FOODS ANIMAL PRODTCTION. 777 



lbs. at the beginning of the trial and gained 984 lbs., consuming 4.42 

 lbs. of grain per pound of gain. Lot 2 weighed 1,886 lbs. at the begin- 

 ning of the test, gained 1,348 lbs., and consumed 5.01 lbs. of grain per 

 pound of gain. In the author's opinion the amount of feed required 

 per pound of gain is reasonable considering the good condition of the 

 pigs at the beginning of the trial. 



The second test was made with 2 lots of 7 pure-bred Poland Chinas 

 and cross-bred Poland China Berkshires. "They were of fine bone with 

 round bodies and much more delicate than the preceding lot. They 

 showed in strong contrast with those of the first trial the difference 

 between pigs of good bone and constitution and those too much refined 

 by high breeding." These pigs had likewise been pastured on rape or 

 grass before beginning the test, which covered 9 weeks. In other 

 respects the conditions were the same as in the preceding trial. Lot 1 

 weighed 1,281 lbs. at the beginning of the trial and gained 552 lbs., con- 

 suming 4.62 lbs. of grain per pound of gain. Lot 2 weighed 1,383 lbs. 

 at the beginning of the trial and gained 576 lbs., consumiug 4.24 lbs. of 

 grain per pound of gain. The gains made at different periods of the 

 test are discussed and the results of these trials are compared with 

 those of earlier tests. 



"The gains were greatest during the first weeks of the trial and lightest during 

 the last weeks. On the contrary, more feed was eaten during the last weeks of the 

 trial than in the beginning. Coming to the feed required per pound of gain, the 

 results obtained in the earlier stages stand in strong contrast with those obtained 

 near the close. For the first week 3.62 lbs. of feed made 1 lb. of gain, while in the 

 twelfth week 5.98 lbs. were required. 



"Grouping the results into four-week periods in order to secure better aver- 

 ages ... we see that during the first period of 4 weeks, 4.18 lbs. of feed made 1 lb. 

 of gain ; during the second four-weeks period 4.61 lbs. were required; and during 

 the last four weeks 5.59 lbs. of feed were required per pound of gain." 



Data concerning sow and pigs at farrowing time, W. A. Henry 

 ( Wisconsin Sta. Rpt. 1897, pp. 8, 9). — A number of observations were 

 made in the spring of 1897 on pure-bred Poland China and Berkshire 

 pigs or crosses of these breeds, and upon cross-bred Poland Chinas 

 and Chester Whites. The sows ranged from 1 to 4 years in age and 

 from 240 to 577 lbs. in weight. They were weighed several hours before 

 and several hours after farrowing and the pigs were also weighed. 

 The average weight of the sows before farrowing was 382.1 lbs. and 

 after farrowing 359 lbs. The average weight of the afterbirth was 

 4.01 lbs. 



"The litters averaged 16.7 lbs. each, the individual pigs ranging in weight from 

 1.3 to 3.1 lbs., the average being 2.2 lbs. In general, the individual pigs in largo 

 litters are somewhat smaller than those of small litters. 



"Frequently in a litter of pigs there is one member much weaker than the others, 

 and this is styled the 'runt' or 'teatman.' It is sometimes spoken of as the last 

 pig farrowed, this occurrence seeming in some unknown way to mark its inferiority. 

 [The observations made showed tbat] the last pig farrowed was not necessarily of 

 lighter weight than the others, and the observer noted no weakness or other mark 

 indicating inferiority in any way." 



