FARM NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 73, 11 October 1939, Page 7

FARM NOTES

LURKING DANGER

ZINC POISONING IN PIGS

A case of zinc poisoning in pi» s occurred in a line ol wea ikt .pi» s 011 a dairy farm w he.-e the were mainly feel on the skim milk. Six young pigs were lost over n per,i,od of. about a month, and three Averc ailing when seen, showing a certain ,stlfl'iiess and a tottering gait, with some swelling of the join*!,:-;. Older pigs were not affected, In addition to these symptoms, the pi to were off their feed and generally and a post mortem examination of one found dead showed secondary complications of vhe lungs and howels.

The skim milk was pumped across to the pig yards from the milking shed. a distance of about a chain, through a. galvanised iron pipe which had been renewed about three months previously. Two barrels were used for storing the milk at the yards, being filled alternately and kept falrlv clean..

A sample of the curds and whey from these barrels contained ,0(56 per cent of zinc, which is of more than the minimum toxic strength, and a diagnosis oF poisoning by zinc wa:? confirmed. Source of Poisoning. The milk being pumped through the pipe is fresh, but unless the pipe is thoroughly cleansed afterwards a certain amount will remain in the i pipe and turn sour, the acid so lormcd attacking and dissolving the lining of the pipe. With the next How of milk through pieces of milk-seal'. 4 containing the zinc compound arc swept through and go into solution in the containers. Once the lining of! the pipes has been eaten away and a rusty surface exposed to the milk, the pipes are no longer danger. In, the case described, once the use of the pipe was discontinued the pigs started to pick up, being fed fresh milk and a small quantity of concentrates, which quickly v-vstorcd their appetites and normal health. It might be added that a number of ducks which also eon-'ini':vl thrj milk became lame, but recovered. Precautions. After installing a new pipe for th?< conveyance of skim milk from the shed to the piggery it is arlvisabli to pump water through the pipe each time before milking begins in order to remove any dissolved /inc. which may be lying in the pipes, This washing out of the pipes appears ncccssary for the first and nil washings must be discarded. It will assist in keeping the pipes clean and free Si'om bacterial contamination.

PIG EXPORTS I j NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS The raising of all pig carcases ex- j ported to the United Kingdom to a j minimum of 1011b has meant tliat adjustments will have to be made in the quantities of pig feed used am:l the methods of using it. In a statement. Mr M. J. Scott, superintendent of the Pig Industry, point cd out the necessity of) farmers conserving and supplementing their feed supplies, and outlined suggestions by which, this might be done. "Until changes can he made in the number of pigs carried, so as to adjust the production of baconers with the present feed supply, increased quantities of pig feed will have to be grown and different methods of using it adopted," saul. Mr Scott. "It is no longer a matter of raising pigs to utilise dairy bj'-pro-ducts. Dairy by-products will have to be supplemented by crops and meals, and all feed supplies will have to be used carefully during the next eight months if all the pigs on hand are to be disposed of. "There are three, chief ways by which the present supply of pigs can be turned into baconers. (1) By killing baconers at a lighter weight and using the Peed so saved to take porkers up to a heavier weight; (2) by using extra bought grain and meals; and (3) by using more grass and growing root crops to provide extra /"eed.