574 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Tables are .civen which show the cost of feed, .iraiiis in weijjlit, l)irth weight, 

 and ()tl)er diita. Tlie averajie i-esults obtained from the different jjronits of 

 calves are shown in the followinji table: 



Average birth ireif/Iit, (iiitount, and eost of f/aiii of ealres diiriiu/ the firfif year. 



Number 



of 

 animals. 



10 

 10 

 10 

 11 

 10 

 6. 

 6. 



Kind of stock. 



Grade beef^(Shorthorn sire). 

 Grade beef (Hereford sire).. 



Grade beef (Angus sire) 



Grade dairy 



Mixed 



Pure-bred Holstein 



Grade dairy 



Average 



birth 

 weight. 



Pounds. 

 76.4 

 80.0 

 72.0 

 75.7 

 92.2 

 100.0 

 72.6 



Average 



weight at 



end of 



year. 



Potmds. 

 643.9 

 629.0 

 682.0 

 523. 5 

 697.1 

 773.1 

 706. 1 



Average 

 cost per 

 animal. 



Dollars. 

 27.69 

 26.78 

 32. 53 

 22. 41 

 27.35 

 30.53 

 36.43 



Average 

 daily gain 

 per head. 



Pounds. 

 1.55 

 1.50 

 1.67 

 1.22 

 1.65 

 1.84 

 1.73 



Average 



cost per 



pound 



gain. 



Cents. 

 4.32 

 4.20 

 4.79 

 4.29 

 3.97 

 3.97 

 5.16 



Feeding the pig, W. Dietrich (Illinois Sin. Cire. J33, pp. ID+Erruta Sheet, 

 figs. 3). — This circular contains additional data to those previously reported 

 (E. S. R., 20, p. 1068) of an experiment in pig feeding now in progress, and 

 also outlines a method for calculating rations according to a standard advocated 

 by the author. 



Considerable emphasis is given to the intake of water, which is classified as 

 a nutrient, and to the value of exercise for young i)igs. The total (piantity of 

 water fed seemed to be of greater importance than the manner in which it was 

 fed, but the best results were obtained by feeding the bulk of the water after 

 the rest of the feed had been eaten, using enough water to wet the dry feeds 

 and enough feed in the water to make it palatable. On giving the pigs dry feeds 

 or a thick slop and then free access to water, they did not do as well as in cases 

 where the water was mixed with all the dry feeds in the form of a slop. " One 

 of the principal reasons that winter feeding of pigs has not been more successful 

 is because an insufficient amount of water was used. During the winter season 

 in cold climates where the pig is gi^■en dry feed and free access to water, he will 

 apparently not drink enough for maximum and most economical production." 

 The chief value of exercise appeared to be in the influence it exerted upon the 

 respiratory and digestive functions. The results of feeding on pasture indicated 

 that pigs can utilize to better advantage the same quantities of nutrients in 

 addition to the grass than when fed in tlie dry lot experiments, this being due 

 in part to the needed exercise which the pigs get in gi-azing. 



The amounts of water, carbohydrates, and protein required by pigs at differ- 

 ent ages, according to the author's standard, are rei)resented in graphic form. 

 In the case of crude digestible protein the amount required by the pig daily i)er 

 100 lbs. live weight, for the most economical production is 0.6 lb. at 2 months 

 of age, increasing to 0.7 lb. during the following 7 weeks. The amount then 

 declines to 0.6 lb. during 4 weeks' time and then maintains a level of 0.65 lb. 

 for the next 7 weeks. After this the greater part of the nitrogenous feeds may 

 be removed from the ration. Starting at 2 months of age the pigs should have 

 12 lbs. of water daily per 100 lbs. of live weight, this to be gradually reduced 

 to 4 lbs. during the following 6 months, when the pigs should be in prime con- 

 dition for market. At 2 months of age the pigs should have 2.2 lbs. of digestible 

 carbohydrate daily per 100 lbs. live weight, this amount gradually increasing 

 until at the end of 18 weeks it reaches 2.6 lbs. The pigs will apparently make 

 larger gains when given a little more fat in their ration than is ordinarily 

 present iu the commou feeds ou the farm. They should also have free access 



