The Pig Industry

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20494, 10 May 1938, Page 23 (Supplement)

The Pig Industry

Seasonable Notes

(Extract from “Progress” by “Prospector”.)

Am m rttult of pressure of other work during the laU summer months the pig department of many dairy farms u apt to be neglected to some extent. Because the weather is warm and genial it ie possible at this period to take liberties with growing ■took which would be unwise during the colder months and when the weather is unsettled, but the fact that each season brings with it its own peculiar difficulties should never be overlooked. Litters that have recently been weaned from the summer farrowings provide a case in point. If given their own choice of sleeping quarters at this time of the year pigs of all ages will usually prefer to spend the nights outside and provided there is good overhead shelter in some part of the enclosure to protect them from sudden changes in the weather, no serious results follow. Where shelter is not available and pigs have formed the temporary habit of sleeping outside, there is always the possibility that in the changeable climate which is peculiar to most dairying districts that they will be caught in a sudden downpour of rain, followed by a cold wind in the morning. Instead of taking advantage of their warm quarters that have been discarded for the time baing the pigs remain out in the wet —especially if the rain has started after nightfall—and in order to protect themselves, they huddle together in a compact pyramid-shaped mass. The Origin of Many Troubles. The consequence is that those members forming the heart of the group become over-heated and when exposed to a much colder atmosphere in the morning are an easy prey to chills. This peculiarity of pigs sleeping outside if permitted to do so will perhaps seem a trvial thing to mention, but small things often count for a great deal in successful pig management. It should always be remembered that \ health troubles with pigs are just as frequent in the summer and autumn as at any other time of the year. If the truth were known the origin of most of the troubles caused by pleuresy, pneumonia, and kindred complaints during warm weather could be traced directly to the conditions under which pigs spend the hour.s of darkness. While on the matter of health there are other precautions that require diligent attention, particularly in warm weather, which encourages the growth of germs of all descriptions. A fruitful source of infection is the filthy wallow filled with a putrid mixture of animal liquid containing countless microbes waiting to be picked up. Prevention here is a wise precaution. Again, there is the fermentation that takes place in the pipe conveying the skim milk from the dairy. When this channel is not flashed out daily with clean water the residue remaining between milkings forms gases under the heat of the sun. which are often the origin of trouble. A good plan for keeping the pipe line sweet and clean is to treak down in water a small quantity cf molasses and have the mixture pumped through the pipe once a day, preferably after the morning milking. This not only ensures a clean pipe but the molasses also provides the pigs with an appetising tonic. Scouring of Containers and Troughs. Foul milk containers and troughs aro other fertile sources of contamination, and while it is too much to expect that these utensils can be conveniently cleansed daily, they are all the better for an occasional scouring out. Attention to all these apparently small details pays in the end, and removes much of the unsightly appearance and foul smells usually associated with pig sties. Every one who has had any considerable experience among the keepers of pigs will have met the man who derides any departure from the old easy-going style of management as a lot of new-fangled nonsense. He boasts that without observing these precautions ho finds no trouble in rearing good litters and getting them to maturity and is quite content to atay in the old rut.

While it is admitted that evon under the most adverse conditions pigs appear at times to have most extraordinary powers of resistance to disease thi3 does not occur where any considerable numbers have to be catered for. Our cocksure friend wakes up some morning to find that his special providence has deserted him. It may be that a bun'h cf good forward porkers have suddenly gone of? their food; they may have heading sides, or other visible signs of unthrifteness Maybe he has found from his killing sheet that several baconers in his last consignment have been condemned for T. 8.; or that others have been marked down in value for reasons that make them unexportable. It is then, when his pocket is touched, that he sits up and takes notice and is more amenable to advice, and the adoption of a system of management more conducive to preserving the health of his stock. Preparing for Spring Litters. It is during the present month of May that the foundations are laid for the stock that are to be fattened during next milking season. In the expectation of rearing two litters from j each sow and presuming that the j cows have been mated so as to come into profit during July and August it is generally regarded as sound practice to arrange that the sows will begin to farrow early in July. A suggested ratio of breeding sows to dairy cows would be one sow to every ten or twelve cows, where baconcr pigs are the major objective; and one sow to every seven to nine cows, where weaners, light stores, or porkers are the major objective. Indi--1 vidual farmers will, of course, vary : these proportions to meet their own particular r.eed3, but a warning j note is given against the dangers of overstocking which must be I carefully guarded against. Sows that ! farrowed in January will now be ready ; for mating for litters to be forthcom--1 ing in July. It is better if the timing can be regulated so as to avoid too many sows coming in at the one time. | From two to four, according to the ! total number and the prospective supI ply of food for the piglets lessens the need for a large number of farrow--1 ing houses and makes for better con- ■ trol and attention, f In general, it is not advisable to | lay down hard and fast rules, as each individual farmer will follow the line !of procedure that experience has : proved to be best for his purpose. > Commonsense discretion at all times ;is a good plan to follow In this connection the length of time that elapses between farrowing and the mating for the next litter is an important and frequently-debated question. Quite a large number of farmers make a practice of weaning the i litters at six weeks and having the sow served on the first heat, which occurs about the third day afterwards. Recording Club Experience. While at times it may be expedient to follow this course in order to bring farrowings in line with specified dates ; or to catch an early market with weaners, it is not a good plan for j general adoption. Recording club : experience over thousands of litters ; as well as the results of carefullyconducted feeding trials, go to prove 1 in no uncertain manner that it is during the first few months of its life, es- { pecially just before and after weaning, i that the pig makes the best returns for care and attention. For whatever purpose the animal is to be used for afterwards it is essential that it get a good start in life and eight . weeks of age is plenty soon enough to deprive it entirely of its natural food I supply. Young pigs that are gradually | weaned on to a properly balanced 1 ration in adequate quantities are selj dom afflicted with the manifold dis- , orders due to faulty feeding, or malnutrition. that are becoming all too common now that efforts are being made to intensify pig production, i Weaning at eight weeks enables the i six months sequence between farrowJ ings to be followed at regu-ar dates !in each succeeding year and is far 1 less exhausting on the animal.