ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 979 



of the ration in the latter case being approximately double that of the ration con- 

 taining silage and fodder or stover and fodder. From this and a former test the 

 conclusion is drawn that corn silage is one of the cheapest and most satisfactory feeds 

 for breeding ewes in winter, and that a ration supplying coarse fodder entirely in the 

 term of corn fodder is not entirely satisfactory for tliis purpose. 



Tlie food requirements of the pig for maintenance and gain, F. D. Taylor, 

 reported by W. A. Hk.nry {Wisconsin Sta. Ept. 1901, pp. <>7-72). — The amount of 

 feed reipiired for maintenance and for gain was tested with 4 pigs, 2 being higli-grade 

 Berksiiires and 2 razorback-Berkshire crosses, the investigation being similar to work 

 previously reported (E. !^. R., 12, p. 77). The rations selected consisted of a mixture 

 of wheat bran, corn meal, and oil meal in varying proportions. These materials 

 were analyzed. At the beginning of the trial the pigs weighed about 50 lbs. each. 

 A grain mixture was fed sufficient for maintenance at this weight. The ration was 

 then increa.«ed in such a way as to induce rapid gains until the pigs weighed 100 lbs. 

 each. A period on a maintenance ration was then followed by a second period of 

 gain, the pigs weighing at the close 150 lbs. It was found that on an average the 

 pigs at 50 lbs. required 0.48 lb. shorts, 0.24 lb. corn meal, and 0.08 lb. oil meal daily 

 for maintenance. At 100 lbs. they required 1.14 lbs. shorts, 0.57 lb. corn meal, and 

 0.19 lb. oil meal; and at 150 lbs. they required 1.2 lbs. shorts, 0.6 lb. corn meal, and 

 0.2 lb. oil meal. On an average the ration per hundred pounds live weight furnished 

 0.258 lb. protein, 0.069 lb. ether extract, 0.069 lb. nitrogen-free extract, 0.898 lb. 

 crude fiber, and 0.052 lb. ash. 



The author notes that per hundred pounds live weight the 150-lb. pig consumed 

 least and the 100-lb. pig most. On an average the pigs required for maintenance corn 

 meal, shorts, and oil meal, furnishing an amount of dry matter equivalent to 1.41 

 per cent of the live weight, or an amount of middlings furnishing dry matter equiv- 

 alent to 1.37 per cent of the live weight. No differences w'ere observed in the several 

 periods between the razorbacks and grade Berkshires. 



The food requirements during the periods of gain were also recorded, the results 

 being expressed for average weights of 75 lbs., 125 lbs., and 175 lbs. At these 

 w^eiglits the pigs required on an average 62.5 days, 58.8 days, and 54.5 days, respec- 

 tively, to gain 50 lbs. The dry matter consumed per pound of gain was 3.19, 4.22, 

 and 5.41 lbs. The dry matter consumed per hundred pounds of live weight daily at 

 the 3 Aveights was 3.4, 2.9, and 3.06 lbs. The estimated dry matter in that portion 

 of the daily food required for maintenance was 1.22 lbs., 1.76 lbs., and 1.80 lbs., 

 respectively. It was calculated that the portion of the food required for mainte- 

 nance at the different weights constituted 1.62, 1.4, and 1.08 per cent, respectively, 

 of the live weight. The author notes that the food eaten for a given gain in weight 

 increases materially with increased weight. The daily requirement for maintenance 

 also increases, which would "tend to show that the 75-lb. pig would be the most 

 profitably fed." But it also appeared that as the pigs increased in weight a smaller 

 amount of food in proportion to body w^eight was required for maintenance, while 

 the daily gain was larger. This, according to the author, would indicate that "the 

 175-lb. pig is fed at a greater profit than either the 75 or the 125 lb. pig." 



The digestibility of the full ration was tested when the pigs weighed 125 lbs. and 

 that of the maintenance ration when they weighed 150 lbs. each. On full feed the 

 average coefficients of digestibility were dry matter 78.4, protein 73.9, fat 78.4, and 

 nitrogen-free extract 89.2 per cent. On a maintenance ration the average coefficients 

 were dry matter 54.6, protein 75.8, fat 82.5, and nitrogen-free extract 78.8 per cent. 



Experiments in pig feeding, W. L. Carlvle and T. F. McCon.vell ( Wiscon.'dn 

 Std. apt. 1901, pp. ^.'i-.'iS, Jigx. 17) . — Two tests similar in purpose to those previously 

 carried on at the station are repcjrted (E. S. R., 13, p. 78). 



Effect of feeding various grain rations to growing and fattening hogs, W. /,. Carhjle and 

 T. F. McConnell (pp. 25-44, fit's. 13). — Using 2 lots each made up of 3 pure-bred pigs 

 and 2 razorback-Poland -China grades, the authors compared the relative merits of 



27718— No. 10—02 6 



