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tensive test were carried out under the scrutiny of a satisfactory committee upon whose 

 report a scale of shrinkage according to weights of pigs killed was fixed. Since then farmers 

 supplying hogs are satisfied to allow 4 Ibs. off the weights of newly slaughtered hogs weighing 

 180 Ibs. alive and 5 Ibs. off pigs weighing over this amount. By following this system of 

 settling disputes strained relationships between packers and pig raisers have never been 

 allowed to arise to the great advantage and comfort of all concerned. 



The System of Buying. 



From time to time when the packers find it necessary to change their prices they send 

 out postal cards announcing the new values for the different classes of pigs. Farmers 

 who have pigs ready can book shipments seven days ahead at the current market price. 

 The packer reserves the right to order the booked pigs delivered at the end of the booked 

 period. Unless the packers do this and values do not drop the farmers can rebook for 

 another seven day period. As already pointed out pigs are all bought at dressed weight. 

 The weights are taken as soon as the carcasses are dressed when a deduction for shrinkage 

 while cooling is made according to a standard scale for different sized hogs. 



This firm carries an advertisement in leading live stock papers offering free transporta- 

 tion 100 miles on lots of 10 pigs, and proportion of transportation on smaller lots. As on 

 their post cards they quote graded prices for pigs of different weights. The weights com- 

 manding the highest price are from 120 to 170 Ibs., dressed weight, and the lowest, except 

 sows and the like, for pigs 200 to 220 Ibs., dressed weight. 



Farms Visited. 



The Commission was fortunate in being able to visit the farms of a number of feeders 

 for the Harris Wiltshire factory. Among these were "The Sands" farmed by Mr. F. Smith, 

 and " Lower Sands " farm leased by the former's son, Mr. A. J. Smith, who fed the experimen- 

 tal pigs during the five years tests and demonstrations. On Mr. A. J. Smith's farm were 

 pens containing pigs in all stages of fattening. One lot of 22 head about two months 

 old had just been purchased at $4.85 each. Here, as in almost every district visited, cross 

 bred pigs are preferred to pure breds. Berkshire, Yorkshire and Large Black character- 

 istics were evident in the pens. The pigs were getting slop made from barley meal and bran. 

 All were kept a little short of feed and all except those near the finished stage had roomy 

 yards to run in. Skim milk was purchased at one penny a gallon or 20 cents per 100 Ibs. 

 At three months old each pig is allowed two quarts of milk per day; when it has reached 

 100 Ibs. one gallon per day is fed but never more. All were getting a small quantity of 

 green food such as vetches, clover, cabbage, etc. Pigs fed in this way usually go to market 

 at 8 months old weighing about 160 Ibs. dressed. As the finishing approaches a small 

 quantity of corn is fed but a little bran or shorts is continued to the last. The pigs are 

 fed four times daily 8 and 11-30 a.m. and 3.30 and 8 p.m. Unless he could get milk at 

 reasonable cost Mr. Smith would not feed pigs extensively. 



Another farm visited was that of W. A. Smith, a tenant of Lord Lansdowne. On 340 

 acres Mr. Smith keeps a herd of about 110 dairy Shorthorn cows, sells milk and buys back 

 separated milk at one penny a gallon. He buys practically all the feed he uses, his food 

 bills usually reaching $10,000 per year for cattle and swine. He is a great believer in keep- 

 ing the land up, and in buying feed realizes he is fertilizing the fields. Mr. Smith buys all 

 his pigs at about 4 to 5 months old and usually has them ready for market after two months 

 feeding. He usually has 200 pigs feeding and these cost about $1 each to feed per week. 

 In August the feed given consisted of barley meal, bran and low grade flour made into a slop 

 with milk and water. The grain mixture consisted of two parts barley meal, one part bran 

 and one part flour. This was the standard for all stages except that the slop was made a 

 little thicker near the end of the fattening period. In winter mangels are fed whole once a 

 day, and pease and beans are given instead of so much bran. In summer a good deal of 

 rough grass, clover and other green fodder is given to keen the pigs thrifty. 



