1919] 



ANIMAL PKODUCTlOISr. 



271 



Beport on experiments on the feeding value of bracken rhizomes for pigs 

 and poultry (West of Scot, Agr. Col. Bui. 89 (1919), pp. 101-107).— In a 20- 

 weeks' trial reported by J. Wyllie, a lot of 6 pigs fed bracken rhizomes mostly 

 dried and ground and " ordinary meals " gained at a rate of 0.77 lb. per head 

 per day, while a comparable lot receiving only the " ordinary meals " gained 

 0.71 lb. About 1.5 lbs. of the dried rhizome was consumed per pound of gain. 

 No records were kept of consumption of the other feeds. 



A feeding trial during October and November with 29 White Leghorn pullets, 

 four of which did not lay, is reported by A. Kinross. A lot of 10 birds, all 

 hiyers, that received bracken rhizome in the form of meal as part of the wet 

 mash averaged 10.3 eggs per bird during the period. Two other lots not fed 

 bracken produced 23.8 and 34.1 eggs per layer, respectively. The wet mash 

 fed the latter group contained corn meal. 



[Emergency concentrates for range sheep], C. E. Fleming (Nevada Sta. 

 Rpt. 1918, pp. Jt7-49). — From a study of the situation resulting from the grad- 

 ual extermination of the white sage (Enrohia lunata), the most important 

 winter forage plant on the Nevada desert ranges, and the loss of sheep during 

 periods of deep snow and very cold weather, the following emergency measures 

 are advised: (1) Tran.^pfwtation of cottonseed cake to the range during No- 

 vember, (2) feeding of cake morning and evening during extreme weather, 

 allowing the sheep to rustle in the middle of the day, and (3) division of the 

 band for feeding purposes into units of about 500 head so that weak animals 

 will have a better chance to secure feed. It is estimated that with wool at 

 40 to 50 cts. a pound a sheepman can afford to pay $45 a ton for cake delivered 

 at a railroad station within hauling distance of his range. 



Effect of age or weight of pigs on rate and econoiny of gains, W. L. Robi- 

 soN (Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta., If (1919), No. 5, pp. 148-151).— The growth and feed- 

 ing records from birth of 3 groups of pigs selected for uniformity are here 

 reported, the object being to compare the economy of each 100 lbs. increase in 

 live weight until 500 lbs. was reached. The pigs were selected shortly after 

 weaning and were fed individually, only barrows being used. Feed records 

 before w(>aiiing are based on litter averages. One group was composed of 

 pigs farrowed in the spring; the other two of fall pigs. The spring pigs 

 were fed corn, middlings, and tankage (10:4:1) imtil slaughtered. When 

 started on individual feeding the fall pigs (both lots) were given corn and 

 tankage, 8:1; the proportion of corn was gradually increased during the 

 next 24 weeks to 14 : 1, and remained constant thereafter. As each 100 lb. 

 increment in live weight was attained a certain number of pigs in each group 

 were slaughtered to secure information as to the weights and quality of the 

 carcasses. The following tabulation is a summary of the combined results of 

 the two groups of fall pigs : 



Influence of weight of pigs on rate and econormj of gains. 



