338 SWINE IN AMERICA 



Pound for pouno, wheat is about the equivalent of 

 corn for producing pork. It is estimated that by ordi- 

 nary farm methods an average of five pounds of wheat or 

 corn are required to yield a pound of j5brk when either 

 grain is fed by itself. Wheat, having more of the tissue- 

 building elements, will give more lean meat than corn, 

 and, hence, corn is preferred for fattening. Wheat-fed 

 and corn-fed hogs appear to be equally well liked by the 

 i:)acker. The Armour Packing Company said in letters to 

 the author in the winter of 1894-95 : "From the informa- 

 tion we gather, most of the hogs w'e have killed this win- 

 ter have been fed considerable wheat, and we find the 

 quality of the meat is very satisfactory in every way. The 

 percentages do not vary much except in the yield of lard, 

 which is decidedly in favor of corn-fed hogs, but the 

 meat from the wheat-fed hogs is firm, well streaked with 

 lean, and particularly desirable for bacon and fancy 

 cuts." The percentages referred to are shown in the 

 table on page 339 which compares 86 hogs having an 

 average weight of 248 pounds, fed on corn and slaugh- 

 tered at Armour's November 3, 1894. with 71 hogs hav- 

 ing an a^■erage weight of 251 pounds, fed on wheat, but 

 no corn, since July, 1894, and slaughtered at Armour's 

 (in both instances at the Kansas City plant) October 11, 

 ^894. 



Records kept by farmers as well as at tlie experiment 

 stations have shown wheat to have a feeding value of $1 

 per bushel when fed to pigs. P. D. Armour, Jr.. made 

 a test in 1894 with 18 pigs about four months old, feed- 

 ing them wheat crushed and soaked 24 hours, and given 

 three times a day, no other feed being used. The lot 



