64 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 217. 



The first two analyses represent the composition of the "semi-solid" material 

 as it was received in barrels. It was about two-thirds water, whereas ordinary- 

 liquid buttermilk as it comes from the creamery contains about nine-tenths water. 

 Naturally, the semi-solid milk contains more protein, ash, lactic acid, milk sugar 

 and fat because of the evaporation of a part of the water. The dried buttermilk 

 contained scarcely 7 per cent of water. On the basis of dry matter, 300 pounds of 

 "semi-solid" buttermilk would be equal in feeding value to about 100 pounds of 

 dried buttermilk; and on this basis should sell for four cents a pound when a like 

 amount of the dried article was costing twelve cents. Actually, however, the cost 

 of the "semi-solid" buttermilk was six cents a pound as compared to twelve for 

 the dried buttermilk. Freight and cartage also favor the latter article, if either is 

 to be bought. 



Plan of Experunent. 

 Twelve pigs, weighing from 33 to 50 pounds each, were divided into six lots of 

 two each (sow and barrow), and each lot was fed on a definite ration. An ash 

 mixture was kept continuously before each lot, composed of: 



20 per cent Salt. 

 40 per cent Rock phosphate. 

 20 per cent Ground limestone. 

 20 per cent Wood ashes. 



The several lots were fed as follows: 



Lot I. — Nine ounces of grain mixture I to each quart of warm water, in amounts-, 

 to satisfy appetites. 



Grain Mixture I. 

 20 pounds Ground oats. 

 40 pounds Flour middlings. 

 40 pounds Corn meal. 



This was considered a check ration, and as good as could be made from purchased 

 grain. 



Lot II. — Nine ounces of grain mixture II to each quart of warm water, in 

 amounts to satisfy appetites. 



Grain Mixture II. 

 90 pounds Grain Mixture I. 

 10 pounds Digester or pig tankage. 



This was an improvement over the ration fed to Lot I in that it contained 10 

 per cent of high grade tankage testing 19.9 per cent of ash and 63 per cent of protein. 

 It also could be considered a check ration. 



Lot III. — Four quarts of diluted "semi-solid" buttermilk daily, plus nine 

 ounces of grain mixture I to each quart of warm water in amounts to satisfy appe- 

 tites. The buttermilk in all cases was diluted to the consistency of ordinary butter- 

 milk. 



Lot IV. — Eight quarts of diluted "semi-solid" buttermilk daily, plus the same 

 grain ration fed to Lot III. 



Lot V. — Twelve ounces of dried buttermilk stirred into four quarts of warm 

 water daily, plus the same grain ration fed to Lot III. ^ 



Lot VI. — Twenty-four ounces of dried buttermilk stirred into eight quarts of 

 warm water daily, plus the same grain ration as fed to Lot III. 



After the animals had reached about 100 pounds each in weight, the grain mixture 

 received by Lot II was changed by reducing the tankage to 5 per cent, and corre- 

 spondingly increasing the grain. Otherwise the experiment was continued to com- 

 pletion, covering 126 days. 



1 Owing to the fact that one of the pigs in this lot proved inferior, the results were discarded. 



