THE VALUE OF BUTTERMILK, ETC., IN PIG FEEDING. 65 



Results of the Experiment. 



Rations, Food Consumption, Daily Gain, Dry Food Required to Produce Gain, and Cost 



of Gain. 



It is evident from the above data that, while the buttermilk products as a com- 

 ponent of the ration aided in growth, their cost is too great to render their use 

 financially advisable. ^ Pigs on the grain plus ash mixture made a very good 

 gro^vth, and must have found at least a fair amount of growth accessories (vitamins) 

 in the ration fed. 



Note. — Considerable quantities of evaporated buttermilk and skim milk are 

 used in gromng poultry. It is undoubtedly very efficient, furnishing mineral 

 matter, desirable proteins and vitamins; and probably its use in reasonable amounts 

 is economical in forcing pullets to early egg production. The writer, however, has 

 no data on this subject. Other things being equal, the dried product should prove 

 more economical than that wliich has only a portion of the water removed. 



Lactic Acid — Its Value in Promoting Growth in Pigs. 



The claim has been made that the addition of dilute lactic acid — the acid of 

 sour milk — to the grain slop fed to pigs will improve the appetite and digestion 

 and promote an increase in growth. Two trials were made to demonstrate the 

 truth or fallacy of the claim. 



Trial I, May 19-September 8. 



Two lots of two pigs each (averaging 30 pounds each in weight) were placed in 

 two separate pens and fed as follows: 



Lot I. — Six ounces of corn meal to each quart of skim milk, in sufficient amounts 

 to satisfy the appetite. When the lot reached a daily consumption of 72 ounces 

 of meal and 12 quarts of skim milk, the ration was increased by the addition of 

 the following mixture, in the proportion of 9 ounces to each quart of water: 



28 pounds Corn meal. 



28 pounds Wheat middlings. 



28 pounds Ground oats. 



16 pounds Digester tankage. 



After the animals had reached a weight of about 100 pounds each, the skim 

 milk was reduced to 8 quarts daily for the lot, and was supplemented with a grain 



» The use of small amounts of "semi-solid" or dried buttermilk, or of dried skim milk mav be worth while 

 from the time young pigs are weaned until they attain a weight of 25 to 30 pounds, when the natural product 

 is not available. 



