70 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



lactation. It was found possible by the aid of the separator to make 

 butter with a total loss of only 0.1 1 per cent of the total fat in the milk, 

 and this factor was used in calculating the yield of butter from the 

 Individuals of the different breeds. As the data for the second period 

 of lactation can not be given with fullness, the individual record is tab 

 ulated in the report and discussion of the results is reserved until the 

 record is complete. 



Feeding trials with different breeds of swine, W. P. Wheeler 

 {Neiv York State tSta. Rpt. 1892^ pp. 2S6-290.) — Poland China, Duroc, 

 and Berkshire pigs, frcmi 4 to 8 of each breed, were fed from birth 

 until 39 weeks old, and the cost of gain determined. For the first 14 

 weeks the pigs were fed with the sows. After that they received corn 

 meal, wheat bran, middlings, ground oats, and cotton-seed meal in 

 various combinations, but no skim milk was fed during the trial. The 

 gain in weight, food eaten, and cost of food per pound of gain are tabu 

 lated for each lot. The Poland Chinas and the Berkshires made the 

 largest gains. The cost of food is based on wheat bran at $18 per ton, 

 corn meal at $24, middlings at $L'0, ground oats at $26, and cotton-seed 

 meal at $30. The results are summarized as follows: 



"The gross cost of piodiiction of live weiglit fertile whole trial, not counting the 

 value of weight lost by the sow, was for the Poland Chinas, 4 cents yier pound ; for the 

 Durocs, 5.1, and for the Berkshii-es, 5.4. For the 25 weeks after removal of the sow, 

 the Poland Chinas cost 3.91 cents per pound of gain, the Berkshires 5.13, andtiie Enr( cs 

 5.57; the Poland Chinas costing 23.8 per cent less than the Berkshires and 29.8 hss 

 than the Durocs. These pigs at the close of this trial ran froui 116 lbs. in weight to 

 165, and after being used in another feeding trial were killed, when 6 Poland Chinas 

 lost on the average by dressing 19.5 per cent of tlieir live weight, 4 Durocs 23.7, and 

 4 Berkshires 25.6. 



"At the high price of grain and the average price of jjork, for the few years past 

 the Poland Chinas were the only pigs to make a fairly profitable gain; but at the 

 higher prices of pork recently i)revailiug, the gain made by each was a profitable 

 one." 



Feeding experiments with pigs, W. P. Wiieeleu {New York State 

 Sta. Bpt. 1892, pp. 283-285). 



Synopsis. — A comparison on 20 pigs of feeding sorghum and beets in place of part of 

 the grain ration. The gain was in all cases slightly larger on the full grain 

 ration. Sorghum at $2 per ton was not as economical as tlie larger grain ration; 

 but beets at $3 gave a cheaper gain than sorghum or the full grain ration. 



Twenty pigs, averaging about 43 lbs. each, were divided into 2 lots, 

 and fed in 4 periods of about 1 month each. In the first period lot A 

 had a limited amount of linseed meal and a large proportion of green 

 sorghum (whole plant), and lot B had a full ration of linseed meal, 

 corn meal, and a small proportion of sorghum; and in the second 

 period the lots were reversed. In the third and fourth periods beets 

 were fed in place of sorghum, the 2 lots being reversed as on sorghum. 

 The full ration of sorghum was about 6J lbs., and of beets about 

 5J lbs. per animal. Skim milk was fed throughout the experiment. 

 Data showing the amounts of food eaten and the gains in weight are 

 tabulated for each lot. In the case of both lots the average gain per 



