292 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



9-10 EDWARD VII., A. 1910 

 SWINE. 



The herd at present consists of 55 head as follows : — 



Yorkshires. — 1 stock boar, 2 breeding sows, 23 young pigs. 

 Berkshires. — 1 stock boar, 1 breeding sow, 14 young pigs. 

 Tamworths. — 1 breeding sow. 

 Crossbreds. — 12 feeders. 



During the year a considerable number of pure-bred pigs have been sold for 

 breeding purposes in this district and throughout the province. 



FROZEN WHEAT FOR PIGS. 



There is occasionally a considerable quantity of wheat in some parts of Manitoba 

 and other parts of the west that is frozen and of little value for any other purpose 

 than as feed. Last year some frozen wheat was obtained and fe 1 to several lots of 

 young pigs to get some further information as to its value as feed for pigs, and how 

 it could be fed to best advantage. 



Twenty pigs, averaging about sixty pounds in weight, were divided into four lots 

 of five each. Lot 1 was fed frozen wheat chopped and soaked for twelve hours; 

 lot 2, frozen wheat chopped and fed dry; lot 3, frozen wheat and barley, equal parts, 

 chopped; lot 4, oats and barley, equal parts, chopped. 



The experiment cannot be regarded as entirely satisfactory as all the pigs made 

 poor gains and became unthrifty early in the experiment. The feeds above mentioned 

 were continued ^or three months. At the end of that time it was found that the 

 following amounts of grain were required to make one pound of gain: 

 12| lbs. of frozen wheat soaked for twelve hours. 

 71 " « dry. 



9i " " and barley. 



5^ " " oats and barley. 



From these results no definite conclusions can be drawn, as none of the pigs 

 throve properly, owing probably to some cause other than the feed they were receiving. 

 It may be mentioned, however, that the wheat as a single feed was not relished, either 

 when fed dry or soaked; that the pigs fed on it as an exclusive grain ration were less 

 thrifty than those receiving some other grain in conjunction or a mixture of grains 

 with no wheat included. 



PASTURES FOR PIGS. 



Last year several different kinds of pasture weee used for young pigs and breeding 

 stock, viz, : brome grass, rape, peas, and a mixture of oats, barley and peas. The 

 brood sows were maintained in good breeding condition on brome pasture, no grain 

 being fed until late in the season, when the pasture became short. The young pigs 

 made good growth on the other pastures, with a very light grain ration, and, when 

 put in pens to be finished in October, were in particularly good heart, gaining at the 

 rate of one pound for every two and one-half pounds of grain fed. 



WINTERING BROOD SOWS. 



As most of the pigs raised in Manitoba are from spring litters, it is of the 

 greatest importance that the breeding sows be brought through the winter in condition 

 to produce strong healthy pigs. In such a severe climate as we have in Manitoba 

 there is a temptation to house them comfortably and not pay sufficient attention to 

 their requirements for exercise. The consequence frequently is that the young come 

 weak and with very little vitality. For a number of years on this farm, the brood sows 

 were confined during the winter in comfortable pens nine feet square, with the result 



