DEVELOPING THE PIG INDUSTRY

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 362, 17 February 1937, Page 3

DEVELOPING THE PIG INDUSTRY

HINTS TO FARMERS ON THE PRODUCTION OF GOOD LITTERS.

Department of Agriculture Notes by M. J. Scott, 8.A.,8.5c.

Rearing the Litter.

Attention given to a litter from birtii to weaning probably returns more satisfaction to the owner than is returned for care spent on pigs at any other time of their lives. The litter is the pig harvest, and as with crops, harvest is the time when topee and fears are realised. When the harvest is abundant satisfaction results not only from the material reward but also from the knowledge that effort spent was not in vain. Just at' the abundance of the harvest is paramount in the profits of a I. farm, so the excellence of the litter is the foundation of profitable pigs. All animals at birth have a decided inclination to grow rapidly, the socalled “growth force,” and if this is destroyed by their being kept under Conditions unsuitable for growth, the animal loses its ability to resist infection or to eliminate from its sys- I tem poisonous by-products associated with digestion. These infections manifest in the weakly and usually blamed for their poor health and growth, are secondary in nature. They are present everywhere, but do . not appear in the thrifty pig simply because he has higher powers’ of resistance. The thrifty weaner is thus the foundation of the profitable baconer. Feed the Litter. It is generally agreed that for the first three weeks the piglets get all their nourishment from their ; mother’s milk, and for this reason the three wteeks’ weight has been used as a measure of sow quality, milking capacity, etc. At three to four weeks the tow appears to have reached her maximum milking capac'fty, but the feed requirements of the litter continues to increase daily, and feed other than their mother's milk is necessary if the piglets are to grpw as as nature meant them to. It is just the same with pigs as with lambs, except that the latter can collect from grass whatever food they require to supplement their milk, whereas the owner has

to supply it for the piglet. It must be realised that the piglets have to learn to eat and therefore that it is necessary to provide appetising food offered in small amounts when they are hungry until they eat it readily. Sows. 1 are often turned out during the day. and if a little slim milk and meat meal is placed before the piglets when they are being taught to eat, just before the sow comes in, they are more likely to be interested than if it is put down while the sow is present and ready to supply them. Once they have begun to eat it does not matter so much 'v.’hen they are fed.

Creep Feeding.

The Waikato Pig Recording Club have achieved splendid results by using a creep through which the piglets get access to their feed eupply, and which keeps the sow from it. The creep is easily made by spacing boards with eight inch openings between them across top and bottom, four by twos that are nailed across the corner of the sty. The trough is put behind this in the corner, and the little pigs get through the openings, It has been found that pigs fed on the creep system average about 10 pounds better at eight weeks than where no creep is provided, but Where the piglets nevertheless have access to the trough along with the sow. Further, it has been found that the final weights at eight weeks are in keeping with the amount of feed used in the creep. While 10 pounds of feed per piglet gives 401 b weaners, 151 b per piglet gives 451 b weaners. Creep feeding is fundamentally sound because it ensures no ch&ck on the pigs at weaning, and so makes it possible to keep them going till they are 12 to 14 w’Efeks old. After this.' age, pigs that are well grown can be put on to any class of feed without feerious reaction on their health, and often with splendid results from the economic point of view. Too many make the mistake of using unsuitable feeds in large* quantities as soon as the pigs arc weaned. Amounts of Feed. It is usually reckoned that an average-sized low wants six pounds of feed or gallons of milk per day for maintenance, and a pound of feed or a gallon of milk per piglet, while suckling the litter. While this is a useful guide it is unwise to lay down

any hard and fast amounts. Successful feeding depends on the intelligqiA observation and experience of the owner, and it is his obligation to feed his animals as much as they will eat in, say, 20 minutes, and keep Yieon looking for their meal when i feeding time comes round. For the | first three weeks the sow will prob- ' ably take the vJliole 12 gallons. At i five weeks she may be getting 10 I gallons, and the litter two gallons, and at eight weeks she may he getting eight gallons and a litter of eight six gallons. If the sow Ts getting thin she wants mere feed, if fat. less. Where lows are turned out to

grass they can often get all their maintenance ais pasture and, this along with two or three gallons, may suffice as v-’eauing-time approaches. Set-backs to the Litter. Up to three weeks most litters experience very little trouble unless it be from scours. This probably arises always from some infection picked up in the sty, and it is most difficult to

combat. -Treatment of the sow is probably the most satisfactory way. A dose of salts so as to check the milk flow for 24 hours and so give the litter a mild starve is probably quite useful. Many owners have great faith in different kinds of mineral licks, especially those *conthining iron, since anaemia of the little pig is often blamed for babyhood upsets. One of the most noticeable happcnhigs when a litter 'is let out from theVsty for thb first time, is the avidity with Which they consume ordinary soil. Each pig must eat ounces of it in the first few hours. Investigators the world over have offered explanations of this soileating proclivity, and in view of these investigations and of the already wide adoption of the practice of putting a fresh sod of earth into the little pigs that are in sties, tlfb department recommends it itrongly. Soil possesses valuable absorbing properties for some of the byproducts of digestion. It contains suitably low concentration of essential elements such as lime, phosphorus. Potash, soda, magnesium, iron, chlorine, sulphur, and most soil contains those mysterious trace elements which appear to be just as essential to health as many of the better-known minerals are. Fresh soil that is free from internal parasites may satisfy the pig’s desire for exploring the floor of his sty, and so reduce the possibility of picking up infection that gets into the sty by various channels. Give the little pigs clean soil in preference to dirt brought in on the sow’s udder.