MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 27 (Supplement)

MODERN PIG-KEEPING

Whey Feeding. The faot has been conclusively demonstrated that those who make a success of whey feeding do so because the whey four or five times a day, on the principle of little and often, and that those who fail with whey feeding fail because they only feed the whey in large quantities two or, at the most, three times a day. It Is easy to understand why the frequent feeding of whey makes all the difference. The stomach of the pig Is simple in comparison with the stomachs of other animals. The pig possesses a small stomach, and having a long Intestinal canal, with strong digestive functions, it requires to eat frequently. It is claimed that with frequent eating and active digestion, which proceeds rapidly while the animal rests and sleeps, the pig is able to put on more flesh than any other animal during the usual finishing process. Digestive troubles and diseases of animals, and giving at long intervals a big quantity of liquid food is bad for the pig in more ways than one. It is certainly not good for it and quite prevents it making the rapid gains in weight of which it is capable.

Wasteful Feeding. Pigs are wasteful creatures In their manner of feeding, and a good deal of the loss that 'occurs in this direction may be prevented by taking a little care. Waste is bound to result from over feeding, giving the pigs too much food at a time, so that instead of clearing it up quickly they poke some of it out of the trough or leave it to get-sour. It is really better to err a little on the other side and give the I pigs rather less than they want than j to give them too much. Once you put a pig off his feed through giving him 100 much or too rich food it may take him some time to get him back again. Besides wasted food there will also bo waste of money through the time lost owing to the interruption of steady progress.. Food that is left in the trough long enougli to go sour spoils the next Jot put in, and when that is allowed to happen the pigs may refuse to touch the food. Any food left over from a previous meal sh .uid he cleared out before fresh food is given. That is waste, of course. Mit it is better to lose a little that way Ilian to spoil the 'next food ns well. Unless tlie pigs J are off their feed for some oilier ' good reason the first lot of food should | have been completely cleared up. Linseed Oil. Giving a weekly dose of some linseed oil lo the pigs is one of the best means of keeping them in good health. It acts as an excellent bowel

corrective and gives the pigs a great bloom. The dose -should range from a tablespoonful for young pigs to a cupful for sows. These amounts should not be exceeded as there is a danger in an oil food making for a soft fat, a bad market defeot. Recently we saw a line of pigs whlo-h received Ihelr weekly dose of oil, on the advice of the Recording Officer of the Waikato Pig Rcoordlng and Research Association, which not only looked tho picture of health, giving a remarkable bloom on them, but they were averaging In weight gain no less than 1$ lb. a day.

Show Competitions. Competitions for porkers and baconers at our live stock shows can be of great educational value. They can also provide an excellent advertisement for New Zealand pig products when hung up for exhibition on the Smithfleld market. But this Is only the case where the competitions are conducted In a proper manner. Carelessly designed and carried out they can be of little educative value and can provide a thoroughly bad advertisement on the Home market. In the first case a definite range of weights should be stipulated. In the case of porkers there 6hould be a limit of weight from 60 lb. to 80 lb. Yet in one class at least last year there was no restriction as to weight, porkers being shown ranging In weight from 47 lb. to 103 lb. Obviously this exhibition had the very contrary effect to what should be aimed at. It was of little or no educative value to farmers visiting the show, while a line of the pigs hung up, as they were, in a Smithfleld stall was about the worst advertisement New Zealand has yet had. Uniformity Is a vital market consideration, and It 1s time every show executive realised this fact.

* * * • Breeds In Australia. In Vol. XXVI. of the Australian Herd Book the breeds were registered to the following extent: Berkshtrcs 754, Middle Whites 364, Large Whites 890, Tamworths 433, Large Blacks 17, Poland Chinas 8, Duroc Jerseys 7, Wessex Saddlebacks 19. The Australian Society is in a very strong position. It has £2500 in a reserve fund. There are 462 members. * * * * Breeds In New Zealand. During the last three months the registrations with the New Zealand Pig Breeders’ Association have been as follows: Tamworths 387, Berkshires 309, Large Whites 74, Large Blacks 66, Middle Whites I. * * * * Te Rapa Sale. The tenth annual sale of the Te Rapa stud is to take place at Hamilton (in the pig pavilion on the Showgrounds) on Thursday, May 28. This noted stud Is one of the very few studs in this country where the sows are all recorded and where every pig born Is officially identified immediately after birth. The pigs, too, arc reared under absolutely naiural conditions. Mr Chllcott ts noted for his capacity as a breeder and for 1 1 is fair dealing. Practically all tho Berkshire stock are descended from imported animals. His latest imported Canadian hoar was declared by a recent visit to tho Btud, a

particularly keen critic, as one of Uit best Berkshires he had ever seen, his top line being exceptional, while he lias a remarkably good shoulder. The Tamworth sows combine Canadian, Australian and the great Wliata strain, while several of the matrons are of pure Imported blood. The offering is not so large as at some past animal sales of the stud, as culling has been more drastic than usual. The standard of the pigs to be sold will be, therefore, particularly high. Catalogues may be obtained from tho owner, Te Rapa, or from Dalgety’s.