456 



OPEN-AIR PIG-KEEPING. 



The system of open-air pig-keeping has been carried out 

 successfully at Tiptree, in Essex, by Messrs. Wilkin & Son, Ltd., 

 who run a considerable herd of pedigree Large Blacks. The 

 greater part of the ground (poor liondon clay) over which they 

 run had long been allowed to fall into a bad condition, and when 

 it was acquired a few years ago by Messrs. Wilkin, was not 

 capable of raising good crops. To the pigs was entrusted the 

 task of mending the land. 



The animals are penned either with iron hurdles or chestnut 

 pales, and Mr. S. Wilkin, who is in charge of the herd, finds 

 that one acre will carry ten pigs for six months. Their shelter 

 is of the slightest, either a three-wheeled hut which can be 

 moved readily from one part of a field to another, or hurdles 

 supported by posts and covered with some rough thatching 

 material. The system of handling is to run and fold the stores 

 and gilts like sheep and to run the sows in the pastures in charge 

 of one foreman. The pigs are allowed to farrow in the open 

 without attendance, and so far without casualty. They are 

 kept as much as possible in even sizes and fed at several troughs, 

 so that all may obtain a fair share of the small nieasiu'e of con- 

 centrates given to them. Breeding is so arranged that the sows 

 farrow in January and July, the theory being that the January- 

 born pig is able to take advantage of the spring weather, and 

 the July-born pig is able to grow strong before winter begins. 

 For sow^s with a litter, up to 7 lb. a day of concentrated food are 

 allowed. No ringing is practised; the pigs are not fed l)efore 

 being turned out, and being hungry and having plenty of space 

 to cover do not trouble to root. 



The methods of cultivation used are those that are often 

 associated with the name of Mr. Wibberley, catch crops being 

 raised throughout the year for the benefit of the herd. Eape, kale 

 r.nd clover seem to be the most useful food. Rye and tares are 

 also used, but are not so much in favour. Mr. Wilkin claims 

 that pigs graze more closely than sheep. 



The meal ration consists of 40 per cent, palm-kernel meal, 

 10 per cent, fish meal, and 50 per cent, of such oifals as 

 are in the market. Pigs born at midsummer , 1919, win- 

 tered in November, December and January on rape with 4 lb. 

 per head daily of the mixed meal and a fresh fold of rape 

 every third day. In February they were put into an orchard 

 under fruit trees and had an extra ration of 2 lb. of beans every 

 week. In March they were run over young wheat and winter 



