172 An Experiment in Pig-Feeding. 



the consumption in Series I. (page 514) of 488 lbs., and in 

 Series II. (page 516) of 4(31 lbs. of dry organic matter.* 



The lower result oljtained in the present case may be fairly 

 attributed in part to the inferior powers of Pigs Nos. o and 4 ; 

 but, even allowing for this, we must conclude tliat, comparing 

 them weight for weight, and apart from the questions of prime 

 cost and of the value of the manure, the mixture of malt-dust 

 and palm-nut meal is as a food inferior to the mixtures of meals 

 ^iven by Mr. Lawes. The pigs did nc^t consume it so freely ; 

 and, since the accumulation of fat results simply from the excess 

 of assimilated food over the quantity required for respiration 

 and to replace wasted tissue, the necessary result is that they 

 fattened more slowly. 



We shall, however, be better able to compare the results with 

 those obtained by Mr. Lawes, if we reduce them to the standard 

 adopted by him in Tables XXII. and XXIII. of his Report, 

 pages 508 and 510, showing the Average Weeldg Consumption 

 per 100 lbs. live weight of animal, of dry organic matter. 



Table II I. 



Dining During I During Total 



Second Third Fouitli Period of 



During 

 First 

 Period. 



Period, i Period. ! Period. 94 Da3-s 



I 11)S. 



Average total weight of 4 pigs (55 1 



lbs. I lbs. ' lbs. "lbs. 



748 ' 830 UIO '' 780 



lo5 



143 148 153 145 



Average dry organic matter con-1 1 

 sumed per iceeh by 4 pigs . . J 



Average weekly consumption, V 

 of dry organic matter per 100 1 



ll).s. live weight of animal. [ 20-G4 li;)-12 17-83 IG-Sl 18-GO 

 (Quantities stated in lbs. and 

 tenths J 



In Mr. Lawes' experiments (Series I., page 508) we find, 

 taking the mean of twelve pens of pigs fed on different combi- 

 nations of meals and bi'an, 24*84 lbs. of dry organic matter was 

 consumed per week for each 100 lbs, of live weight of animal, 

 Avhile in Series II., page 510, the consumption is even more, 

 amounting to 26'8 lbs. 



It will be seen that the rate of consumption at Haslemere was 

 not much more than two-thirds of the ccnisumption at Rotham- 

 sted ; and when we consider how much of the food is required 

 for respiration and the waste of tissue, I think we must be struck 

 by the comparatively good return of 100 lbs. increase in live 

 weight for each 561 lbs. of dry organic matter consumed. It 



* ' Jonrnal of the Eoyal Agricultural Society of England ' for 1853. 



