WEANING WEIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1938, Page 3

WEANING WEIGHTS

POINTS FOR PIG BREEDERS. As in every other business, attention to details is necessary in the piggery if the best possible returns are to be obtained, and neglect of any one part of the business from the mating of the sow to the marketing of the progeny as porkers or baconers will be reflected in a reduction in the profits from the piggery. One of the most important points to be watched is the weight of pigs weaned from each sow. The experience of breeders and records of research work have shown conclusively that heavy litter weights at weaning time are true indication of efficiency in breeding, feeding and management. It has also been shown that from the weight of pigs at weaning time it is possible to anticipate with a degree of accuracy the rate of growth of those pigs from weaning to baconer stage. This really means that the heavier- the pig is at eight weeks of age the less time it will take for it to reach a weight of, say, 1701 b. Fast growth is important to the pig farmer, because it means less risk, a quicker turnover, and a saving of maintenance food. The weights of individual pigs of the litter, however, are not the only matters to be considered. The total litter weight at weaning is the important factor, and this, of course, is influenced by the number of pigs in the litter. Although the average weight per pig in litters of six is usually higher than the average weight per pig in litters of ten,, the total litter weight of ten pigs will usually be better than the total litter weight of six pigs; therefore numbers are important. As prolificacy is inherited, it is necessary to breed from pigs belonging to productive families, and also to feed and care for the breeding stock so as to enable it to produce to the limit of its capacity.