414 Western Live-stock Management 



and may eat only enough for maintenance, thus making 

 no gains at all. 



It has been noted that sufficient protein in a feed in- 

 creases the digestibility of the other nutrients. It has 

 also been found that the addition of protein to a ration 

 deficient in that nutrient causes an increased consumption 

 of feed. 



In conclusion the following points may be noted : that 

 the purposes in fattening swine are to increase the edible 

 meat and dressing percentage, to decrease the proportion 

 of water, and to improve the texture of the meat; that 

 approximately 1 per cent of the live weight in digestible 

 dry matter is required for the maintenance of the pig; 

 that rather more protein than exists in ordinary farm grains 

 is necessary for economical pork production; that the 

 price paid for protein supplement should be in general 

 proportionate to the protein content, but the carbohydrate 

 equivalent should be given a value of about two-thirds as 

 much for each pound as the protein. The supplemental 

 feeds should be guaranteed as to the protein they contain. 



