154 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



A large number of pig-feeding experiments have been 

 made to get at the cost of dressed pork, using skim-milk in 

 combination with different grains. The results show that it 

 is as a rule not profitable to feed pigs after they have 

 reached 180 pounds of live weight. The cost of food re- 

 quired to produce a pound of dressed pork was about 5 

 cents. Skim-milk has returned I cent per quart, or 25 

 cents per 100 pounds, assuming dressed pork to be worth 

 61 cents per pound. 



Steer-feeding experiments were conducted for five years. 

 The animals, ten in number, were purchased when thin in 

 flesh, weighing 400 to 500 pounds, and sold after reaching 

 a weight of 1,100 to 1,200 pounds. A great variety of 

 fodder rations was tried. The most favorable results were 

 obtained with corn ensilage, together with moderate quanti- 

 ties of Chicago gluten meal and wheat bran. The average 

 gain in live weight per day during the entire experiment 

 was 1.24 pounds, and the total cost of feed to produce a 

 pound of live weight was 10.58 cents; while the total cost 

 to us of a pound of live weight (obtained by adding to the 

 original cost of the steer the cost of feed consumed and 

 dividing by the pounds of live weight sold) was 6.89 cents. 

 Five of the steers were pastured during the summer and five 

 were soiled. The average daily gain of the soiled steers 

 was 1.63 pounds, and for those pastured .63 pounds. The 

 cost of feed to produce a pound of live weight in the case 

 of the soiled steers was 8.75 cents, and in the case of those 

 at pasture 7.30 cents. When animals are soiled the manure 

 is retained on the farm, but the extra labor involved is con- 

 siderable. 



III. — The State and Hatch Stations united. 

 For several years it has been evident to many that, in 

 order to avoid confusion, for purposes of economy, and to 

 prevent a possible duplication of work, it would be better to 

 unite the two stations. After much careful deliberation, the 

 step was formally taken in April, 1895, the new combined 

 station being known as the Hatch Experiment Station of the 

 Massachusetts Agricultural College. The State station as 

 such has ceased to exist. 



