AKIMAL PRODUCTION. 711 



"sheeji will eat a greater quantity of ou'ii ])(■!• (lay cooked tliau dry, . . . will fatten 

 enough faster to pay for the extra corii t'aten . . . [and] can be fattened in a nmch 

 shorter time." 



The college lambs, J. D. Towak {Jour. A(jr. and Intl. South Australia, 7 {1903), 

 Xo. 3, pp. 14~, 143). — For several years raising lambs for early market lias been 

 studied, Dorset Horn and Shropshire sires being bred originally witli high-grade 

 merinos anfl later with first-cross Dorset ewes and Dorset-merinos. 



"The Dorsets have each year come two or three weeks earlier, and witli that 

 advantage have each time excelled the Shropshires in the early market. Yet it 

 has been commonly observed that the Shropshires made the faster growth, nearly 

 overtaking the Dorsets by the time the latter were 4 months old. The young 

 Dorsets . . . invariably commanded tlie higher price in the sale yard." 



Experiments in feeding swine, E. E. Elliott ( Washington Sta. Bui. 58, pp. ^4) . — 

 The relative merits of full rations of different grains and grain mixtures were tested 

 with 4 lots of 3 pigs each, most of them averaging a little over 100 lbs. in weight. In 

 S weeks the lot fed rolled wheat made an average daily gain of 1.13 lbs. per jiig at a 

 cost of 3.07 cts. per pound, and the lot fed a mixture of rolled wheat and barley with 

 ground peas 3:3:2 made an average daily gain of 1.14 lbs. per head at a cost of 3.64 

 cts. In the case of the lot fed rolled barley the average daily gain was 0.72 lb. per 

 pig and the cost of a pound of gain 5.52 cts., and with the lot fed rolled wheat and 

 barley 1:1 these values were, respectively, 0.71 lb. and 5.23 cts. Similar differences 

 were observed in the feed required per pound of gain, the values being 4.73 and 4.07 

 lbs. for the lots fed rolled wheat, and peas and grain, and 7.35 and 7.47 lbs., respec- 

 tively, for the lots fed rolled barley and a mixture of wheat and l)arley. 



In a second test made under much the same conditions with 3 lots of 3 pigs each, 

 the average daily gain per pig in 14 weeks was 0.59 lb. on a mixture of barley, wheat, 

 oats, and peas 4:4:3:1, the cost of a pound of gain being 5.07 cts. and the feed required 

 per pound of gain 6.37 lbs. The lot fed chopped barley made an average daily gain 

 of 0.62 lb. per pig at a cost of 5.17 cts., requiring 6.53 lbs. of feed per pound of gain. 

 The most satisfactory results were obtained with the lot fed chopped wheat, the 

 average daily gain being 0.72 lb., the cost of a pound of gain 3.78 cts., and the feed 

 required per pound of gain 5.25 lbs. 



The principal conclusions drawn were in effect that wheat appears to be the feed 

 best adapted for long-continued feeding. In each case the pigs receiving this grain 

 made steadier advancement than any of the other lots. 



The addition of peas or oats to a mixed ration did not show any practical advantage 

 over wheat alone. "This should not betaken, however, as conclusive evidence 

 against the feeding of these grains in combination." The greater cost of peas stands 

 in the way of their profitable use as a grain feed when combineil with the grains 

 studied. 



The results secured from barley were in botli tests disappointing. Whether fed in 

 combination or alone, it stood at the foot of the list. 



The general results as regards the amount of food eaten are, it is believed, somewhat 

 above the averages reported elsewhere. The same holds true of the gain per day. 



AVith fat hogs bringing 5.5 to 6 cts. per pound, there is a large profit to l)e made in 

 feeding wheat. This can not be said of barley. 



In all the W'ork done the fact stands out prominently that wheat alone when fed in 

 a proper manner, and under conditions calculated to secure good results, will give 

 greater profits than any of the other grains tested. "To expect to reap returns by 

 throwing it on the ground in the mud, or w'ithout crushing or soaking it, or in some 

 other way making it more palatable and digestil)le, is sure to result in failure." 



To feed the animal below rather than up to the limit of its capacity is regarded as 

 probal)l\' the wiser plan. During the fei'diug i)eriod the i)igs nnist have sufficient 

 exercise to enable them to maintain their ai)i)etite. No extra amount of care will 

 replace this reiiuirement. 



