346 



Pork Production 



Self-feeding versus hand-feeding. 



In Table CLXVII the results of twenty-four separate 

 comparisons of self-feeding and hand-feeding are sum- 

 marized. These experiments were conducted at five 

 different experiment stations' and involved the use of 

 433 pigs averaging approximately 70 pounds in weight 

 when the trials began. On the average, the experiments 

 covered a period of 101 days, the shortest being 42 and 

 the longest 193 days. In eleven of the trials the pigs 

 were on forage, and in thirteen in dry lots. In each case, 

 the hand-fed pigs were given full rations and the propor- 

 tion of supplements fed determined by the usual methods. 

 In each case but one, the self-fed pigs were given their 

 feeds in separate or individual compartments of the feeder. 

 In this case corn was fed in one compartment and a 

 mixture of middlings and tankage in the other, thus per- 

 mitting only a partial "free-choice" in selecting the feeds. 



Table CLXVII. — Summary : Hand-Feeding vehsus Self- 

 Feeding (Free Choice) (Av. of 23 Bxps.) 



1 Eward and Dunn, Iowa Exp. Sta., Circ. letter; Weaver, 

 Mo. Exp. Sta. Bui. 144; W. J. Carmiehael, 111. Exp. Sta., 

 Circ. letter; B. E. Carmiehael and Robison, Ohio Exp. Sta., 

 letter; Snyder, Neb. Exp. Ste. Bull. 165. 



2 Assuming five pigs in each lot of the Iowa experiments 

 where number was not stated. 



' Wheat instead of com was fed in one experiment. 



