1170 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Sheep breeding, F. W. Wilson (ArUoiia Sta. Rpi. 1007, pp. 222, 223). — A 

 brief note on breeding experiments with Tnnis, Oxford, Shropshire, and Ram- 

 bouillet rams and hardy native ewes. The eross-i)red Tunis-native lambs 

 raised " are vigorous, active, and early maturing. The general conformation 

 is on the order of the Tunis with an improved quality of wool over that of 

 the Tunis. The large tail of the Tunis is lacking in the cross-breds. At birth 

 the lambs are of various colors, brown or tawny predominating. Later the 

 color fades to a brownish white." 



Pork production at the Delta Station, ,J. \V. Fox {Mississippi Sta. Bui. 101, 

 pp. 7). — A brief account is given of the pigs raised from 10 sows. and marketed 

 at an average age of about 10 months. Thirty-two sold on foot averaged 175.5 

 lbs. in weight and 85 dressed averaged 135.4 lbs., while 5 pigs were sold for 

 breeding purposes. The calculated net profit was $803. 



The sows were fed shorts and corn at farrowing time and 2 weeks after 

 farrowing were pastured and fed corn only. The pigs were fed corn and 

 shorts until they were about 3 months old, with the idea of giving them " a 

 vigorous start that they may make good use of the pasture, which, after all, 

 is the cheapest factor in pork production." 



The system of pasture rotation followed included l^ermnda grass, Dwarf 

 Essex rape and red clover, sorghum, and cowpeas planted in corn. 



According to the author, some of the important features which contributed 

 to the profit were the following: 



"At farrowing time the sows were separated and given comfortable quarters, 

 and the young pigs were given extra attention. 



" The herd was kept free from lice, and. were not allowed to f>leep in dusty 

 beds. 



" Good pastures were provided all the year, thus insuring large, strong 

 litters, and a healthy herd, and also cheap pork. 



" Tlie farm is fenced, making it possible to fatten the hogs largely on peas 

 planted in the corn as a catch crop for fertilizing purposes. This crop gives 

 the South a distinct advantage over other sections, and this feature of the 

 work can not be too strongly urged. The fact that the peas can be converted 

 into money without any cost of harvesting should add an additional incentive 

 to grow more corn and peas and thus improve tlie land, handle the farm with 

 less labor, and keep the cotton money at home." 



Pork production, D. A. Gaumnitz, A. D. Wilson, and L. 13. Bassett {Min- 

 nesota Stu. Bui. 10 'i, pp. 63-119, figs. 13, dgms. 9). — Tests are reported of the 

 relative merits of feeding corn and of allowing pigs to gather it themselves, 

 which is termed " hogging off " corn. 



In the first test both the pigs fed ear corn in a yard and those allowed to 

 gather the corn in the field were each given in addition shorts in the propor- 

 tion of a pound per day per 100 lbs. live weight, fhe pigs allowed to gather 

 the corn were confined to one acre at a time l)y means of wooden hurdles. 

 In 7 weeks the 26 pigs gathering their own feed made an average daily gain 

 of 1.3 lbs. per head, while the 13 pigs fed in a yard made an average daily 

 gain of 0.98 lb. per head. 



In the second year's test, made under practically the same conditions, 

 snapped corn was also included in the comparison. The avei'age gain of 32 

 pigs fed in the field 51 days was 1.44 lbs. per head per day, of 8 pigs fed snapped 

 corn 1.11 lbs., and of 8 pigs fed ear corn 1.09 lbs. 



Considering both tests, the pigs gathering corn in the field required 0.14 lbs. 

 of ear corn and 1.21 lbs. of shorts per pound of gain and those fed corn in 

 yards, 7.02 lbs. of ear corn and 1.57 lbs. of shorts. 



