1920.] 



Pig Feeding and Pork Production. 



349 



4 lb. of digestible protein per i.oco lb. live weight per day instead of 



3 lb. suggested by Kellner. 

 19 lb. of digestible starch equivalent per 1,000 lb. live weight per 

 day instead of 21 lb. suggested by Kellner. 

 The daily ration, therefore, was shghtly in excess of the 

 requirements, so far as the digestible protein was concerned, 

 and slightly below the standard so far as the carbohydrates 

 were concerned. If 4 acres of grass, at a cost, approximately, 

 of £10, and the produce from i| acres of vetches, at a cost, 

 approximately, of £12, had been placed at the disposal of the 

 pigs, it is very probable that a saving of at least 3 tons of meal 

 at £20 per ton might have been effected without in any way 

 reducing the live weight increase of the pigs. 



Conclusions. — In conclusion, the writer would wish to 

 emphasise the importance of increasing our stocks of pigs on 

 farms, and doing all that is possible to encourage the breeding 

 and rearing of pigs. Such increase is desirable — 



(1) in order that we may to a large extent supply our own 



demand for bacon and ham and reduce to a normal 

 figure our excessive imports of these commodities ; 



(2) because there is no doubt that the pig is the most 



efficient machine for the production of human food in 

 the form of meat ; 



(3) because, especially, now that the prices of pig meal 



and millers' offals are showing signs of falling, the 

 breeding and rearing of pigs should be economically 

 sound and certainly remunerative ; 

 in view of the importance of increasing, to as large an 

 extent as possible, the production of cheap home- 

 grown foods, and especially of making use of grass 

 feeding, if the pork is to be produced on the most 

 economical basis. 



2 B 



