6 BULLETIN 610, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



This experiment was started September 12, 1916, and continued 56 

 days, ending November 7, 1916. Twelve high-grade Berkshire pigs 

 between 5 and 6 months of age, averaging approximately 150 pounds 

 in weight, were used in this work. Those selected were very uniform 

 in age, quality, breeding, and weight. The pigs were taken off pas- 

 ture and put in the dry lot a week before the experiment proper 

 began. They were confined in a permanent hog house and arranged 

 into 4 lots of 3 pigs each. The pens used for each lot measure 6 

 feet by 7^ feet, and have cork-brick floors. Attached to these pens 

 are outside runs of concrete 7 feet by 39 feet. Prior to the experi- 

 ment the pigs were fed a ration of 5 parts corn meal, 4 parts 

 middlings, and 1 part tankage. The experimental rations were as 

 follows : 



Lot 1 (check lot), 6 parts corn meal, 1 part tankage. 



Lot 2, 6 parts dried pressed potato, 1 part tankage. 



Lot 3, 6 parts dried pressed potato, 1 part linseed oil meal (old 

 process). 



Lot 4, 6 parts dried pressed potato, 1 part fish meal. 



Following are the analyses of the dried pressed potato rations as 

 made by the Bureau of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture : 



Analyses of dried pressed potato ration. 



Ration. 



Moisture. 



Ash. 



Ether 

 extract. 



Protein. 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Nitrogen- 

 free 

 extract. 





Per cent. 

 11.83 

 11.91 

 10.96 



Per cent. 

 3.04 

 1.65 

 4.04 



Per cent. 



0.80 



.67 



2.87 



Per cent. 

 11.03 

 5.96 

 13.09 



Per cent. 

 2.29 

 2.98 

 1.85 



Per cent. 

 71.01 





76.83 





67.19 



The lots were fed three times daily (7 a. m., 11.30 a. m., and 4.30 

 p. m.). For each meal the feed for each lot was weighed and put 

 into a bucket with enough water to make a thick slop. The feed 

 was mixed with water one-half hour before feeding, so as to allow 

 it to soak. Just after the feed was mixed live steam was turned into 

 each bucket of feed for a few minutes to facilitate soaking. A 

 fresh supply of water was given to the pigs about the middle of the 

 forenoon. The hogs were weighed on the scales located inside the 

 permanent hog house ; the weighing was done about 9.30 a. m. Indi- 

 vidual weights were taken for three consecutive days (one day pre- 

 vious to the beginning of the experiment and each of the first two 

 days of the experiment). The average of the three weights was 

 taken as the weight of the second day or the beginning of the experi- 

 ment. Individual weights were taken every Tuesday thereafter 

 until the conclusion of the experiment. 



