170 HOW TO FEED YOUR HOGS 



Note here again that the least feed was required for 100 pounds 

 of gain in the self -fed free-choice group. It is well here to repro- 

 duce in closing the free-choice system discussion a part of the sum- 

 mary and some suggestions presented before the American Society 

 of Animal Production by the author in 1916. 



Summary and Suggestions.. 1. The free-choice system for 

 growing and fattening weanling pigs has a great field of usefulness, 

 because it enables swinemen to secure approximately maximum 

 growth and development on pigs. 



2. The appetite of the pig is apparently a fairly reliable guide 

 as to bodily needs ; at least it appears to be quite trustworthy with 

 certain combinations of feeds. 



3. The feeding standards, although actually quite easily un- 

 derstood, are nevertheless considered bothersome, difficult of exe- 

 cution and complex by the average swine feeding layman. The 

 free-choice system of swine feeding stands out in remarkable con- 

 trast because of its simplicity. 



4. Broadly speaking, the feeding standards are relatively valu- 

 able in the order of their chronological origin. In their application 

 to cornbelt lard-type swine the newest standard the Illinois or 

 Dietrich (water preferably allowed at free-will) appears best" 

 adapted in taking pigs from weaning time until they reach 8 

 months of age. The Kellner comes next, and the Wolff -Lehmann, 

 the oldest, last. 



5. The great question as regards the best measure. of value or 

 the best yardstick to use in determining which system or standard 

 is most efficient is ever with us. Shall success be measured by: 

 (a) Daily gain or days required to reach a certain weight or finish; 

 or (b) feed consumption ability; or (c) feed required for a unit 

 gain, both quantitatively and qualitatively speaking; or (d) the 

 degree of health and immunization against disease; or (e) the net 

 resulting carcass with its smoothness, muscular or fatty de.velop- 

 ment, hardness or softness, and other variable characteristics; or 

 (f) longevity; or (g) reproductive ability? Fashions change; the 

 carcass that is best today may be economically wrong tomorrow. 

 The ideals we picture in the morning often become altered through 

 the progress of the day, so that when the shades of night come we 

 have a different idealistic endpoint. From man's standpoint, the 

 feed consumed per unit gain, the daily gain, the final product and 

 the healthiness of the pigs are major considerations, but from the 

 standpoint of the pig, health, longevity, and reproduction should 

 mean most to the porcine race. 



6. Disappointment should not be felt if sow or boar pigs in- 

 tended for breeding fatten and mature quickly when opportunity 

 is provided, as in the free-choice self-feeding system. We have 

 selected cornbelt swine for many generations, emphasizing early 

 maturity. If our stock did not mature readily when given the 



