338 



steam was forced througli a mass of silage which had just been put into 

 a silo. In every case the silage thus treated was found to be spoiled 

 when the silo was opened two or three mouths after the steaming. 



Experiments with pig feeding (pp. 65-88, illustrated). — A reprint of 

 Bulletin No. 9 of the station (See Experiment Station Eecord, Vol. I, 

 p. 216). 



Pigs from mature and immature parents. — "A large proportion of Kan- 

 sas swine breeders breed sows when eight or nine months old. After 

 weaning the pigs the sow is fattened and sold and her immature offspring 

 bred to furnish the supply of pigs required on the farm. A young boar 

 is generally used, so that the whole herd is composed of immature ani- 

 mals, the offspring of immature parents. Many careful farmers object 

 to this system of breeding, claiming that it is less profitable than that 

 when mature hogs are coupled together, and, further, that when this 

 system of breeding from immature aniuials is continued the vitality 

 of the stock is injured and greater loss sustained from disease. 



"The object of this experiment" was to ascertain by actual trial what 

 results could be obtained in breeding and feeding from mature and from 

 immature animals. The plan adopted was to select two closely related, 

 pure-bred Berkshire sows, one mature and the other young ; the mature 

 sow was to be bred to a mature boar, the young sow to an immature 

 boar. Each litter of pigs was to be fed separately from birth until 

 ready for market, and an accurate record kept of feed consumed and 

 gain made. A sow pig was to be taken from the immature sow's litter and 

 bred, while yet growing, to an immature boar, and her pigs fed against 

 a litter of pigs from mature parents. This method of selection and feed- 

 ing was tc be continued for a series of years." 



In the trial of 1888 a sow three and one half years old was bred to a 

 boar five and one half years old, and a sow seven months old was bred to 

 a boar eight months old. The maturo. sow farrowed nine pigs and the 

 immature sow eight pigs. " Throughout the experiment the pigs of 

 both litters were given all the feed they would eat, and the two litters 

 were fed as nearly alike as could be done and keep them gaining satis- 

 factorily." 



Tables show the kinds and amounts of feed, the weight and gain in 

 weight of the sows and pigs, and the cost of feed for each week from 

 birth to weaning and from weaning (June 11) to February 25. Between 

 the days named " the mature sow's pigs made a gain of 2,165 pounds, 

 at a cost of $48.72, or 2.25 cents per pound. The young sow's pigs 

 made a gain during the same period of 1,411 pounds at a cost of $3ti.52, 

 or 2.58 cents per pound, one third cent more per pound than for the 

 mature sow's litter. * * * The mature sow had nine pigs ; one pig- 

 was lost by disease, leaving eight pigs that could have been fed for 

 market. The young sow had eight pigs ; three were lost by disease, 

 leaving only five that could have been fed. It was noticed throughout 

 the trial that the pigs from mature parents ate the most feed per head, 



