THE CARE OF THE PIG.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4450, 7 August 1922, Page 3

THE CARE OF THE PIG.

expert advice given. MR. K. w. GORRINGE AT NGATEA. Although very short net Ice was given over a dozen farmers attended a lecture on the care of the pig. given in the Ngatea school on Friday evening by Mr K. W. Gorringe, instructor in swine husbandry. Mr W. G. Hayward (president of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union) occupied the chair. The address given by Mr Gorringe was both instructive and interesting, and will undoubtedly be of immense value to those directly concerned in the pig industry on the Hauraki Plains. The speaker advised that if he were required on any other occasion, the local people should also endeavour to arrange lectures in other Plains centres. Mr Gorringe said he was shortly issuing a pamphlet on pig reaiing. These were being distributed free of charge, and .he would be pleased to send 200 to the local branch of the Farmers' Union. NEW ZEALAND’S PIG SHORTAGE. Mr Gorringe said he would not go into figures, but when he went into the Department’s employ the dominion's pig supply was short by about 113,000. The war had been blame! for the shortage. Where there were cheese factories there were few pigs, as whey was not suitable for pig nearing. Where there were drie-1 ■milk factories there was nothing left for the pig. The chief factor in the pig shortage, however, was the indifference of the farmers to breed. Most farmers depended upon getting pigs at the sale. Very few farmers went into the cost to produce a pig- ■ Things were only in the experimental stage at present, but as time went on the Department may soon be able to give valuable information on that subject. The pig in America was looked upon as “the” animal, the same as the cow was regarded in Ne v Zealand. Under the heaviest feeding in Air erica it did not cost more than 10 3 >£d per pig per week. The best way was for the farmer to breed his own pigs. The removal and carting to and from saleyards was a big factor in keeping back the growth of) the pig. There would always be a little exchange going on, but he deprecate.! the large sales of pigs. Regarding the pig as a revenue producer Mr Gorringe said a cheque of £3?6 had been obtained from one particular sow, or £9O per year. Had anyone present tine, two, or even three cows which could do that ?

THE IDEAL' PIGGERY. Mr Gorringe produced a plan of a one and a half acre plot, and explained its. use as an ideal piggery. The acres would be subdivided into four separate pastures for the growing of forage crops. No milk food was required to, day to rear pigs, but milk was th® best food if obtainable. Only one feed of skim milk per day (at night-time) on pasturage was required. Ip one section lucerne should be planted ; in another any one pf the following: oats, rape, crimson clover, turnips', or mangolds ; in a third section one of ,the following: Barley, peas, beans, maize, artichokes ; in the fourth section the moveable houses should be built on a grass plot. The cow could not graze in the 114 acres all the year round. It could be done bn lucerne. It had been said that the Hauraki Plains could do it. Mr McDuff : I think we can on good land.

Mr Gorringe : I think so, too. Now, taking the price of 2s 6d per lb '.or butter-fat. Mr Hayward thought a cow could average here £26 in a selected herd. Mr Gorringe: I’ll allow £2O. Then there was the cost of> rearing and the work. The pig grazed. without any work. On 20 acres he could keep 25 brood sows. The pig business to-day was not only an adjunct to the dairy industry, but an industry in itself. If. the animal is looked after and farmed in the ordinary husbandry way it would pay, but not under the conditions the farmers usually kept pigs. The pig was an animal which caught disease very quickly. He did pot blame the farmers for carrying Out the pig business as they do, ’because they had had no instruction, in the matter. It was only the practical man who could . teach about pigs. What was read in books was rubbish.

CLEANLINESS ESSENTIAL. The present was an inopportune time to spend money, but his suggestions should he put into practice at the first opportunity. Most farmers built a small shed and the pigs were kept in it year after year. It soon became infested with parasites and germs. New Zealand was losing per year 100,000 pigs which never got past ihe weaning stage. Millions of germs.congregated in the dust in thesties. The whole plots were often so infested with germs that the little pigs could not live. The cnly way to keep a plot clean was to cultivate it and let the sun get .at it. Twenty minutes of. sun would kill the germs. The pig houses should also get '.he sun. The farmers should do away with the permanent pig buildings and erect portable ones. In selecting a site tamers should avoid wet, lowlying land. The Plains had mostly wet, low-lying ground, but the farmers must do the best they could. FRESH WATER. The pig wanted water, and plenty of it, during* the summer months. Milk only remained liquid till it got to th? stomach, when it became curd. Pigs wanted a gbod fresh water supply, and it was found that the pigs frequently sipped at the water. Theold water-hole was the worst danger spot in the pig run. The pigs wallowed in it to kill the lijce with .which they were infested. The pig could take in six types of worms. WANDERING PIGS. Regarding fences, he said wandering pigs could be shot or a trespass fee could be obtained —is for the first time, and it doubled itself every time the l>»g trespassed, A Voice: What if a man has no money ? Mr Gorringe : The magistrate would settle that. Mr Coppins said it was illegal to shoot pigs..

Mr Gorringe said the law may have been revised. Very few farmers wished to shoot. There were always one or two farmers who let their pigs run loose, and when he mentioned that fact at meetings he always saw those present turn round “tp see if; Bill was there.” He advocated good fences and to keep on good terms with the neighbours. A pig seldom wished to break out when he had plenty of feed, bu,t when he was half- .starved he was irresistible. A six-barb fence with plain wire on top of that was suitable. The pig could not stand damps, colds, or excessive heat, so that shelter along the fences was advisable. Instead of lucerne on one plot timothy or the Canadian blue grass or clover could be planted. Pigs liked green grass about six inches high.

For a larger area for, say, 20 acres, the plot should have a chain alleyway up the centre of the plot, and each side of the plot subdivided into small paddocks. FOOD VALUE. Artichokes were to be the pigs food for the future, as they were very hard to eradicate. It was the highest feeding root of anything that would grow. Maize grain should not be fed to a baebner in any large quantities ; to others it was all right. Replying to Mr Clare, Mr Gorringe said limber floors should be used every time, and avoid concrete. Pigs required comfortable housing. BREEDS. There were 27 distinct breeds of pigs, of which there were only six pure breeds, continued Mr Gorringe. All the rest had been manufactured. Those w.ho imported the good types of pigs into New Zealand bad done a valuable service. The saddle-back pig was a natural grazer, and conformed well to the bacon type, but it was not likely that they would get it here. The Berkshire, Tamworth, an! Devon were all good pigs. There were t,he Westfield market for export, for local markets, and the baeor. pig which was sent Home and cured and sold as Danish bacon, If they were going in for pork production they must go in for purebred an ! - mals. A pig should, if properly fed, be 801 b in weight in 80 days—a pound weight for each day. The purebred Berkshire and Yorkshire were good porkers. There was no purebred animal which would make the best bacon pig. AH the best baconers were crossbreeds. The Berkshire and Yorkshire were taken for the grounding. The Devon was a fine pig in England, but not too good in New Zealand. He would not suggest Devons to the farmers here. The Tamworth was the best as a forrager and a gnubber, but he did not fatten. The Tamworth crossed on a Berkshire or Yorkshire would be a good cross-breed. Denmark now led the world in bacon production. He extolled the merits of the Tamworth cross. He had asked Mr S C. Baron, of the N.Z. Bacon and Meat Packing Co., if his company would give the farmer who. brjed the Tamworth cross a bonus. Mr Baron had said that as far as he was concerned he would. About 100,000 or 150,000 sows were required to build up the herds in New Zealand. He was agreeably surprised on his trip from Paeroa to Ngatea that day to see so many Tamworths and cross Tamworths,

ABOUT COl OPERATION. There was no hope for the farmer if the proprietary concerns were to operate, continued Mr Gorringe. Cooperation was essential, but disloyalty on the part of ,the shareholders in co-operative concerns was rife in New Zealand to-day. They would go to the man buying at a little higher price In Denmark a shareholder ii a co-eperative concern was fined for ev3ry pig sold to a proprietary concern QUESTION TIME. Mr Parle asked the causes of soies which were difficult to cure. Mr Gorringe said it may be a variety at tumour. Pigs were also susceptib’e to mange. This was preventable by cleanliness in the piggery. Mr Dudding: What is the cause of lameness in the feet ? Mr Gorringe : Sometimes by parasites between the feet, picked up from dirty pig houses.

Mr Parle asked if there was any cure for weak backs.

- Mr Gorringe said it was often the kidney worm, for which there was no cure.

Mr McDuff said he had heard of mangolds killing pigs in Ngatea. Mr Gorringe said they may not kitl pigs, but green mangolds would make them scour. To Mr Laurence Mr Gorringe said pigs must not be fed on raw meat. Mr Clare asked at what age should the little pigs be weaned. Mr Gorringe replied that for two litters a year not later than nine weeks. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Gorringe for his interesting and instructive lecture. In proposing the vote of thanks Mr Hayward said: “We’ve got the pigs, and we only need the knowledge.” Mr Gorringe would be welcomed on the Plains at some future date.