SWINE. 137 



First, as to the food eaten. Pigs are able to eat a greater 

 variety of foods than cattle or sheep. The wild hog lives on 

 grass, roots, nuts, etc. Our domestic hogs are generally fed the 

 richest kinds of food peas, corn, wheat, skim milk, flesh meal, 

 etc. Pigs will greedily devour the richest rations day after 

 day of which most other animals would soon become tired. 



Second, as to the power of digesting food. As we have 

 stated before, the animal digests and takes up its food through 

 the stomach and intestines. The pig has a small stomach, but 

 a very long intestine. The following table gives an idea of 

 the weight of the stomach and intestines in proportion to the 

 whole body, and also the weight of the four quarters : 



Cattle. Sheep. Swine. 



Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



Stomach 4^ 2^ i 



Intestines...., 2 2^ 4 



Four quarters 47^ 45 73 



Thus it will be seen that in cattle the stomach is over twice 

 the intestines in weight, in sheep about equal, whereas in 

 swine the intestines are over three times the weight of the 

 stomach. We conclude that swine have small stomachs, and 

 can take only a small amount of food at a time, but, because 

 of their very long intestines, they are able to digest the food 

 much more thoroughly that is, they feed frequently and 

 digest their food thoroughly. 



Third, as to the use made of the food digested. They are 

 not so active as sheep or cattle ; they are generally more shut 

 in, and therefore they do not use up as much of their food 

 through exercise. English experiments prove that, out of 

 every 100 pounds of digested food, cattle use 23 pounds, 

 sheep 26, and swine 43, for making increase in their bodies. 



When, further, we remember that swine increase in number 

 so much more rapidly than cattle or sheep, we can understand 

 why the keeping of swine is so profitable a part of farm work. 



