Feeding and Care of Pigs 135 



length of the experiment, and the care exercised to make 

 all conditions identical give assurance that the results 

 fairly show the merits of the rations fed under the con- 

 ditions of this experiment. The results of this test are 

 shown in Table XXXI. 



In growing and fattening pigs for market, the value 

 of the rations fed is determined by the rapidity of the 

 gains, the amount or cost of feed required to produce 

 100 pounds of gain, and the character of the finish' at- 

 tained by the pigs (selling price) at the end of the feed- 

 ing period. This does not consider the greater fertility 

 value of the dropping produced by pigs fed on the better 

 rations. 



There was a marked difference in the gains on the 

 two rations. The pigs fed the balanced ration made 

 59.75 per cent faster gains than did those fed the un- 

 balanced ration. While those receiving com alone made 

 an average gain of 116 pounds, the pigs receiving in 

 addition to corn .76 pound of meat-meal daily, gained 

 185 pounds. Assuming a uniform rate of gain, the pigs 

 fed corn and meat-meal were as heavy at the end of 62 

 days' feeding as were those fed com alone at the end 

 of 100 days' feeding. There was, on the average, a saving 

 of 32 days in the time required to produce 100 pounds of 

 gain. All this means an earlier and usually a better 

 market, and a saving in labor, interest, and risk, con- 

 siderations of no little importance to the practical hog- 

 man. 



The principal reason why pigs fed a balanced ration 

 always outgain those given an unbalanced one like 

 corn alone, is because it is eaten with greater relish and 

 consequently consumed in larger amounts. Although 

 corn is an unusually palatable feed, the pigs fed the 



