146 SWINE 



the pigs when put nearly on full feed will eat practically 

 the quantities of digestible nutrients called for by the 

 standard. Apparently, then, the standard was built up 

 on the basis of the appetite of the pig. But the appetite 

 of the pig is more or less abnormal and determined very 

 largely by feeding and environment, not only at the time, 

 but also through several previous generations. 



RESULTS FROM USE OF STANDARD. 



This standard has been widely used by diflerent ex- 

 periment stations during late years, and has also been 

 adopted by many private feeders of swine. The results 

 obtained by its use are not always satisfactory, and where 

 thoroughly tested are not so good as can be obtained by 

 other systems of feeding. The reason for this, as deter- 

 mined by the writer, are two-fold : First, some pigs 

 whose appetites are well developed may eat too much 

 when fed in such a manner. They may eat more than 

 they can use to the best advantage for tissue building, 

 which is detrimental to the pig thereafter by establishing 

 the factor of waste. Second, the amounts of the various 

 nutrients of the ration, according to this system of feed- 

 ing, are not fed in accordance with the requirements of 

 the laws of nutrition according to which the greatest and 

 most economical gains are produced ; consequently the 

 best results are not obtainable. 



