EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 



205 



The Poland China litter was very even both on the start rud in their 

 after growth, although pigs number seven, four and nine were the 

 heaviest at the beginning and remained so to the end of the test. 



The record of the feeding of the Duroc pigs extends back but four 

 weeks before weaning. In the next table there is given the gains of the 

 sows and pigs for the four weeks before weaning, the feed eaten, the 

 dry matter in the feed and the amounts of the different constituents 

 of the feed required to produce a hundred pounds of gain. For com- 

 parison the same facts are given for the four weeks immediately follow- 

 ing weaning and finally for the last four weeks of the feeding period, 

 ending August 10. 



In computing the cost of the gain, the values of the feeding stuffs in 

 the Lansing markets are used, viz.: Corn meal, 45 cents per hundred; 

 middlings, 50 cents per hundred, and skim milk 20 cents per hundred. 



Table III. — Comparison of gains and food consumption before and after weaning. 



Both sows lost heavily in weight during the four weeks immediately 

 preceding the weaning of the pigs. The Duroc Jersey lost 11.5 pounds, 

 and the Poland China 25 pounds. This extra shrinkage on the part of 

 the lati:er sow very largely accounts for the increased cost of produc- 

 tion of the gains in the four weeks preceding weaning. The pigs gained 

 122.8 pounds in these four weeks and disregarding the loss of weight 

 by the sow, they made a pound of gain from 2.66 pounds of dry matter 

 and at a cost of but |2.80 per hundred. 



The fluctuations in the weights of the sows were great, owing 

 undoubtedly largely to variations in bowel contents. They were exceed- 

 ingly voracious and it was impossible to so control them before weigh- 

 ing as to get the conditions exactly alike each time. Moreover, it is in 

 the natural order of things that the fat stored up in their bodies while 

 pregnant should be utilized to furnish nourishment to the young pigs, 

 resulting in a rapid loss of weight. 



