3 6 4 



Production of Pork. 



made at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, during 

 the past eight years in connection with the feeding and 

 fattening of swine. A portion of the work is perhaps of 

 local interest only, in so far as it relates to comparisons 

 between different breeds of pigs and the cost of various 

 kinds of foods in Canada. Many of the experiments are, 

 however, of a more general character. 



The investigations were undertaken with the object ol 

 determining the relative and actual feeding values of different 

 kinds of grain fed in different ways to pigs. As regards 

 preparation of the feed, it is stated that ground grain gave 

 better returns for the amount fed than whole grain. Soaking, 

 while not equivalent to grinding, still added materially to 

 the value of the feed. It did not pay to cook food for 

 swine where economy of pork production was the sole 

 consideration. 



Numerous experiments were made with particular kinds of 

 food, and the general opinion that a mixed ration gave better 

 results than a single variety of food only was confirmed. 

 Pease seemed to be profitable ; while potatoes, of which small 

 tubers especially are frequently available, were found to be of 

 very little nutritive value when fed raw at the Central 

 Farm, but when cooked they were worth about one quarter 

 as much as mixed grain. Skim milk was found to be a 

 very valuable adjunct to any grain ration, and it is stated 

 that, in addition to the value indicated by its chemical com- 

 position, its peculiar apparently stimulating action upon the 

 growth of animals should be considered ; it was also con- 

 ducive to hard flesh, 100 lbs. of mixed grains were found to 

 equal about 700 lbs. of skim milk. Wheat which could not 

 be sold on account of having been affected by frost led to 

 some experiments being undertaken to ascertain the approxi- 

 mate value of this injured grain as a feed for swine. It was 

 found that it might profitably be used. 



Theadvisability of feeding a full or limited ration to pigs was 

 also investigated. No very conclusive rasults were obtained, 

 but on the whole it appeared that pigs whose rations were 

 limited [i.e., pigs to which was given an amount " consider- 



