AUTHOR'S METHOD OF FEEDING 169 



smaller so that the pig cannot consume as much feed 

 later in life as is consistent with the most profitable re- 

 sults to the feeder. 



Therefore, if the largest and most economical gains are 

 to be obtained, the pig must be fed as much early in life 

 as he can use to the best advantage, and at the same time 

 be fed a ration of such form that the capacity of the di- 

 gestive apparatus will be relatively increased so that later 

 in life, when he naturally would eat a smaller quantity, he 

 may be induced to eat more. 



LARGE GAINS AND ECONOMICAL GAINS. 



It is commonly supposed that the larger the gains made 

 by pigs, the greater is the profit from such feeding opera- 

 tions. This, however, is not necessarily true. The two do 

 not always go hand in hand. This is usually true for 

 short periods of feeding, but not always in the long run ; 

 for, if a pig be fed more than he can use to the best 

 advantage, he will establish a high factor of waste, which 

 will make the gains more expensive, even though they are 

 as large as could possibly be obtained. 



In order to derive the greatest profit, pigs must be fed 

 so that the gains are both large and economical. A pig 

 should not be allowed to establish a high factor of waste, 

 and the feeds should be selected so that they are best 

 adapted to the needs of the animal. That is, during the 

 growing period the pig should have considerable protein, 

 as well as the other nutrients, so it can add lean meat to 

 its body and gain in bone and fat. Later in life, when 

 the factor of waste has become high and the pig 

 should fatten, the gains can be made more economi- 

 cally on carbohydrate feeds; but, at the same time, suf- 

 ficient protein should be fed to stimulate the digestive and 



