236 ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON STOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 



150 to 250 lbs. of rather lean pork, which may be produced in 

 a few months, the age depending upon whether they are grain 

 or pasture fed. For lean pork a narrower nutritive ratio is 

 required than for fat pork. A nutritive ratio of i : 6.5 or 7 

 is suitable for the production of lean pork. As with other ani- 

 mals the gain in live weight from feed is greater in the earlier 

 stages of the fattening period and so it is more profitable to 

 market pigs when 5 to 8 months old than when 15 months old. 

 This early marketing also gives quicker returns. The follow- 

 ing table from Henry's "Feeds and Feeding" illustrates this point : 



The average weight of 34,400,000 market hogs for the year 

 ending March i, 1908 was 226.58 lbs., costing the packers $5.52 

 per 100 Ibs.^ This shows that 225-230 lbs. is about the aver- 

 age weight of the market hog of to-day. 



Corn is the most common feed for swine. It is high in car- 

 bohydrates and low in protein and ash, and is suited for the 

 quick production of fat. 



Shelled corn, corn meal and corn on the cob are about of 

 equal feeding value for swine; corn meal being perhaps slightly 

 superior. If shelled corn is very hard, causing sore mouths, 

 it should either be soaked in water for a day or so or else ground 

 to a meal. Sometimes grinding is too expensive but is prefer- 

 able when practicable. Corn meal should always be soaked with 



1 Coburn, " Swine in America.' 



