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Cost of Raising' Pigs. — The Ontario Agricultural College obtained some 

 interesting figures relative to the cost of raising young pigs until six weeks old, at 

 which age they are commonly weaned. 



Feeds were valued as follows : Meal of all kinds, induding bran and middlinss. 

 $20.00 per ton; roots, $3.00 per ton; skim-milk, 15 cents per 100 pounds. 



It is assumed that the sow raises two litters a year, and that she nurses each 

 litter six weeks. This would leave about nine and one-quarter months during the 

 year that the sow would not be nursing pigs, and the cost of maintaining the sow 

 during the time she is dry is estimated at 75 cents a month, it being assumed that 

 the sow is fed as economically as possible during that time. The maintenance 

 during the nine and one-quarter months at 75 cents per month amounts to $6.94, 

 or, in round numbers, $7.00. Half of this amount, $3.50, is charged against each 

 litter, in addition to the cost of feed consumed by the sow and pigs before the pigs 

 are weaned. 



Eisk, interest on investment, labor, and manure are left out of the calculation. 



Twelve litters of pigs were used, which were weaned at six weeks old in each 

 case. 



The following table gives particulars of each litter: 



Total and Average Costs. — To arrive at the total cost of the pigs at six 

 weeks old, the service fee and half the cost of maintaining the sow when dry are 

 charged against the average cost of maintaining the sow and litter for six weeks, 

 making the total cost as follows: 



Service fee $1 00 



Half cost of maintaining dry sow (V^ of $7.00) 3 50 



Average cost of feed for sow and litter 3 74 



Total $8 24 



Average number of pigs in litter, 6^^. 

 Average cost per pig six weeks old, $1.27. 



Variations in Cost. — If the cost of maintaining the dry sow were placed 

 at $1.00 per month, it would bring the cost of the young pigs to $1,44 each at six 

 weeks old. It is probably a safe statement, therefore, that young pigs can be 



