FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART IX. 



617 



pounds; and yet these Iowa pigs, which fed themselves, weighed eight 

 pounds more per head in three days' less time than where they were 

 hand fed according to the most approved methods of Professor Dietrich. 

 The manner in which pigs balance their ration is very interesting. 

 This is clearly depicted in the three charts presented. By means of 

 plotted curves, there is shown the number of pounds of each of the various 

 feeds eaten by ten-day periods throughout a feeding period which ex- 

 tended until the pigs were approximately seven and one-half months 

 of ago. 



80 90. 100 110 120 130 140 150 1E0 170 180 |90 200 210 220 

 AGE IN DAYS 



The way pigs baiauce their ration witn coia, meat meal and oats. 

 All self-fed separately 



On Chart 1 is given the corn, meat meal and oats eaten, together with 

 the weights of pigs, from weaning time until they reached 271 pounds. 

 Charcoal, limestone and salt were allowed in addition, together with 

 water at free will, but these are not plotted. 



It is intensely interesting to note that the corn consumption gradually 

 increased until it reached a maximum of approximately eight pounds 

 when the pigs were 205 days of age. Beyond this high point, or maximum 

 of consumption, there was a gradual decline in the amount of feed eaten, 

 showing clearly that the "pushed from birth" pigs had reached the "top 

 of the hiir at the weight of about 225 pounds. The gains from this point 

 on gradually became slower and slower. 



