444 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE V.,^A. 1915 

 SOW FEEDING EXPEEIMENT. 



Although the main piggery was, during the winter, utilized for calf feeding, yet 

 experimental work with the brood sows housed in single-board cabins was quite possible. 



A great deal of work, with more or less indefinite results, along the lines of feeding 

 of tankage to pigs, has been carried on by individual farmers and experiment stations 

 throughout America. A series of experiments has been outlined on the Central Experi- 

 m.ental Farm and branch Farms and Stations toward the determination of the value 

 of tankage fed to both sows and litters, and both as an addition to the regular feed and 

 as a supplement to some of the foodstviffs which in many cases are not available to 

 the average farmer. A start was made in this work in the fall of 1913, and although 

 only a small proportion of this first experiment has, as yet, reached completion, yet a 

 brief sunnnary of results will show the line of work started and results to date. How- 

 ever, it nmst be held in mind that this is only a part of one year's experiment, which, 

 even though com.plete for one period, will be altogether too incomplete for definite 

 conclusions. 



Objects of Experoiext. 



The objects of this first experiment with tankage were to determine the value of 

 tankage fed to in-pig sows as an influence on the condition of the sow during preg- 

 nancy, the condition of the litters at birth, and the influence on the milking qualities 

 of the sow during the first eight weeks after parturition. 



Plan of Exteri.mext. 



Two pens of eight brood sows each were set aside for this work. These sows were 

 of uniform nature, both as to age, weight, general type, and breeding qualities. 



Pen J. v^•iis to be fed the regular winter meal mixture, namely, a combination of 

 wheat bran and shorts, varying with the advancing season. 



Pen II. was to be fed the regular meal mixture, as pen I., with the exception that 

 one-third (33 per cent in weight) of this mixture was replaced by tankage. 



In both pens meal was fed in the same way, and each pen was to receive approxi- 

 mately the same amount of water, roots, clover hay, and skim-milk when available. 



The regular winter meal for brood sows consisted of a mixture of bran, two parts, 

 and shorts, one part, from December 1 until February 1, and a mixture of bran, two 

 parts, and shorts, two parts, for the second period, namely, from February 1 until 

 farrowing. 



Although it is the practice on the Central Experimental Farm to add other in- 

 gredients after farrowing in order to make a somewhat more concentrated ration for 

 nursing sows, yet the above mixtures were continued until eight w?eks after farrowing, 

 in order to give comparative results as to the tankage. Samples of meals were taken 

 for chemical analyses, which will be reported on when this line of experimental work 

 has reached greater dimensions. 



Valuation of Foodstuffs. 



The following valuations were placed on the meals and forages consumed: — 



Bran $20 00 per ton. 



Shorts 23 00 



Tankage (protein, 60 per cent; fat, 8 per cent; fibre, 6 per 



cent) 50 00 



Roots 2 00 



Ottaava. 



