MONEY IN PIGS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1839, 13 June 1918, Page 1

MONEY IN PIGS.

A correspondent in the Daily Mail supplies some interesting information on the subject of pig-raising in England and food shortage:— Whether pig-breeding would pay if all foodstuffs had to be bought for Mrs Pig and her large family is doubtful at present prices, but if you have a field and a garden and an orchard why then it does pay. It also pays that man within reach of a big camp or town, though he prefers to buy, not breed, and to fatten only. It pays me to breed pigs. From February, 1917, to February, 1918, the progeny of two sows were sold for £9O. Some were sold, small, at £l. Some at four months, some at six, eight, or nine months, fattened for pork or bacon. My two sows, one a pure Berkshire, the other one a dark “large black” blood, regularly present mo with two litters a year. The autumn litters I sell when quite young, keep three only to grow on; while the spring litters are all kept. It is far easier to feed pigs economically in , summer and autumn than in winter ; and spring, as the young pigs and j sows graze in the field or orchard. 1 As the young grow they get more and more of the farm and garden waste, ending up in the autumn with pumpkins and acorns, in addition to whey, separated milk, and their other food. So that by the time the cold weather comes in November (bacon weather) several sleek follows arc waiting to be killed for pork and small bacon. In normal times it paid to feed them on till they waxed exceeding fat and became the hideous thing the bacon hog who could hardly walk, or see out of his greedy eyes for fat. Now, with barley meal a memory only, and “toppings” reduced to vanishing point, the large baconor is only for those with quantities of kitchen or camp waste at their command. For one’s own table thq smaller pig is far better eating, especially “dairy fed,” when the flavour is very delicate. j The autumn litters go to market, and as the man who feeds near the big towns has to collect the garbage all the year round, he is willing to give a good price for the small pigs, a price' varying from £1 to 355,