Investigations with Swine. 



511 



measured the intestines of 39 fattened hogs and found that the large 

 intestine varied from 13 to 16 ft., and the small intestine from 54 

 to 60 ft., in length. The average extreme body length of these ani- 

 mals was 3.5 ft. This makes the small intestine alone from 16 to 19 

 times the length of the body, an.d the large and small intestines com- 

 bined about 21 times the body length. From these figures it appears 

 that the intestines of pigs of the improved breeds are longer in 

 proportion to the body than those given by Cuvier. This may in- 

 dicate that the modern pig can digest his food more thoroly than his 

 ancestors, and also that he can eat a larger quantity of food in a 

 given time. (28) 



833. Breed tests. Kommel, 1 collecting the data relative to -the 

 feed required for a given gain from 8 American experiment sta- 

 tions with 6 breeds of swine, gives the following summary: 



Feed tests with 6 breeds of swine at 8 American experiment stations. 



Unprejudiced study will lead to the conclusion that there is no 

 best breed of swine, tho some one breed is usually better than others 

 for a given farmer or for a given region of country. In deciding 

 which breed of swine to keep on a given farm, there are many factors 

 to be taken into account besides the single one of the amount of feed 

 consumed for a given gain. Studies of 4 breeds at the Copenhagen 

 (Denmark) Station 2 revealed no difference save that the Poland- 

 China breed gave firmer pork than the native swine. 



834. Feral swine. Carlyle of the Wisconsin Station 3 procured 

 feral or semi- wild swine, styled ' ' razorbacks, " from Texas and the 

 Indian Territory. In one trial 6 unmixed descendants from the 

 original pair of razorbacks were fed in comparison with the same 

 number of pigs obtained by crossing razorbacks on improved Berk- 

 shires or Poland Chinas. 



The razorbacks made slower gains and required more feed for a 

 given gain than did the cross-breds. Carlyle reports that they were 

 also fickle in appetite. At one time they would gorge themselves, 



1 IT. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus., Bui. 47. 2 Ept. 15, 1889. 3 Rpt. 1903. 



