ARCHIVE FILE
This article was published in 1942
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.
MIXED FARMING LEADS TO STABILISATION
By M. C. FRANKLIN. McMaster Animal Health Laboratory.
"We must open our minds widely to the acceptance of new ideas, of improvisation, of changes, and, above all, get rid for ever of the last vestiges of 'it can't be done'."
With these words Mr. Max Henry, Chief of the Division of Animal Industry. N.S.W. Department of Agriculture, closed the opening article in your 1940 yearbook. He has not been the first to advocate the acceptance of such a sound and rational policy.
What would have happened to Danish agriculture in the last century if it had not adopted a bold policy in the change-over from grain production to dairying and pig raising? The change saved Denmark from bankruptcy. How much more serious might be the position in the dairying districts of this country if dairy by-products were not utilised in pig-raising? To what extent could the dairying position be improved by further expansion of the pig industry? How many farmers have merely tolerated the efforts of their women folk to get a little pocket money for themselves from poultry but have later, when adverse conditions seriously affected the major farming activities, been grateful for the assistance of this once despised side-line? How many farmers have found when wheat prices have been low that the wheat could be more profitably harvested and sold through their livestock? How often in many of our cattle raising areas have animals been brought to a suitable marketing stage but have had to be carried through another season just because feed conditions became unfavourable a few weeks too soon, a feed condition at which the grazier need not have worried did he but realise just how cheaply those beasts could have been topped-off on some of his cheap home-produced grain? And so on.
The examples could be multiplied. Many instances could be quoted where men have profited from a consideration of points such as these. Some of these men have graduated through that best of Universities—the University of Hard Knocks. Some have profited by the experience of others. But, unfortunately, too many still do not appreciate sufficiently the advantages to be gained from diversified fanning.
No attempt will be made here to discuss fully the variety of points which we have raised above. Rather, at the present time when pig producing interests are repeatedly warning us that we are facing a serious shortage of pig products in Australia and when efforts are being made to expand the industry, a few observations on means of effecting such an expansion may be of interest.
Where Should Expansion Take Place?
In pig raising, feed costs may total 75 per cent. of the total expenses. Obviously, therefore, any recommendations made for an expansion of the pig industry must give first consideration to that most important item—the feed.
More than with any other class of animal—with the possible exception of poultry—pig rations must consist mainly of concentrated foods and, in addition, maximum efficiency in food utilisation, which is an additional requirement in successful pork and bacon production, demands that there be a reasonable balance between carbohydrate- rich or energy producing feedstuffs and protein-rich or flesh forming feeds.
Consideration of this will immediately suggest two areas where expansion of the pig industry could and should take place—in our dairying districts where skim-milk, butter-milk or other dairy by-products can provide the cheap home-produced protein concentrate, or in our grain-producing areas where cheap supplies of the carbohydrate concentrates can be produced in abundance.
The problems in these two areas will be different. For maximum efficiency and optimum returns from his skim-milk the dairy farmer will require cheap supplements of cereal grains or other carbohydrate-rich foods, whereas in grain-producing areas cheap protein-rich supplements are an essential for successful and economic pig-raising.
Obviously, no one is better situated than the local agricultural advisory officer to assist the primary producer in these areas and since his advise must, of necessity, pay heed to the economic returns to the producer, some consideration of this aspect may be of interest in this article.
Pig Production On Dairy Farms.
The days when skim-milk was regarded more as a nuisance than a blessing have passed. However, there are still many who do not yet realise that pig rearing on skim-milk alone or skim milk with minimum quantities of other feedstuffs is a wasteful, uneconomic business. On dairy farms skim-milk should be regarded as that vital something which gives the punch to a pig ration; to what would, in its absence, be a poor, unbalanced feed. Reasonable care in rationing skim-milk could, on the majority of our dairy farms, allow for a large expansion of the pig population there and should increase the gross return to the dairy farmer. The increased pig profits, if credited to butter-fat prices, would make the position of the dairy fanner a happier one.
To effect such a change it would be essential that carbohydrate-rich supplements should be made available to the dairy farmers at a price which would be so attractive that they would be encouraged to expand their pig numbers along the lines indicated. And obviously, here in Australia, the carbohydrate feeds should be drawn from our grain supplies—barley, maize or wheat. All can and have been fed successfully to pigs.
Return from Grain and Skim-Milk.
Apart from considerations such as satisfactory housing, the quantity of feed required to take a pig to the porker or to the baconer stage will depend on two main factors, the type of pig and the proportion of grain fed with the skim-milk.
Under average conditions, 380 gallons of skim-milk, if fed alone, will produce 1001b. of liveweight in a pig grown for the porker trade. This would yield a carcase of approximately 701b. Similar results may by achieved by feeding 290 gallons of skim-milk and 801b. grain. 160 gallons of milk and 2001b grain, or 50 gallons of milk and 3001b. grain.
The comparison becomes of greater value if we consider the return we might expect per gallon of skim-milk fed under these different conditions. These are set out in the following table.
Where heavy grain feeding is practiced various standards have been advanced for the protein-supplement requirements of pigs. Where a protein supplement such as meat meal or fish meal was being added to the grain ration, the percentage of protein supplement could be as follows:—
| Up to 1001b. liveweight | 10 per cent. of ration. |
| 100 to 1501b. liveweight | 5 per cent, of ration. |
| 150 to 2001b. liveweight | 2½ per cent. of ration. |
Some authorities might even consider eliminating the protein supplement entirely at the 150/200lb. liveweight stage, but considering the problem where a single cereal would make up the grain portion of the ration limited supplementation with additional protein right up to baconer weight would probably be desirable. Approximately 501b. of meat meal would satisfy the above requirements.
But meat meal is expensive, supplies are not always readily available, and all brands are not equally palatable to livestock.
A cheaper source of protein is available. In many districts old "killer" sheep are readily obtainable at a reasonable price and if these were skinned the remainder of the carcase, including the intestines and their contents, could be boiled down for admixture with the grain ration. Some might prefer to boil a little grain with the carcase swill while the remainder of the grain was self fed. However, while we do not propose to discuss feeding technique here, an interesting analysis of the gross return can be made. One killer of, say, 801b. liveweight would provide approximately 131b. of protein and 161b. of fat.
Fifty pounds of meat meal (see above) would contain 25-30lb. of protein according to quality, so that two "killers" providing 261b. of protein and 321b. of fat should provide adequate protein supplementation for one pig reared to the baconer stage.
The total quantity of feed (expressed as pounds of meal—or grain—equivalent) necessary for one pig from birth to 200 liveweight will vary from 700-900lb., according to the efficiency with which the animals are raised. The protein and fat in the two killers would be equal in feeding value to approximately 100lb. of grain-equivalent. Hence the actual grain fed would range from 600-8001b. For wheat, this would be 10-13⅓ bushels.
With wheat at 3/6¾ per bushel, the grain would cost 35/7 to 46/8.
A 2001b. liveweight baconer fed on such a ration should dress out at 1501b. carcase weight or possibly slightly higher. At seven pence per pound the gross return would be £4/7/6 which would give a gross return for each killer (excluding value of the skin) of 20/6 to 25/-.
Droughts. Sheep and Pigs.
The above calculations may cause the thoughts of some to go back to the severe drought through which New South Wales has recently passed. Heavy sheep losses occurred on many properties and in some districts a 20 per cent. loss was not uncommon.
Consider what could have been done with pigs on a 5,000 sheep property if 1,000 sheep had been killed and fed along with grain to pigs. In the first place sheep stocking would have been lightened and grazing, limited though it might have been, would have been less severe.
One thousand sheep taken out as killers, two killers per baconer. would mean that 500 baconers could have been reared on the property. Assuming two litters per year. and that seven pigs per litter were reared per sow, 36 sows would have been required.
The labour required would depend in a large measure upon the judgment and enthusiasm of the person controlling such a scheme. Various authorities have stated that one man can attend with suitable equipment to pig holdings ranging from 20 to 50 sows. On the smaller holding, efficient management should produce 240 to 280 porkers or baconers annually; on the larger, 600 to 700 porkers or baconers should be produced. Consequently, one man, with perhaps occasional assistance, should be able to handle the number of pigs quoted in the above example.
The gross return from the 500 pigs with bacon at 7d. per pound would be £2,187/10/-.
Grain required, allowing an average of 12 bushels of wheat per pig, would be 500 baconers, 6,000 bus.; 36 sows, 1,200 bus.; Total, 7,200 bushels; so that the cost of grain with wheat at 36¾d. per bushel would be £1,286/10/-.
There would, of course, be difficulties at the present time in implementing a scheme on grain producing properties whereby pigs could be reared. Difficulty in obtaining supplies of suitable pig netting might be overcome satisfactorily by using, as some are doing, electric fences. Material for the provision of suitable housing and watering facilities is difficult to obtain. However, it should be emphasised that capital expenditure could be kept at a low figure and suitable facilities provided by profiting from the experience of others who have made a success of pig rearing in grain-producing areas. In this connection the writer considers that he could not do better than recommend a careful study of the following two articles published in the December, 1940 issue of the West Australian Journal of Agriculture—"Management and Housing of the Pig under Wheatbelt Conditions," by W. M. Nunn, and "Pigs —Management and Feeding," by G. K. Baron-Hay.
At the present time, when problems of how to increase bacon production and disposal of surplus wheat are engaging the attention of those directly concerned with these two important Australian primary industries, some consideration of the above problem along the lines suggested may prove interesting, provocative, and profitable.