38 

 The System of Feeding. 



Pigs fed at the experiment stations are weaned at from six to eight weeks of age 

 and are at once delivered to the station. At the station pigs are divided into four 

 groups according to weight. Class 1, includes pigs up to 40 pounds; class 2, 40 to 60 

 pounds; class 3, 60 to 120 pounds; and class 4, 120 pounds to about 200 pounds when 

 they are finished. All foods are calculated in ' food units,' using one pound of grain, 

 such as barley, corn, wheat, etc., as a basis. In roots and other green feed the food 

 units are estimated on their dry matter, as, for example, 8 pound? of mangels, 4 pounds 

 of boiled potatoes, 5 pounds of lucerne or 5 pounds of sugar beets, equal one food unit. 

 In the case of milk 6 pounds and of whey 12 pounds are calculated to have a feeding 

 value of one food unit. In other words the feeding value of 1 pound of grain (barley, 

 corn, wheat, shorts, etc.) has the same feeding Value as 6 pounds of milk, 8 pounds of 

 mangels, 4 pounds of boiled potatoes, 5 pounds of sugar beets or 5 pounds of green 

 lucerne, or green vetches. 



The diet is varied according to the classes of pigs. In class 1 the ration consists 

 of 30 per cent milk and 70 per cent grain, calculated in food units. In other words, 

 the mixture fed consists of 180 parts (6 x 30= 180) by weight of milk to 70 parts by 

 weight of meal. 



In food units class 2 gets 25 per cent milk, 70 per cent grain and 5 per cent roots 

 or green fodder. The mixture fed at this stage consists, therefore, of 150 parts (6 x 

 25=150) by weight of milk, 70 parts by weight of grain and 40 parts (5 x 8=40) by 

 weight of mangels. If lucerne or vetches were fed instead of roots this part of the 

 mixture would be 25 parts by weight of the mixture, and corresponding weights in the 

 case of sugar beets, boiled potatoes, etc. 



Class 3 gets 15 per cent milk, 75 per cent grain and 10 per cent roots, or green 

 fodder. This ration consists of a mixture of 90 parts by weight of milk, 75 parts by 

 weight of grain and 80 parts by weight of mangels, etc. 



Class 4 — each pig gets three-quarters of one food unit (4J lbs.) of milk, one- 

 quarter of one food unit (2 lbs.) of roots, if mangels, or Xi pounds of sugar beets or 

 lucerne, and the remainder in the form of grain. 



The food is given in the form of a slop, rather thin, while the pigs are young and 

 thicker towards the end. The food is prepared one day ahead. At the station visited 

 in July the grain mixture consisted of about equal parts of barley, corn, oats and shorts. 

 The feeding was done three times daily, and while the appetite was satisfied at each 

 meal the trough was always cleaned up by the time the meal was over. It was evident 

 that the feeding was intelligently done. Young pigs up to 60 poTinds of weight get 

 charcoal, and when necessary to regulate the bowels, a little cod liver oil. 



Gains by Ages. 



The Danish farmer is convinced that the cost of gains increase with the age and 

 weight of pigs. This has been repeatedly proven at the experiment stations. The 

 following table shows the food units required in summer to make one pound of gain 

 in pigs of different weights : : 



