1910.] Suggestions for Pig-Feeders. 



823 



It will be observed that the most rapid gains were made by 

 the pigs given roots in the pens, and these required the least 

 meal per lb. gain. These pigs also made much the most 

 economical gains, costing less per 100 lb. gain for meal and 

 roots than any of the others fed on meal only. It was stated 

 that "This method of feeding had a good effect on the form of 

 the animals, making them come as near the ideal bacon type 

 as could be desired." 



In 1902 an experiment was conducted at Kansas Agricul- 

 tural College Experiment Station to determine the value of 

 lucerne and rape pasture for pigs.* Thirty pigs were divided 

 equally and fed for 98 days (1) on grain, (2) on grain with 

 rape pasture, and (3) on grain and lucerne pasture. The 

 results were as follows : — 





Average daily gain. 



Total gain. 



Grain consumed 

 per 100 lb. gain. 





lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



No pasture 



1.04 



1,023 



371 



Rape pasture ... 



1 -09 



1,076 



301 



Lucerne pasture 



I'fO 



1,078 



300 



It will be observed that both rape and lucerne largely 

 reduced the amount of grain necessary to produce 100 lb. 

 gain. Assigning the same value to the grain in each case, 

 202 lb. of increase must be credited to the rape in Lot 2, 

 and 204 lb. to the lucerne in Lot 3. From the amount of 

 pasture used and the current price of pork, it was shown that 

 for pigs the rape was worth £2 10s. per acre, and the lucerne 

 £5 2S. during the 98 days. The pasturing was considered 

 not only economical from the standpoint of gains, but good 

 for the pigs from the point of view of variety and health. 



At Wisconsin Carlyle foundf by experiment that while 

 the gains with rape and clover were both satisfactory, the 

 gains with rape were the best, in one experiment the average 

 daily gains with rape being 1*27 lb. and with clover 1*22 lb., 

 while the rape-fed pigs consumed 332 lb. of shorts and maize 

 meal per 100 lb. gain, compared with 340 lb. in the case of 

 the clover-fed animals, a difference of 8 lb. of meal in favour 

 of rape. In other cases the difference in the grain required 



* Kansas Agric. Coll., Bull. 124, 1904. 



t Wisconsin Expt. Sta. Reporl, 1902-3, p. 53. 



