980 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



corn and rye 1 : 1 and peas and wheat shorts 1 : 2, all the grains being finely ground. 

 The nutritive ratio of the first ration was 1 : 8.2 and of the second 1 : 4.1. The test 

 covered 12 weeks. The average weight of the pigs at the beginning was 1.32 lbs. 

 The average gain per pig per day in the 2 lots was 0.96 and 0.62 lb., respectively, the 

 feed eaten per pound of gain being 5.52 and 7.62 lbs. The pigs were slaughtered and 

 the results of a block test recorded, which included determinations of the strength 

 of the bones and tendons in addition to the usual data. As pointed out by the 

 authors, lot 1 ate more and gained more than lot 2. In other words, the ration with 

 the wide nutritive ratio was the more jirofitable. 



The results of a feeding trial to (letermi)ie the comparative effect of feeding pigs rations of 

 corn meal and of ground peas, W. L. Carlyle (pp. 44-58, figs. 4). — To further test the 

 comparative value of ground peas and corn meal, these grains were each fed alone, 

 using 2 lots each made up of 2 razorback pigs, 1 Yorkshire, and 2 razorback grades, 

 weighing on an average some 48 lbs. each at the beginning of the trial. In 30 weeks 

 the average daily gain per pig in lot 1 (fed peas) was 0.75 lb. In lot 2 (fed corn 

 meal) it was 0.63 lb. The feed eaten per pound of gain was 4.52 and 4.91 lbs., respec- 

 tively, the corresponding cost of a pound of gain being 6.78 and 4.34 cts. At the 

 close of the test the pigs were slaughtered and a block test made. The nutritive 

 ratio of the pea ration was 1 : 3.18 and of the corn ration 1 : 9.75. According to the 

 author, the pig.? fed peas, i. e., the narrower ration, gave much better results than the 

 lot fed corn. "The razorback-Poland-China cross-bred pigs ate the most grain, made 

 the greatest average gain, had much the larger quantity of internal fat, and the great- 

 est thickness of surface fat on outside of body." 



From the 2 tests a number of general deductions were drawn which are in effect as 

 follows: Feeding stuffs exercise a marked influence on the proportion of fat and lean 

 meat in the carcass of growing pigs and may also materially affect the development 

 of the various internal organs and the breaking strength of the bones and tendons. 

 A ration of peas and shorts give a larger proportion of lean meat, firmer flesh, 

 stronger bone and more blood than a ration of corn and rye. A ration of peas, when 

 compared with a ration of corn, gave more marked results in these respects than did 

 the ration of peas and shorts when compared with corn and rye. Rations of corn 

 and corn and rye when fed to growing pigs ten<led to retard the development of their 

 internal organs and to increase the proportion of fat meat. The thigh bones of pigs 

 fed upon peas were on the average 26.9 per cent stronger than the thigh bones of pigs 

 of the same age and breeding fed upon corn. "At the prevailing market prices for 

 the grains in the rations fed, corn has proved to be a much cheaper feed for hogs than 

 peas. Owing to the observed tendency to a lessened development of the internal 

 organs and a reduction in the comparative strength of bones in corn-fed hogs, it is 

 still an open question if, in the case of breeding stock, it would not be advisable to 

 feed a much more expensive ration than corn and build up thereby a stronger vital- 

 ity in the animal." 



Whole corn compared with corn meal for fattening- swine, W. A. Henry 

 ( Wiscoiisin Sta. Rpt. 1901, pp. 10-15). — Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 13, p. 79), 

 the comparative merits of whole and ground corn were tested with 2 lots, each con- 

 taining 12 inire-bred and grade i)igs, some of the latter showing razorback blood. 

 Lot 1 Avas fed whole corn and wheat middlings 2:1; lot 2 corn meal and wheat mid- 

 dlings 2 : 1, mixed with water to a slop. At the beginning of the trial the average 

 weight of the pigs of the 2 lots was 145 and 148 lbs. each. In the 12 weeks covered 

 by the test the average gain per head was 74.4 and 86.5 lbs. respectively, the feed 

 consumed per pound of gain being 5.88 and 5.53 lbs. The author notes that the pigs 

 fed corn meal made larger gains and ate more than those fed whole corn. Taking 

 into account the present trial aiid those made in former years, a saving has been 



