502 



Feeds and Feeding. 



leaving 82 per ct. of all it consumed for gain in body weight. The 

 food required for the support of the body gradually increased per- 

 centagely as the animal grew in size, until the 200-lb. pig was found 

 to require 36 per ct. of all it ate for the support of the body, leav- 

 ing but 64 per ct. of its food for gain in body weight. Here is an- 

 other example showing that young animals make the most economi- 

 cal gains for a given amount of food. (95) 



The food of gain and food of support of the pig. 



819. Rate of gain and feed consumed. The following data, con- 

 densed by the author from over 500 feeding trials with over 2,200 

 pigs at many American experiment stations, show the feed consumed 

 daily by pigs of different weights, as well as the rate of gain, and 

 gain from a given quantity of feed. In compiling this table 6 Ibs. 

 of skim milk or 12 Ibs. of whey were rated as equal to 1 Ib. of con- 

 centrates. 



The relation of weight of pigs to feed consumed and rate of gain. 



The table shows that pigs weighing under 50 Ibs. consumed on the 

 average 2.2 Ibs. of feed daily, while 300-lb. pigs consumed 7.5 Ibs. 

 daily. Based on weight, the 50-lb. pigs consumed 6.0 Ibs. of feed 

 per 100 Ibs. of body, while 300-lb. pigs consumed only 2.4 Ibs. per 

 100 Ibs. In other words, young pigs consume far more feed for 

 their weight than do large ones. The average gain per day started 



