83 



EXPERIMBNTS IN THE FATTENING OF SwiNE. 



In November, 1890, 24 grade pigs were purchased. Eight of them were white, 

 and apparently grades of Chester whites; 16 of them were nearly all black, and 

 were evidently grades of Bei'kshires. They were divided into six lots of four pigs 

 in each. 



The eight white pigs were put into pens Nos. 1 and 2, and the two lots of 

 four each were, as nearly as possible, alike in weight and appearance. Both lots were 

 fed on a mixture of grain, consisting of equal parts of ground pease, bai'ley and rye. 

 The object of this experiment was two-fold — (1) to discover the difference, if any, 

 in the quantity of grain required to produce every pound of increase in the live 

 weight of the swine, when/e<i steamed and warmed in the one case, and when fed raw 

 and cold in the other case; (2) to obtain a record of the comparative quantities of 

 grain required to produce every pound of increase in the live weight of the swine, 

 during the different stages of the feeding period. 



The mixture of grain was fed wet in both cases. Cold water was given to 

 drink. A mixture of salt and wood ashes was kept in a box on the floor of 

 each pen, where the pigs had access to it at uili. The feed was weighed every day, 

 and the swine once every week. In the following Table the feeding period has been 

 arranged into five periods of four weeks each, and one period of three weeks. It 

 shows the gain in weight and the quantities of grain consumed. 



Table I. 



7p— 6i 



