32 



report increases while only two report decreases, and five counties no 

 change in the number of sows. Comparing- 1906 with 1904. in 26 counties 

 correspondents report increases in sows, while in 9 counties decreases 

 are reported, and in seven counties no change. 



The districts in which increases are noted in 1905 over 1904 are 

 confined mostly to the eastern counties. It is also worthy of notice 

 that in the comparison of 1906 with 1904, the reports show that the 

 counties in which a decrease is reported, are practically all in the west- 

 ern part of the Province ; also that the increases in the number of 

 breeding- sows are largest in the eastern counties. This would indicate 

 that the eastern part of the Province is relatively increasing production 

 much more rapidly than farther west. In almost all portions of the 

 Province there is an apparent good demand for brood sows which con- 

 siderably exceeds the supply. 



While the number of brood sows has increased almost generally 

 throughout the Province since 1905, the reports of most counties indi- 

 cate that the delivery of hogs up to September 1st will be lighter than 

 1905. About 65 per cent, of the counties report lighter deliveries prob- 

 able, while about 20 per cent, report no change. This apparently indi- 

 cates that, taking into consideration the large reported increase of 

 breeding sows, with the lighter deliveries before the 1st of September, 

 hogs will be marketed very heavily later in the fall. 



The percentage of loss in young pigs, however, is greater than 

 usual in a large proportion of the counties, which will have its effect 

 upon the fall deliveries. Taking the Province as a whole, the average 

 number of pigs in spring litters to reach weaning age this season is 

 7.61. The average size of the spring litter from the 17 counties which 

 report a normal loss is 7.77, the average from the two counties report- 

 ing less losses than usual, 8.35, while the average from 23 counties 

 reporting more loss than usual is 7.43. A comparison of these averages 

 will demonstrate that in years when there is the usual percentage of 

 loss throughout the Province, the average number of pigs per litter 

 to reach weaning age is 7.77. 



Cost of Feeding. 

 Taking the averages of the cost of feeding as given in the different 

 counties, the average for the Province for summer feeding is $4.51 

 per cwt., and for winter feeding $5.38 per cwt. In very few cases do 

 correspondents state that the figures given are the results of actual 

 experiments. In a number of cases no information is given as to whether 

 the figures are the result of experiment or an estimate. In a small 

 number of cases, however, it is stated that experiments have been made 

 and that the figures given are the result of such experiments. It is 

 almost invariably noticed where this is done that for both summer and 

 winter feeding the cost is considerably below the average given above. 

 A number of correspondents, especially in western Ontario, state that 

 with comfortable quarters and roots, the cost of feeding is no greater 

 in winter than in summer. 



