55 



Dry, comfortable quarters, and sanitary conditions generally in pen or feed lot, 

 are important factors in securing satisfactory gains, and in avoiding disastrous 

 loss through disease. 



Cost Increases with Age.— Prof. Henry, in ''Feeds and Feeding," 

 gives a very instructive table, compiled from results from numerous experiment 

 stations, showing the feed consumed per 100 pounds gain by hogs of different 

 weights. Following is an abbreviation of the table as given in Prof. Henry's book : 



Weight of Animals 

 in Pounds. 



Total 



Number of 

 Animals Fed 



15 to 50. 



50 to 100. 

 100 to 150. 

 150 to 200. 

 200 to 250. 

 250 to 300. 

 300 to 350. 



174 

 417 

 495 

 489 

 300 

 223 

 105 



Average 



Feed Eaten 



Per Day. 



lbs. 

 2.23 

 3.35 

 4.79 

 5.91 

 6.57 

 7.40 

 7.50 



Feed Eaten 



Daily per 



100 lbs. 



Live Weight. 



lbs. 

 5.95 

 4.32 

 3.75 

 3.43 

 2.91 

 2.74 

 2.35 



Average 



Gain 

 Per Day. 



lbs. 

 .76 

 .83 

 1.10 

 1.24 

 1.33 

 1.46 

 1.40 



Feed for 



100 lbs. 



Gain. 



lbs. 

 293 

 400 

 437 

 482 

 498 

 511 

 535 



The table shows that the heavier hogs made more rapid gains and consumed 

 less feed per 100 pounds of their live weight, but there was a steady increase in 

 the amount of feed required for 100 pounds gain as fattening advanced. 



A similar result was obtained at the Ontario Agricultural College with 36 

 pure-bred pigs of different breeds, as shown by the following table : 



These figures, together with others that might be given, show very clearly 

 that the cost of production steadily increases as the hogs become older. 



Correctives. — ^Swine appear to have a craving for what might be called 

 " unnatural " substances. This is especially true of hogs which are kept in con- 

 finement, which will eat greedily such substances as charcoal, ashes, mortar, soft 

 coal, and rotten wood. It is probable that some of these substances are not good 

 for hogs, but there is no doubt that charcoal and wood ashes have a beneficial 

 effect. Charcoal made from corn cobs answers very well. It is a good practice to 

 supply hogs with charcoal, especially during the winter months, but, if the hogs 

 have not had any charcoal for a considerable time and are then given a liberal 

 .supply, there is danger that they may take too much for their own good. The 

 same caution must be observed in regard to salt. 



Theodore Louis, a veteran American swine breeder, recommends the f ollowincj : 



" Take 3 bushels of charcoal, 8 lbs. salt, 2 quarts of air-slaked lime, and 1 



bushel of wood ashes. Break the charcoal well down, and thoroughly mix with 



other ingredients. Then take ll^ lbs. copperas, dissolve in hot water, and with a 



