174 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



proved its usefulness in fattening old sows for market. In its present form the 

 stick is too bulky, and it is suggested that it be dried and distributed in the 

 form of powder. 



In a lot of pigs fed corn and digester tankage with skim milk, the gains cost 

 10 cts. per pound as compared with 3.76, 4.99, 5.99, and 4.6 cts. in lots where 

 the stick was used, but these results are not deemed conclusive. 



Rape for fall pigs, C. K. McClelland and P. V. Ewing {Georgia Sta. Circ. 

 73 {1915), pp. Jf, fig. 1). — General information on the value of rape for fall pigs 

 based on .station work is summarized. Pigs fed on rape pasture averaged from 

 2.5 to 33J per cent larger than when fed in a dry lot. The loss of pigs to 

 weaning age was also retluced by the u.se of this pasture from 20 to 2.j per cent 

 to less than 6 per cent. On fall-planted rape from 14 to 21 hogs per acre were 

 grazed from October 28 to April 7. 



Growing and fattening hogs in Montana, P. N. Flint and R. F. 5Iilij:b 

 {Montana Sta. Circ. 50 {1915), pp. Jf3-Tl, figs. 2). — General information is given 

 on methods of growing and fattening hogs under Montana conditions. An 

 article l)y H. Welch on diseases of swine is apiiondt^l. 



[Changes in form due to fattening of horses], W. A. Cochel and B. O. 

 Se\-ersox {Pennsylvania Sta. Ept. 1912, pp. 13.'f-l.',0, figs. 5). — This reports 

 measurements taken of the fattening horses used in the experiment previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 2S, p. 171). 



A record of the outline of the chest and the middle of the paunch of each 

 Individual horse was made at the beginning and close of the oxi^riment by 

 means of an adjustable chain, for the purpose of determining where the fat was 

 placed on the body. It was found that there was little change in depth of body, 

 especially at the he.irt girth; that there was an ap|iareut iniproveniont in the 

 spring of the rib and a very material increase in the width of the body through- 

 out. It appeared that the greatest changes in form due to the fattening process 

 are in those parts of the body where there is the heaviest covering of muscle. 

 A very marked change in the form of the chest was noted in the U>catinn of the 

 point of greatest width, which is nearly 2 in. higher in the fat animal than in 

 the one in thin condition. There was a smoothness in outline and rotundity of 

 form after fattening entirely absent before the finishing process is started. In 

 the outlines of the middle of the paunch of thin horses there was a flattened 

 appearance above the median line, while the same measurements after fattening 

 resulted in an almost perfect circle. 



As the horses lost in weight and condition, due to work, they assumed a form 

 similar to that which they had before the fattening period. These changes show 

 that the horse at hard work may not only utilize his daily rations for the jtro- 

 duction of work but may draw upon the reserve energy which is stored up in the 

 form of fat on his body. There was very little change in the length of head and 

 shoulder and the distance from the chest and hock to the ground. The length of 

 back as measured from the scapula to the hip decreased slightly, due to a deposit 

 of fat over the hips and immediately behind the scapula ; there was an apparent 

 lowering of the hind flank. The losses in these two measurements, however, 

 were so slight as to l)e within probable error of measurements. There was an 

 increase in height both at the withers and croup. At the beginning the horses 

 %\ ere higher at the withers, but when finished were higher at the croup, probably 

 due to the deposit of fat within the heavy muscles over the hips. 



The results of these measurements seem to Indicate that the greatest change 

 in fattening horses is one of width rather than depth; that the smoothness, 

 symmetry, and general appearance are greatly improved by the " rounding out " 

 process due to deposit of fat within the muscles and that the form of the indi- 



