392 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



As shown in the following paragraphs, good size in farm herds is essen- 

 tial to the production of the most profitable market hogs. 



2. The cheapest gains are made during the growing period. This 

 is shown by the following compilation presented by Henry and Morri- 

 son ^ which summarizes over 500 American feeding trials with more 

 than 2,200 hogs: 



Pounds feed for 

 Weight of hogs 100 pounds gain 



100-150 pounds 437 pounds 



150-200 pounds 482 pounds 



200-250 pounds 498 pounds 



250-300 pounds 511 pounds 



300-350 pounds 535 pounds 



3. It is true of all kinds of farm animals that the larger the 

 breeding stock the longer the growing period of the offspring will be, 

 and the more rapid will be the rate of increase in size during a given 

 period. The pig from large parents makes more growth daily and 

 monthly and continues to grow for more months than does the pig 

 from smaller stock. 



4. The growthy type of pig is therefore "younger" at six months 

 of age than the smaller-tjrpe pig. This is true because at six months 

 the former has more days of growth ahead of him. As a rule the 

 growthy pig is also younger than the smaller type at the same weight. 



5. For these reasons the growthy pig makes his gains at some- 

 what lower cost because the cheapest gains are made when animals are 

 youngest. 



6. If the breeding stock is of large size, the pigs will be growthy, 

 will gain rapidly, and will attain market weights in shortest time. 



7. Pigs marketed somewhat in advance of other pigs of the same 

 age usually bring a better price than those marketed later at times of 

 largest receipts. 



8. The shorter the feeding period the less the risk and the less 

 the labor cost of producing pork. The man who raises pigs of growthy 

 type has them off to market while his neighbor who raises smaller hogs 

 is still feeding them and still running the risk of loss from disease and 

 other causes. 



9. If the market slumps when hogs of the larger type are ready 

 for market, they may be held on feed and will continue to make more 

 efficient use of feed and larger gains than hogs of smaller type. This 

 is sometimes a distinct advantage. 



Another question is frequently raised, namely, why should a rather 

 upstanding, rangy type of barrow be preferred when the low-set, com- 

 pact type is demanded in the steer and wether? The answer is that 



1 Feeds and Feeding, 1915, p. 569. 



