868 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. [Vol.36 



acre. A plat of 0.26 acre of rape and sweet clover produced 215 lbs. of pork 

 from nursing pigs from May 14 to October 12. Thirty head then grazed on 

 this plat and fed 2,449.5 lbs. of a mixture of shelled corn, wheat middlings, 

 and digester tankage in a self-feeder gained 772 lbs. A plat of 0.54 acre of 

 rape, field peas, and sweet clover produced 1,050 lbs. of pork, furnishing green 

 forage to 30 gilts during the whole summer. The gilts were also allowed 

 1 lb. of shelled corn per 100 lbs. live weight. 



In all these experiments, unless otherwise stated, the animals were fed, in 

 addition to the pasturage, 1 lb. of grain, chiefly corn middlings and tankage, 

 per 100 lbs. live weight. Data on other grazing experiments are briefly 

 reported. 



[Problems relating to pork production] (^Nexc Jersey Stas. Bui. 298 (1916), 

 pp. 20-23). — A mixture of rape and sweet clover in combination with oats as a 

 protecting crop, with red clover added to secure permanence, had many advan- 

 tages as a forage mixture for pigs. Rape alone was not very palatable. Soy 

 beans with rape and sweet clover proved to be an excellent mixture, but fur- 

 nished grazing for only a short time. 



Experiments during the year indicated that pigs could be safely relied upon 

 to select and balance their own rations. The use of the self-feeder shortened 

 the growing and fattening period of pigs by at least 60 days. However, the 

 use of the self-feeder in connection with grazing crops was not economical, 

 especially for pigs under 100 lbs. in weight. It proved profitable for brood 

 sows, nursing pigs, and fattening market hogs, but not for gilts intended for 

 breeding or for market pigs during the entire cycle of their growing period. 

 In wintering brood sows, it was found possible to maintain a 300-lb. sow on 

 3 lbs. of ground alfalfa hay per day, moistened with molasses and supple- 

 mented with a little hominy feed and tankage. The sows would eat only 

 about 1 lb. of unground alfalfa hay per head daily. 



Molasses was compared with corn and tankage as supplements for alfalfa 

 hay for gilts. In this experiment five gilts fed molasses and alfalfa hay exclu- 

 sively from the time they were weaned until after their first litter of pigs had 

 been weaned, made their gains at slightly more than 3 cts. per pound less than 

 those obtained with the five gilts fed corn, tankage, and alfalfa. 



In spite of the fact that the entire station herd was subjected to the serum 

 simultaneous treatment for the prevention of hog cholera, losses were frequent 

 during the year and doubtful as to cause. That the double treatment under 

 average conditions stunted the growth of pigs seemed well supported by con- 

 ditions in the herd during the year. Losses were recorded among suckling 

 pigs nursing immune sows although the sows were perfectly healthy. 



The use of the self-feeder, F. C. Minkler (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1915, pp. 

 85-91, pis. 4). — In the experiments here reported 50 shotes, 30 of which were 

 pure-bred and 20 cross-bred, were fed for 77 days. Twenty of the animals 

 were divided into four lots of 5 each and placed in dry lots 8 by 12 ft. with 

 sleeping quarters in a protected building. Thirty head had the run of colony 

 houses on a one-half acre plat of rape. Lot 1 in a dry lot and lot X (the 30 

 shotes in a rape field) were fed a mixture of shelled corn, wheat middlings, 

 and digester tankage in self-feeders. Lot 2 was hand-fed the same mixture 

 as a thick slop (100:38:12 by weight) in a dry lot. Lots 3 and 4 received 

 shelled corn, molasses, and digester tankage, the former in the self-feeder and 

 the latter by hand in the proportion of 100 : 40 : 15 by weight as a thick slop. 



It was found that the pigs on the self-feeders consumed a surprisingly large 

 amount of feed during the first few days of the test. All the animals went 

 on full feed without difficulty or loss of appetite. The average daily gains per 

 head were for lots 1 to 4 1.25, 0.73, 1, and 0.46 lbs., respectively, and for lot X 



