428 A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



kind of food being placed in each one. The pig goes to the 

 self-feeder and eats to suit himself. This has been called the 

 ''cafeteria" or "free choice" system of feeding. Experiments 

 at a number of our stations have shown that pigs fattened 

 by this method gained more rapidly than those hand-fed, 

 and essentially balanced their rations themselves. The 

 labor bill with pigs thus fed is greatly reduced, and there is 

 less waste of feed than there is where corn is scattered over 

 the ground. In experiments conducted by Prof. Evvard at 

 the Iowa station, in comparison with hand-fed under differ- 

 ent conditions, the free-choice-fed pigs had the advantage 

 in gains in weight and cost of production. In experiments 

 conducted by Prof. L. A. Weaver at the Missouri station,* 

 pigs fattened with the self-feeder gained more rapidly than 

 those which had been hand-fed, but with no difference in 

 economy of gain. 



"It is apparent," writes Prof. Weaver, "that the advantage which 

 the self-feeder method will have in any specific instance over hand- 

 feeding, in regard to rate of gain, will depend to a large degree upon the 

 ability of the person doing the hand-feeding to feed so that the hogs will 

 consume a maximum amount of feed. In practically all cases, when 

 the self-fed hogs gained more rapidly than those which are hand-fed, 

 they also consumed more feed." 



The self-feeder is not generally suited to breeding stock, 

 where it is necessary to assume control over the amount 

 of food eaten in order to prevent fattening. Prof. W. W. 

 Smith, however, regards the use of the self-feeder during 

 the winter, for pregnant sows and gilts, as a safe method, f 

 He recommends to feed in it a good quality of alfalfa or 

 clover hay cut fine or ground and mixed with corn, and 

 the proportion of hay so regulated that the consumption 

 of corn will not exceed the amount necessary to maintain 

 the proper condition and weight. "However," he says, 

 "great care must be exercised that the consumption of corn 

 is not excessive. In the hands of a careless feeder, the in- 

 discriminate use of the self-feeder would prove disastrous." 



*Self-Feeders for Fattening Swine. Bulletin 144 Mo. Ag. Exp. Station, 1917. 

 fPork Production, 1920. 



