Methods of Feeding on Forage 217 



December and January as at present. According to the 

 figures in the above table, a difference in selling price of 

 only 7.6 cents a hundredweight in favor of the full-fed 

 pigs as compared with those receiving three-fourths 

 rations would be suflBcient to make up for the difference 

 between them in the cost of production. 



In Fig. 12 are shown the weight curves of pigs 

 from birth to the weight of 225 pounds when fed full and 

 limited rations on forage. The attempt is here made to 

 show graphically the effect of different systems of feeding 

 during the summer on the gains in weight and the time 

 of marketing. All the pigs are assumed to gain 1.25 

 pounds daily during the dry lot periods. 



Summary and conclusions. 



The feeding of limited grain rations to pigs on forage 

 during the summer results in the following advantages: 

 1. Pigs fed a limited ration make a minimum use of ex- 

 pensive old corn and a maximum use of the cheaper new 

 corn in producing the necessary gains. This is its most 

 important advantage. 2. The amount of grain required 

 to produce a unit of gain while the pigs are on forage is 

 usually less with limited than with full rations. 3. The 

 feeding of limited rations during the summer fits in well 

 with the practice of hogging-down corn in the fall and is 

 adapted to the production of pigs suitable for following 

 cattle during the winter. 



The important advantages of full feeding on forage 

 may be enumerated as follows: 1. Pigs fed full grain 

 rations on forage make faster gains during the summer 

 than do pigs receiving limited rations. In consequence 

 they are ready for an earlier market, the risks from 

 disease and other sources of loss are reduced, the money 



