290 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



MIDDLESEX SOUTH. 



Statement of Joseph Jennison. 



I have been in the habit of fattening my pork on corn and 

 oat meal, and from my experience I am persuaded that oats can 

 thus be fed out to swine to as much profit as to the horse, 

 especially when the present rates are taken into consideration. 

 But let prices vary as they may, I have always preferred a 

 mixture of about one-third oats. There is sufficient nourish- 

 ment in oat and corn meal to promote the growth, as also the 

 health of the animal. Nor is there so great danger of over- 

 feeding as with pure corn meal. My method is to commence 

 with an average of from three to four quarts to each per day, 

 and increase gradually the quantity as the appetite of the 

 animal will allow. At an advanced period, eight or ten quarts 

 will be no more than enough. The last fortnight or more, I 

 give meal and water, reduced to the consistency of dough, and 

 as much as they will take. In feeding, the hunger of the 

 animal should be regarded, as some require and will take more 

 than others. During the earlier and intermediate stages of 

 fattening, I use considerable milk ; at a later period I give 

 unground corn occasionally, usually at noon, when they receive 

 nothing else. I feed three times each day. I have practiced 

 scalding the meal when I have no milk for them, and find that 

 not only does the animal relish it better, but appears to gain 

 faster than when cold water is used. When I have them pretty 

 well imder way, I have thought they gained from two to three 

 pounds daily. During the time of fattening, which occupies 

 from three to four months, a thrifty pig may be made to weigh 

 from five to six hundred. Below are the figures of three swine 

 raised by myself. The then price of corn and oats, as well as 

 that of pork, is given. The present prices are not fair rates. 

 No account, as will be seen, is made of their benefit to the 

 yard. 



Three pigs, 300 lbs. each— 900 lbs. at 6i cents, |58 50 

 Kept them 5 months or IGO days, at 10 quarts per 

 day, amounting to 50 bushels — ^ oats, 16 ; 

 corn, 34. 



