1080 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



raw and cooked potatoes were compared when fed with a corn-meal and skim-milk 

 ration. Each of the 4 lots used contained 4 pigs each. In 2 lots the animals 

 weighed on an average some 77 lbs. and in the remaining lots some 40 lbs. On 

 cooked potatoes the heavier lot gained 1.4 lbs., the lighter lot 10.9 ll)s. On raw 

 potatoes corresponding gains were 3.1 and 11.7 lbs. Considering the period as a 

 whole, the total gain on a ration containing potatoes was 27.1 lbs., the feed required 

 per pound of gain being 16.2 lbs. potatoes, 17.9 lbs. skim milk, and 1 lb. corn meal. 



"In view of the fact that potatoes, cooked or uncooked, are often used as a food for 

 pigs, it may seem strange that such unfavorable results were secured in the present 

 case. When, however, we study the weather conditions which prevailed while the 

 experiment was in progress, and consider that the pen iji which the pigs were kept 

 was somewhat damp and cold, the cause of the trouble is not difficult to locate." 



After feeding all the pigs on corn meal and skim milk until they were in good con- 

 dition, they were again divided into 4 lots of 4 each. For 46 days lots 1 and 3 were 

 fed gluten meal and skim milk and lots 2 and 4 corn meal and skim milk, the 

 proportion of skim milk to grain in each case being about 3:1. At the beginning 

 of the test the 4 lots weighed, respectively, 349, 362, 190, and 194 lljs. The total gains 

 made were 214, 297.5, 157.5, and 219 lbs., the cost of a pound of gain being 2.7, 2.5, 

 2.4, and 1.9 cts. 



In the second test 9 lots of 4 pigs each were used. Lots 1 and 4 were fed skim milk 

 and corn meal, 6:1; lots 2 and 5, skim milk and mixed grains, 6:1, the grain mixture 

 consisting of 4 parts of corn meal to 1 part of wheat middlings; lots 3 and 6, skim 

 milk and corn meal, 3 : 1, and lots 7, 8, and 9 the same rations, respectively, as lots 1, 

 2, and 3, with bone meal in addition in the proportion of 1 oz. per 100 lbs. live 

 weight. At the beginning of the trial, which covered 45 days, the lots ranged from 

 197 lbs. in the case of lot 5 to 303 lbs. in case of lot 9. The total gain ranged from 207 

 lbs. with lot 9 to 275 lbs. with lot 8. The average cost of a pound of gain in all the 

 lots was 2.9 cts. According to the author, gains were made most economically when 

 the ration of grain to milk was about 1:3. 



In the third test, which was made with 8 lots of 4 pigs each and covered 65 days, 

 the most economic gains, costing 2.7 cts. per pound, were made with lot 3, when 

 corn meal and skim milk were fed in a proportion of 1:6.7. The most expensive 

 gains, costing 3.9 cts. per pound, were made with lot 6, fed corn meal and skim milk, 

 1:2.3. The average gain ranged from 107 lbs. with lot 7 (fed grain to skim milk 

 1 : 6.8) to 133 1))S. with lot 3. The total weight of tlie 8 largest pigs at the beginning 

 of the trial was 663 lbs. ; the total gain was 632, or 95 per cent of their weight at the 

 beginning. At the beginning of the trial the 8 smallest pigs weighed 465 lbs., and 

 gained 578 lbs., or 124 per cent of their weight at the beginning. In other words, 

 the larger gains were made by the smaller pigs. "The most profitable returns from 

 pigs are usually secured by turning them off when they reach a weight of from 150 

 to 175 lbs." 



The fourth test, which covered 74 days, was made with 6 lots of 6 pigs each, the 

 ratio of grain to skim milk in the ration ranging from 1 :2.4 with lot 2 to 1 : 8.2 

 with lot 3. The grain ration consisted of corn meal or corn meal and wheat mid- 

 dlings, 4 : 1. For a part of the test a ration of corn meal, beet-sugar molasses, and 

 skim milk, 2:3:5, was fed to lot 2. After 3 days 2 of the pigs died, apparently from 

 poisoning, as was shown by a post-mortem examination. Two pigs were added to 

 the lot in place of these, and after the bad effects of the molasses had been overcome 

 the lot was included in the test proper. Considering the test as a whole, the 

 cheapest gains, costing 3.2 cts. per pound, were made on corn meal and skim milk, 

 1 : 2.5, with bone meal in addition, the most expensive gains costing 4.4 cts. per 

 ponnd on corn meal and skim milk, 1 :6.6. 



The fifth test was made with 5 lots of 6 pigs each and covered 75 days. Lot 2 was 



