354 



Pig Feeding Experiments. 



Among these were experiments conducted by Messrs. W. 

 L. Carlyle and A. G. Hopkins at the Wisconsin Station on 

 the feeding* of pigs for the production of lean and of fat meat. 

 Two lots of eight pigs each were used to investigate this 

 question. During the eighteen weeks of the test, the first lot 

 received maize meal and skim milk in equal proportions, while 

 the second lot were supplied with wheat middlings, and 

 ground peas in equal parts, mixed with an equal amount of 

 skim milk. On the expiration of the eighteen weeks the 

 pigs were slaughtered, and a block test made. It was found 

 that in the maize-fed lot the average percentage of intestinal 

 fat to dressed weight was 2.2 per cent, as against 2 per cent, 

 in the pea-fed animals, and a similar, but more pronounced 

 difference was also noticed in the case of kidney fat found in 

 the two lots. The fat from the pigs fed on peas and 

 middlings was found to contain a much larger percentage of 

 water than did the fat of those fed on maize meal. This result 

 is of some importance, as it shows that the maize meal diet is 

 the more likely to produce fat suitable for lard-making pur- 

 poses. It was further noticed that, as regards the amount 

 of blood, and the weight of intestines, stomach, liver, and 

 kidneys, the pea-fed pigs surpassed the maize-fed animals. 



Experiments, of which a report was made by Mr. Carlyle, 

 were conducted at the same station to test the value of rape 

 as a food for growing pigs. Thirty pigs, averaging six 

 months old at the commencement of the test, were pastured 

 for two weeks on about four acres of rape. There 

 were no bad effects, but the pigs lost weight. The results 

 indicated that a ration of rape alone fed to pigs for a period 

 of two weeks was not sufficient to supply the food necessary 

 for their support. 



At the Wisconsin Station, Mr. W. A. Henry continued 

 earlier work in comparing the values of whole maize and 

 maize meal as a food for fattening swine. The experiment 

 lasted fourteen weeks, and included two lots of fourteen pigs 

 each. Wheat middlings were fed with the corn, and consti- 

 tuted one-third of the ration. In the result, the first lot, on 

 whole maize, required 5-59 lbs. to make 1 lb. of gain, and the 

 second lot required 479 lbs. The results have varied in 



