80 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



EXPERIMENTS IN THE FATTENING OF SWINE. 



Experiments in the fattening of swine have been continued since 1890, using dif- 

 ferent rations from year to year with the object of gaining information as to the best 

 methods of producing pork of the best quality and at the lowest cost. In all cases par- 

 ticulars have been given rega iQg the diflferent sorts of feed, used and the quantities 

 consumed, also the increase in live weight of the animals under experiment. 



THE FEEDING OP SWINB WITH SHORTS. 



Lot 11. — This pen contained four cross-bred swine, one Yorkshire sire with Berk- 

 shire dam, farrowed 7th June, 1896, and three Berkshire sire and Tamworth dam, far- 

 rowed 26th May, 1896, and were fed entirely on shorts soaked in cold water for 30 

 hours, and were given all they would eat up clean. This feeding test was begun on 

 25th September, 1896, and continued for sixteen weeks, or until 6th January, 1897. 

 The pigs were weighed every two weeks, and the increase in weight and the quantity 

 of food consumed, are given in the accompanying table for each four weeks : — 



No. of Swine, Four. 



Total live weight 



Increase in weight 



Feed consumed, shorts 



" per lb. of increase 



Sept. 23. 



Lbs. 

 287 



Oct. 21. 



Lbs. 



408 

 121 

 452 

 3 73 



Nov. 18. 



Lbs. 



500 

 92 

 413 

 4-48 



Dec. 16. 



Lbs. 



586 

 86 

 382 

 4-44 



Jan. 6, 1897 



Lbs. 



624 

 38 

 241 

 6 34 



Totals. 



Lbs. 



'337"" 



1,488 

 4-41 



The average live weight of each pig when this feeding test was begun was 71f 

 pounds; average weight of each at the conclusion of the experiment, 156 pounds. 

 Sold 6th January, 1897. Shrinkage in weight — 



Live weight, fasted 14 hours 624 lbs. 



Dressed weight, 24 hours after killing 457 " 



Percentage of shrinkage from weight after fasting 22*27 



THE FEEDING OF SWINE WITH GROUND BARLEY. 



Lot 12. — This pen contained four cross-bred swine, one Yorkshire sire and Tam- 

 worth dam, farrowed 7th June, 1896, and three Berkshire sire and Tamworth dam, far- 

 rowed 26th May, 1896. These were fed for the whole period of sixteen weeks entirely 

 on barley ground and soaked for 30 hours in cold water; they were given all they would 

 eat up clean. 



No. of Swine, Four. 



Total live weight 



Increase in weight 



Feed oonsumed, ground barley 



" per lb. of increase 



Sept. 23. 



Lbs. 

 291 



Oct. 21. 



Lbs. 



435 

 144 

 531 

 3-68 



Nov. 18. 



Lbs. 



546 

 111 

 550 

 4-95 



Dec. 16. 



Lbs. 



694 

 148 

 552 

 372 



Jan. 6. 



Lbs. 



735 

 41 

 299 

 7 29 



Totals. 



Lbs. 



444 

 1,932 

 4-35 



