Investigations with Swine. 



556 



In the following table appear tlie data gathered during this 

 trial: 



Influence of length of fattening period on the food consumption and 

 gain of hogs — Wisconsin Station. 



Studying the table, it is seen that the heaviest weekly gains and 

 the smallest amount of feed consumed per week were at the begin- 

 ning of the trial. As the trial continued, the weekly gain in weight 

 gradually diminished, while the feed consumed per week gradu- 

 ally increased. In consequence of these two opposite factors, the 

 amount of feed required to produce 100 pounds of gain increased 

 from week to week as the trial progressed. During the first week 

 of the trial 362 pounds of feed made 100 pounds of gain, while 

 during the last week 598 pounds were required. Grouping the 

 results into periods of four weeks each, we find that for the first 

 four weeks 418 pounds of feed were required for 100 pounds of 

 gain. During the second four weeks there were required 461 

 pounds of feed, or ten per cent, more, for 100 pounds of gain. 

 For the last four weeks, 559 pounds of feed were required, or an 

 increase of 33 per cent, for 100 pounds of gain. 



The lesson is plain that the gain of fattening hogs after the first 

 four or five weeks of confinement is secured only by constantly in- 

 creasing quantities of feed for a given weight of increase. 



