Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Western Australia, Series 4
Volume 2
Number 8 August, 1961 Article 9
1-1-1961
It pays to breed your own pigs It pays to breed your own pigs
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
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Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Department of Agriculture, Western Australia (1961) "It pays to breed your own pigs," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 2: No. 8, Article 9.
Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol2/iss8/9
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It pays to breed your own pigs It pays to breed your own pigs
Erratum Erratum
Attached to Identical twins Department of Agriculture, Western Australia Vol 2 No 8 p 650
This article is available in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4:
https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol2/iss8/9
ON THE DAIRY FARM
•
Seasonal Notes from the Dairying Division
IDENTICAL TWINS
T
HE response to the Department's appeal for identical twin calves has been gratify- ing, and so far this year five sets have been located and collected. In view of the rare occurrence of identical twinning, this indicates excellent co-operation from dairy farmers.The twins collected this year have been placed on the Bundibup Research Station, Wokalup, and are already being used in a relatively simple calf feeding trial. As the calves mature they will be used in further highly important studies, particu- larly feeding, breeding, and management investigations.
Farmers are reminded that identical twins are still needed, and will be needed each year from now on. They are wanted
as soon as possible after birth, preferably before they are more than a week old.
Brief details of sire, dam, feeding and any other information which will help give some background to animals to be used for future research should also be given, if possible, at the time of collection.
Pictured is an attractive set of identical twins collected from Mr. H. D. Styles, of Manjimup.
GET READY FOR SILAGE MAKING
P
ADDOCKS for silage cutting should have been closed up by now in all dairying districts, except, perhaps, the lower south coast.Early cutting of silage is recommended, for a variety of reasons. These include:
• It gives an aftermath of high quality regrowth, which is valu- able for either green or dry graz- ing.
• Early cut material makes higher quality silage.
• Better pastures, with a higher clover content, will be obtained next season.
Whatever paddocks are closed up—and good pasture paddocks make the best
silage—it is important that they should be clear of sticks, large stones, wire and so on, and any stumps should be clearly pegged or marked so that valuable machinery will not be damaged during the harvesting operations.
The silage making machines should be checked over before it is time to start cutting, to avoid costly breakdowns, and suitable sites for stacking, clamping or pitting the cut material should be selected.
These should be well drained and easily accessible to machines or stock.
649 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 8, 1961
EAR TAGS TO IDENTIFY CALVES
P
OSITIVE identification of young calves is often a problem for t h e dairy farmer, especially w h e r e t h e calves are similar in colour and m a r k i n g s , or w h e r e young calves a r e b r o u g h t in from outside t h e farm. I t is dangerous t o a t t e m p t to rely on memory for l a t e r identification.Under t h e rules of artificial breeding all dairy calves got by insemination m u s t be m a r k e d by field operators or herd recorders. T h e inseminator or recorder m a k e s fairly frequent visits, but it is essential t h a t t h e young calves should be accurately identified in a temporary way u n t i l h e c a n m a k e p e r m a n e n t tattoos.
A simple m e t h o d of ensuring positive identification is t o use coloured plastic ear tags, w h i c h are readily available in a big
variety of colours. I t is easy t o a t t a c h a n ear t a g shortly after t h e b i r t h of each calf so t h a t t h e r e will be n o c h a n c e of error when t h e t a t t o o is done
As well as being i m p o r t a n t to t h e f a r m e r himself, correct identification is i m p o r t - a n t to t h e success of sire surveys. A h a p h a z a r d approach to calf identification introduces a risk of wrong information being used in t h e surveys.
IT PAYS TO BREED YOUR OWN PIGS
o
NE of t h e most i m p o r t a n t decisions to be made by a pig raiser is w h e t h e r to pur- chase store pigs w h i c h h e will f a t t e n for m a r k e t , or t o breed h i s own stock.Some people like t o buy stores because it is considered a speculative enterprise t h a t m a y give a quick r e t u r n , whilst others with small piggeries do not wish to carry t h e overhead expense of keeping a boar, w i t h only two or t h r e e sows. These small farmers could possibly have their sows m a t e d to neighbours' boars b u t t h e r e may be several reasons a g a i n s t this. For i n - stance t h e r e is t h e c h a n c e of introducing disease a n d also t h e trouble of t r a n s p o r t - ing t h e sows t o t h e boar, possibly several times, all of w h i c h is unsatisfactory.
A seasonal increase i n t h e feed supply, particularly w i t h products such as skim- milk, usually creates a strong d e m a n d for weaners a n d slips, a n d these are usually expensive.
T h e final decision on w h e t h e r or n o t to buy pigs m a y also be affected by t h e feel- ing of t h e grower t h a t h e lacks good facili- ties for breeding, or t h a t his a t t e m p t s have failed because of a h i g h piglet mortality.
Buying store pigs m a y be considered economically sound in some cases, b u t this practice always carries c e r t a i n risks.
Store pigs are largely of unknown quality. The buyer does not always know what s t a n d a r d of feeding or m a n a g e m e n t they were subjected to before r e a c h i n g t h e market. A farmer normally keeps his best weaners for fattening u p to t h e p o r k e r or baconer stage, so t h a t t h e store pig is commonly a cull which h a s been rejected because of poor growth, disease, or bad breeding.
Despite t h e a p p a r e n t good h e a l t h of pigs in t h e saleyard t h e r e is also a serious danger of introducing diseases, s u c h as paratyphoid, leptosperosis or virus p n e u - monia.
A farmer may often lose money because he c a n n o t purchase t h e class of pig which h e requires, or h e m a y be forced to pay h i g h prices for w e a n e r s a n d slips, especially when t h e r e is a strong d e m a n d during t h e seasonal flush of skim milk.
650
For highest profits it is best to avoid buying pigs, a n d concentrate on efficient production of f a r m grown animals. Carry a s m a n y sows as you can over t h e year.
Overhead costs of keeping sows can be kept down by a t t e n t i o n to these two f u n d a m e n t a l p o i n t s :
1. Reduce Piglet Mortality.
Good sow m a n a g e m e n t , use of a recom- mended type of farrowing pen which will protect new-born piglets, a n d good control of piglets diseases should keep piglet d e a t h s to a minimum.
2. Make t h e Most Efficient Possible Use of t h e Feed Available.
For example, to avoid wasting sows should be m a t e d so t h a t they farrow six weeks before 20 per cent, of t h e cows are due to calve. T h e piglets will t h e n be ready to use t h e flush skim milk when it comes. If t h e r e is a surplus of skim milk, give some t h o u g h t to preserving it as curd, in which form it can be stored for long periods. When little or no fresh skim milk
DON'T NEGLECT THE VACUUM REGULATOR
T
HE relief valve or vacuum regulator is a most important component of t h e milking machine, as it determines t h e vacuum level for milking and enables full use to be made of t h e reserve air.I n order to obtain maximum efficiency from any type of regulator it is necessary to clean it frequently a n d to ensure t h a t moving p a r t s are free to operate. T h e small air admission holes should receive special attention.
I n the case of spring loaded poppet types it is advisable to "grind t h e m i n " occasion- ally to ensure t h a t the valve and seat faces are mated.
is available in t h e summer, curd is useful as a feed for sows.
Grain, which often has to be carted long distances, is an expensive pig feed for dairy farmers. Potatoes are usually readily available in dairy areas, and used as a p a r t replacement of grain, they often prove much cheaper. They are best cooked before feeding to pigs. Four pounds of potatoes will replace one pound of grain.
When it is possible to hammermill a h i g h quality lucerne or clover hay this product can be a useful protein supple- m e n t for breeding sows, but it h a s t h e limitation of a high fibre content, a n d for growing pigs its use should therefore be restricted.
Green grazing is a very cheap feed for pigs over the weaner stage because it is a source of minerals, Vitamin A a n d protein, and if plentiful it can halve t h e animal protein supplement (such as meatmeal) which should normally be fed.
If at least some of these suggestions are carried out the farmer should find it more profitable to breed his own pigs.
Surveys conducted by t h e Dairying Division have revealed t h a t many machines are equipped with obsolete relief valves; others have been fitted with modern weighted types in accordance with d e p a r t m e n t a l recommendations. T h e sur- vey results h a v e also shown t h a t t h e m a i n t e n a n c e on all types of regulators is usually very poor.
I n general, t h e vacuum regulator a p - peared to be t h e most neglected component i n t h e milking machines examined.
Journal of Agriculture, Vol 2 No 8, 1961
DAY OLD CHICKS
Australorp, R.I. Red, New Hampshire, First Cross, Kriss Kross, White Leghorns
Pullets and Unsexed.
All chicks hatched are from our own trapnested and progeny tested stock.
STARTED PULLETS Bookings from September onwards.
Price List on request.
WEXHAM HATCHERY, Epsom Avenue, REDCLIFFE, 6 5543.
WEXHAM POULTRY STUD, Berkshire Road, FORRESTFIELD.
THE M O N E Y TREE!
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MARKET. There is a keen Australia-wide demand for Olives, both from individuals and from public companies.
YIELDS. 60 to 80 lbs. of choice fruit is the general thing with young bearing trees, many produce a great deal more.
VALUE. Lowest price ever is approximately 2/- pei lb. but, Top Grades, 3 / - and better.
FODDER. There is no waste with Olives . . . Sheep, Cattle, Pigs and Poultry all thrive on any not harvested for the market . . . and they put on weight amazingly.
SHADE. It is better to have these wonderful shade- trees shedding Olive fodder instead of gumnuts, and Remember . . .
OLIVE TREES ARE DISEASE and PEST FREE!
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