Animal Sciences Commons^™

Individual Sow Feeders, P Mcnamara

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FOOD is the major cost in any pig enterprise and it is particularly easy for waste to occur in the breeding herd.

Individual feeders enable the pigman to feed each sow according to her need, and enable the sows to eat their feed slowly or quickly as they choose.

Did This Cause This? [Sarcoptic Mange Of Pigs], F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The mite on the left was detected by using a microscope with a magnification of 100 times to examine a skin scraping taken from the above pig.

This confirmed the suspicion that sarcoptic mange mites were the cause of the skin lesions.

Skim Milk : Is A Valuable Pig Feed, But It Should Be Balanced By Other Foods, P Mcnamara, R. Sprivulis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

SKIM milk is a source of high quality protein, and as such is a valuable feed for young pigs.

Pigs will live and grow on skim milk alone, but it is not a balanced food. You will not get the best out of the milk or the pigs if the diet is not balanced by other foods.

The Baconer Carcass Competition : A Guide To Better Quality Pigs, P Mcnamara

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

TO PROMOTE the ever-increasing trade with Britain and encourage quality production, the Australian Meat Board sponsored the 1937 All Australian Baconer and Pork carcass competition.

Pig-Pox, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE lesions of pig-pox appear rather alarming when seen for the first time.

Fairly large red areas initially appear on the pig's skin followed later by scab formation, with healing two or three weeks after the first appearance of the disease.

The Levy Nest : A Useful Aid To Farrowing, P Mcnamara

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The levy farrowing nest which has given good results in England is a recent innovation in Australia.

It could be well adapted for W.A. conditions and is described here by Pig Husbandry Adviser Mr. P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.).

Oedema Disease : A Cause Of Death Of Pigs In W.A, J Armstrong, P. Meyer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Within the last two years Oedema Disease ("Gut oedema") has been diagnosed as a cause of pig mortality in this State.

This article describes the nature, symptoms and methods of control of this disease.

Control Of Lice On Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LICE are responsible for serious losses in the pig industry, as apart from the reduced growth rates and loss of condition resulting from the constant irritation, the lice are carriers of disease.

Pig Research Projects For W.A, W J O Wilkie

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Medina Pig Research Unit now being developed by the Department of Agriculture will be an important addition to pig research facilities in Australia.

The primary function of the unit will be to serve the needs of the pig industry in Western Australia.

In this article, Animal Husbandry Officer W. J. Wilkie, B.V.Sc, discusses some aspects of research to be carried out.

Pigs Have A Place In The Dairying Areas, P Mcnamara

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Pig-keeping could become a much more important feature on South-West dairy farms in the future with the enterprise as a definite farm-unit having a considerable effect on income.

There are indications also that the collection of bulk skim milk and whey for pig feeding will increase in the future. This could make way for the efficient specialist operating large pig raising units close to the source of supply.

In this article. Pig Husbandry Adviser P. McNamara, B.A. (Cantab.) examines pig-keeping in the South-West and makes suggestions on the part that pigs can play on the modem dairy farm.

Breeding Pigs For Best Use Of Skim Milk, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

PIG production in conjunction with dairy farming in the South-West can be an efficient and profitable way of using surplus skim milk.

Water For Agriculture. 5. Salt Poisoning In Livestock, J Craig

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LIVESTOCK need a plentiful supply of good, fresh drinking water for normal health and high production.

Over large areas of Western Australia the water from bores, springs and wells contains varying but appreciable amounts of salt and special care may be needed to ensure that the stock water supply is satisfactory.

Keep Your Pigs Cool, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

CORRECT MANAGEMENT and husbandry of pigs during the hot summer experienced in Western Australia is of the utmost importance if production is to be maintained at a profitable level.

Skim Milk : The Cheapest Pig Feed, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

BUTTERFAT production has started on most South-West dairy farms, and although pig prices are not high at present, many dairy farmers have either purchased young stock or bred pigs to utilise their surplus skim milk.

Skim milk is the best feed for pigs on the dairy farm. Properly used in conjunction with other feeds it produces high quality carcasses at minimum cost.

Stress Factors In Pig Raising, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE pig raiser who wishes to attain the best possible growth performance from his pigs must recognise factors other than the basic ones of good nutrition and bredin capacity.

These are "stress factors"—minor factors of husbandry which can greatly damage health and limit the growth rate.

Pigs On The Dairy Farm : Records Show State Of The Business, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

HOW many pig raisers have even a rough idea of their margin of profit from pigs?

Even in the present time of low returns, the answer is obviously "far too few".

Pigs On The Dairy Farm : Cutting Costs To Meet Low Prices, R A. Bettenay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

As all dairy farmers know, the market prices of pigs tends to fluctuate, depending on supply and demand, in a manner which is very hard to predict.

At a time when prices are low there are several things which the dairy farmer can do to continue operating, although at a reduced margin.

Why Poor Prices For Pigs?, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A rapid increase in pig numbers and an unfavourable export situation have precipitated the present depression in the pig industry. Concentration on quality production and a gradual reduction in numbers should bring back a more stable situation, says Dairy Division pig specialist P. Beck. Big fluctuations in the pig population—the basic cause of cycles of boom and depression in the industry—would be avoided if more farmers adopted a fixed farm level policy towards the industry.

Virus Pneumonia Of Pigs, J Craig, N. Macintyre

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS disease is widespread in Western Australia and is undoubtedly a most serious source of economic loss to the pig industry.

The effects of virus pneumonia are such that in badly managed herds, widespread pneumonic outbreaks and deaths are common.

By contrast, in well managed herds, there is the more insidious problem of low or nil death rates, accompanied however by an appreciable fall in animal production.

Points On Producing Better Pigs, P C. Beck

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THERE are many factors to be considered in the production of quality pigmeat which today is the demand of the housewife.

Poor quality means two things, bad advertisement for the industry and low returns to the producer.

It Pays To Breed Your Own Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ONE of the most important decisions to be made by a pig raiser is whether to purchase store pigs which he will fatten for market, or to breed his own stock.

Swine Erysipelas : A Newly Reported Disease Of Pigs In Western Australia, M R. Gardiner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RECORDED in Western Australia for the first time last year, swine erysipelas is a potential menace to the pig raising industry.

This preliminary description is given to help farmers recognise its occurrence. I t is not known how widespread the disease might be, and farmers' co-operation is needed to estimate its extent.

Any suspected cases should be reported without delay.

The Feeding Of Pigs In The Wheatbelt, S R. Dunstan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ONE of the biggest costs in pig-meat production is feeding, and it is of vital importance for the farmer to understand what presents a balanced and economic ration, in order that he can take steps to achieve maximum efficiency.

Baconer Carcase Competitions, H G. Elliott, S. R. Dunstan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

TO further the implementation of its policy to foster the production of high quality bacon, the Australian Meat Board in 1960 again conducted for pig growers in Western Australia, its annual Baconer Carcase Competition.

Sarcoptic Mange Of Pigs, H D. Seddon, F. C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THIS parasitic disease appears to be much more common than is usually recognised; for, while severe cases with chronic skin lesions are readily seen, light infestations, especially on coloured pigs often go unnoticed.

When it is realised that even lightly infested pigs require twice as much feed to make one pound gain in live weight as do uninfested pigs, then early recognition and treatment of the disease becomes an obvious economical necessity.

Vibrionic Dysentery Of Pigs, M R. Gardiner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

VIBRIONIC DYSENTERY of pigs, also known as porcine vibriosis and swine dysentery, has been recognised for many years in the U.S.A. It was first reported in Australia in 1938, in South Australia, and later in both Victoria and New South Wales.

This brief description of a disease recently diagnosed for the first time in Western Australia is given so that breeders have some chance of recognising it in their herds. Suspected cases should be reported without delay.

Feeding Pickled Wheat To Pigs, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

INQUIRIES are frequently received from farmers asking whether it is safe to feed pickled wheat to pigs, and if so, the quantities which would be suggested.

Until very recently there was no experimental information on the safety or possible dangers of these wheat pickling agents, but feeding trials completed last year at the Animal Health and Nutrition Laboratory, Nedlands, have provided some of the answers to these questions.

Pig Pox : Its Presence In W.A. Is Suspected But Not Yet Confirmed, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A PIG-FARMER recently asked for in-information on pig-pox and inquired whether the disease occurs in Western Australia.

The first part of the question is easily answered, as pig-pox is a typical pox disease caused by a virus and resulting in roundish, red areas appearing on the pig's skin.

The disease is in fact very similar to the other more commonly known pox diseases—chicken-pox in the human population, fowl-pox in poultry and cow-pox in cattle.

Pigs And Poison Plants

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 3

Farmers have frequently asked Departmental officers whether pigs could be grazed with safety in paddocks carrying growths of toxic plants such as York Road Poison (Gastrolobium calycinum) or Box Poison (Oxylobium parviflorum).

[Contributed by the Veterinary Branch - Department of Agriculture]

Leaflet No 1002 - Swine Paratyphoid (Salmonellosis Necrotic Enteritis), C R. Toop

Bulletins 1 - 2999

Paratyphoid is an infectious disease of pigs which is likely to make it appearance wherever pig raising is practised.

It may occur in an acute septicaemic form which is often rapidly fatal and accompanied by serious mortality and in a sub-acute or chronic form known as necrotic enteritis which is characterised by unthriftiness and scouring. The out breaks occurring in Western Australia are principally of the acute type and they are usually associated with the introduction of pigs from saleyards.