MEAT PRODUCTION 373 



The figures submitted are based on the supposition 

 that the animals are fed to their full capacity on suitable 

 foods, but without excessive forcing. It pre-supposes that 

 the foods fed are suitable for the production of the highest 

 average gains that may ordinarily be looked for from such 

 feeding. But in practice, such feeding is seldom followed 

 during the entire period of growing and rearing the ani- 

 mal. In fact, it. is never followed except when very high 

 quality meat is sought from animals that are disposed of at 

 ages less advanced than animals of the same class usually 

 reach the market. This, however, does not apply to swine 

 to the same extent as to sheep and cattle, more especially 

 the latter. In a great majority of instances, during what 

 is termed the growing period, animals are sustained on food 

 less costly than that given during the period of feeding 

 milk which precedes it, and the fattening period which fol- 

 lows. Such foods include pasture and coarse fodders, much 

 of which, if nor consumed thus, would be wasted. 



The conditions amid which animals are grown, will 

 therefore, have a markedly important influence on increase 

 in the same, as it actually occurs in practice. If animals are 

 grown so as to make only moderate gains during the grow- 

 ing period, and if they are then put upon a finishing ration, 

 the gains made will, of course, exceed those made at a 

 younger age. This, however, does not affect the contention 

 that the possible capacity to make gains is greater before 

 than during the finishing period. 



The statement is sometimes made that the capacity to 

 make increase in weight is a question of type and not of 

 breed. The statement is only partially correct. It is to 

 some extent a question of breed, and also to some extent 

 a question of individuality within both breed and type. 

 Take, for instance, two lambs of the Southdown and Hamp- 

 shire Down breeds. Push the growth of both on a suitable 

 forcing ration until they reach the age of 12 months. It 

 would seem correct to say that the inherent capacity to 

 make increase in a Hampshire Down lamb would carry him 



