THE FREE-CHOICE SYSTEM 



169 



to keep the pigs from sorting out the tankage and middlings which 

 they preferred), 5 parts wheat middlings, and 6 parts of tankage, 

 all thoroughly mixed together and self-fed. 



Inasmuch as 225 pounds is a handy marketable weight, the fig- 

 ures represented pigs taken to that weight, but remember, before 

 we study the following table, to note that after we had continued 

 ^these standards six months the pigs were all put upon self-feeders 

 and allowed the feeds free-choice style in each group. When this 

 change took place it was marvelous to note how the groups previ- 

 ously fed according to the artificialized standards began to improve, 

 making more rapid gains that before, and, generally speaking, re- 

 quiring less feed for 100 pounds of gain. The table gives the re- 

 sults as regards the pounds of feed eaten daily per animal during 

 the period from the beginning of the test until they weighed 225 

 pounds ; also the number of days required until they reached that 

 weight, this being based on the actual age of the pigs : 



AVERAGEIPOUNDS TOTAL DAILY FEED EATEN PER HOG DURING 

 PERIOD 



This table in itself is better appreciated on close study. Note 

 that the least number of days are required in the three free-choice 

 groups fed (Lots I, II, and III), whether self -fed or hand-fed, and 

 that the feeding standards were good, depending on their chrono- 

 logical origin; in other words, the newer standards are the best. 

 We can more thoroughly appreciate this table in comparison with 

 one other. The following table shows the feed required for 100 

 pounds of gain in the various groups, taking the groups up to 225 

 pounds in weight : 



FEED REQUIRED FOR 100 POUNDS OF GAIN UP TO 225 POUNDS 



