprising sugar beet, maize, kumikumi, swedes, and mangolds. A few facts about the construction and costs of the layout should be of value. The plant has been built over

a period of four years, so that costs . are on a pre-war basis. For an 18 x 9 double-unit pig house the requirements were: Timber £ll, roofing iron £4 10s., incidentals 10s, total £l6. At the present time one would expect costs to run out about £2O, with a roofing iron substitute. In addition, posts, battens, and pig netting for a double-unit layout would approximate £2O. These prices, of course, do not include labour costs, and account only for materials. Pens are 15yds. wide and 30yds. deep, and with the ample allowance of shingle at one end afford a pleasant contrast with the ,heavy churned mud commonly found with pig-sties in the Waikato at the present v time after heavy rain™ * ™ P * t e a e e vy ra n. C -trh' P dropping 1 ays Discussing cropping, Mr. Reid commented, “I know that some farmers

question the wisdom of growing crops for pigs on the grounds that more profit can be made by carrying cows than by reducing the herd to have several acres in pig crops. That isn’t supported by facts. In the first place you plough your worst pasture that will be improved by regrassing after the crops. Also, you can count on leaving the land under cultivation for at least one season and you may get more. “Now that the £5 per acre subsia fa availaWe , hat is a real tribution towards tlle cost of regrassing „„ those c „ions. wh E t , _- When you put an area mto pig crops it reduces the grazing for cows, although what actually happens is that the cows get half the crops grown for pigs, thereby improving the balance of the winter feed for cows, which more , than

compensates the loss of grazing by a cropping programme, anyway; you can easily work out the value of the butterfat production lost for those acres. I find I can get more profit by growing crops for pigs after deducting all costs.” The Money Side A particularly informative comparison between results before and after the extended use of crops and the introduction of the new pig policy is afforded by the following figures showing how the pigs were sold in the seasons under review and what the net sales returns amounted to.

It will be seen how production has been concentrated in the second season on heavier weights, with greater returns in consequence. ■ Even the stores sold were heavier, and were, of course, suitable for buttermilk fatteners. A very noticeable feature is the reduction in the number of pigs marketed as weaners, which in both seasons were got away in ■ August and September, but in 1943-44 an adequate feed supply made it possible to hold the majority of them until fat. It will be noted that the particular care and attention devoted to raising breeding stock for sales has been rewarded. In order to afford a further comparison between the two seasons it can be mentioned here that the costs of purchased meals were £2lB 14s. 4d. and £293 14s. lOd. in the respective seasons, leaving a balance of £9O 11s. Bd. for 1942-43 and £420 12s. Bd. for 1943-44. It is interesting at this point to carry the analysis to a further stage where allowances can be made for such items as: — 1. Additional credits to each season where stock which would otherwise have been sold has been held over for breeding. 2. Costs of meal bought. 3. Costs of store pigs bought. 4. Costs of cropping seed, manures, etc., as detailed. 5. Allowance for reduced cow grazing. Though there were 6 acres in 194344 as compared with 2 in the pre-, vious season, the loss in money was not proportionately as great, due to the bad season reducing the butterfat production per acre very considerably. While admittedly the comparison is not complete, it does provide a basis on which many farmers are at present debating with themselves the facts for and against cropping.

When it came to the question of cropping costs the farmer pointed out that, apart from the purchase of a scarifier and ridger, it had not been necessary to incur any additional capital expenditure for cropping.'That was the position on almost any farm. Recently a tractor had been purchased, but horses only had been used for cultivating the 6 acres of crops fed in the 1943-44 season. In consequence the cash costs incurred in cropping could be estimated as follows: —

“Normally this land will stand cropping for only two years,” it was pointed out. “After that the weeds come in heavily. Last year was very bad for weeds, and now most of the

cropping area will have to go down into grass. The sugar beet, mangolds, and swedes will be sown , on land broken up from old pasture. Only maize and pumpkins will be grown in land under crop last year. I have been cropping on the loamy soil on the farm, and my advice is to plough not later than August, leave for about a month, and then cultivate well. You can’t work this soil too much. Then roll before sowing.” Cropping Programme Here are the details in connection with the cropping programme:— Sugar beet: This is sown not later than October 20 at the rate of 51b. per acre, in ridges 27in. apart. The opinion was expressed that it is probably better to use the drill than the ridger, because using the scarifier between ridges tends to undermine the plants. Time permitting, it is advisable to thin out the plants to 3-4 in. apart and to use the scarifier three to four times until the crop can beat the weeds. Experience has shown the value of the tops as a green fodder, the pigs preferring these to the roots. Compared with mangolds, sugar beet is a better crop for pigs—the stock thrives and finds the beet palatable. Sugar beet can be fed out at any time after maturity, but are used on this farm from the end of May until July, though if sufficient were on hand, it

could be made good use of until the end of August. Last year the heavy weed growth reduced the weight of the crop. Mangolds: These are sown in ridges in. October and cultivated the same as the beet. They cannot be used until ripe and must, of course, be pitted for six weeks to avoid poisoning the stock. Pitting in July requires additional labour, which is one of their least satisfactory features as a pig crop. The pit is 9ft. wide, with earth sides 3ft. to 3ft. 6in. high, and the mangolds are bedded on hay. Three to four inches -hay is put on top and the pit covered with corrugated iron as it comes off the haystacks. In consequence of the pitting it is nearly August before the mangolds can be fed out. Maize: Sown in October at 201 b. to the acre, this crop has so far avoided frost damage. Ridged in 27in. rows, maize requires scarifying at least twice, and thinning to about a foot between plants. The cobs are pulled in suitable weather in April-May and cribbed, using labour on the farm. Maize is used principally as a reserve, particularly to top off the pigs as baconers, from about August on. As required the maize is put through a stripper and fed out on the ground to make pigs chew the grain. If fed in the trough, much of the maize is

swallowed whole and passes through the pig undigested. Kumikumi: Drilled in December with swedes, no subsequent cultivation is required. Kumikumi do not stand up well to storing, particularly if frosted, and so are full fed to all classes of pigs in May, June, and July. It is considered that cattle pumpkins are a better crop from the point of view of the feed value, and they have been grown as a crop on their own, being planted in 6ft. squares, fertilised

with superphosphate and blood and bone, and cultivated between the plants with the scarifier. These pumpkins have proved to be a really good standby. Swedes: The feeling is that swedes are the least satisfactory crop for pigs and act mainly as a filler. Consequently they are not extensively used on this farm. Pigs show a definite distaste for. them when other crops or meals are available.

The general practice in feeding crops is to commence with sugar beet as the milk whey supply falls off, carting up to four loads on the konaki each day. Pumpkins and kumikumi come into the feeding about the end of May, carted in a waggon from the paddock and fed in the layout on the shingled part of the pens. Swedes are full fed in July and early August, followed by sugar beet and maize. A comparison of crops in trial feeding on this farm has convinced the farmer that sugar beet is the best root crop.

’ It is now proposed to expand the pig section still further by adding two double units and one single unit. In addition 3 acres will be suitably fenced and wholly devoted to pig grazing, there being a strong objection to having the pigs wandering at liberty over the cow pastures. This grazing will be made available to the dry sows, which will be brought in for farrowing and replaced by large stores. In a short time it is planned to have 10 acres in pig crops, including 2 acres of artichokes and an acre of silver beet. The mangold crop will be smaller. The idea is to graze off the artichokes so that no labour will be involved in feeding them, and the silver beet is to be kept as a spring feed. Feeding Plan Substantial amounts of meal, summarised as follows, have also been fed.in the past season: —

The present plan is to develop farm crops to the extent that they eliminate all purchased maize and barley meals, and effect a considerable cash saving. It is considered too expensive to feed such purchased meals in comparison with meat meal and homegrown crops, except that at times there has been a shortage of meat

BETTER HOUSING FOR PIGS. The building of better houses and facilities for pig-keeping is one of the most important things in getting improved returns from pigs. “Layout and Construction of Modern Piggeries,” Bulletin No. 177, illustrates that better housing which means less time and work spent on pigs, less loss through condemnations, rejections, and , deaths ,on the farm, and more efficient use of feed. It is available free from offices of the Department of Agriculture.

meal. As a general policy meal is fed with whey to all pigs, varying with the supply of other food available and the necessity of topping off stores. Molasses constitute a good winter standby for whey or skim milk, being mixed with water and fed out for about three months. “It is impossible to lay down hard-and-fast rules in pig feeding,” Mr. Reid explained; “it all varies according to how you have to sell your pigs. You have to watch your costs, the supply of whey, the number of pigs on hand, and the market to decide what you are going to do from time to time. With winter feed supplies the whey man can often turn his pigs off most profitably as large stores to be fattened on skim milk, but it depends on the market a lot.” In 1944 production has been favoured by an additional supply of dairy by-product secured from a factory on a basis not involving any cash costs. This has amounted to an average of about 5 cans of whey per day during the dairy season to augment the supply from the 140 cows on the farm. In the past winter, mainly in June and July, about 6 cans of separated

milk have been available every second day from the same source. Excluding pigs sold as sows, boars, and choppers, the net sales returns from 89 pigs carried through the winter of 1943 amounted to £346. Those carried through the winter of 1944 have netted £397 16s. and 7 sows and 5 boars remain on hand. In August there were 20 sows on hand, 16 of them Canadian Berkshire, 2 Duroc, and 2 Large White. It is proposed to experiment with the' Duroc and Canadian Berkshire cross to see how they measure up to export requirements. “You must have good sows, Mr. Reid said. “Farmers know they have to have good cows, why not good sows? The same applies to boars. You have to feed cows right to get the results and that goes for pigs too, yet you sometimes see a man with plenty of hay, silage, and crops for his cows in the winter while the pigs starve. If everyone was as particular about pigs as they are about cows, production and profits would be much greater.

‘’The co-operation of the farmer is very necessary, - because you must have a good layout and finance to build it. If a share-milker has that, it’s up to him for his own benefit and not many would fail to respond.” It would not be proper to conclude this account without paying a tribute to the thorough manner in which the use of crops and meal has been planned and executed, especially in view of what was at the time a pioneer undertaking. As an example of the enthusiasm obvious to a visitor one might instance a book kept recording all manner of information concerning the sows — earmarks, breeding and origin, date of services, the number in the litter, and the number weaned. Not only has the venture been a financial success, but every satisfaction has been gained from the fact that for several years the only loss from disease has been a partial carcase condemnation, but never a death. The evidence on this farm would absolutely recommend the use of pig crops to any farmer prepared to work along similar lines.

1942-43. 1943-44. Baconers .. 26 , 103 9 0 136 516 0 10 Stores .. 52 97 3 6 32 82 8 5 Weaners . . 57 80 10 6 20 24 9 9 Boars . . 3 9 3 6 6 35 2 6 Sows 4 40 18 9 Choppers 4 18 19 6 4 15 7 3 142 £309 6 0 202 £714 7 6

£ 1942-43. £ £ 1943-44. £ Returns from sales 309 309 714 714 Plus pigs kept over for breeding 20 35 — 329 — 749 Less costs of meal bought 218 292 Store pigs bought 28 Crop costs (cash) 4 13 Allowance for reduced grazing. — 222 222 49 49 382 382 Net returns £107 £367

Acres. Seed Costs. Fertiliser. Total. £ s. s. d. d. £ s. £ d. s. £ d. s. £ d. s. d. Sugar beet . U 1 17 17 6 6 1 15 1 9 15 3 9 13 3 3 13 3 Mangolds .. 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6 6 Maize .. 1| 1 13 13 9 9 1 15 1 9 15 3 9 9 3 6 9 6 Kumikumi . 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 6 1 6 6 2 6 6 2 6 6 6 Swedes .. 1 5 3 1 6 6 6 6 1 1 11 11 9 9 6 £5 16 6 £7 11 0 £13 7 6

£ s. d. Meat meal . . 189 5 3 Maize .. 83 17 3 Molasses 6 10 9 Barley 1 11 2 Peanut meal 10 0 £281 14 5