Butter and Bacon in Queensland. 365 



ably " less than they could eat) made more economical gains 

 than those which were rushed. 



Among other results of a more general nature brought out 

 by these experiments may be mentioned the following : — 

 There is a gradual increase in the quantity of feed consumed 

 for every pound of gain in live weight after the average live 

 weight exceeds 100 lbs. ; and the greatest and most 

 economical gains are made when the swine are able to eat 

 the most feed in proportion to their weight. The most 

 economical time to slaughter swine is when they weigh from 

 175 to 200 lbs. The average dressed weight of the swine 

 was about 76*4 per cent, of the fasted weight. The type of 

 animals influences the character of the meat more than 

 breed ; i.e., the fact of an animal being a Yorkshire or a 

 Tamworth will not insure a good bacon carcase, but it must 

 also be of a rangy type and fed in a certain way. Feeding 

 mixed meal (barley, pease, and oats) with milk usually insures 

 firm meat. The greatest gains from a given amount of grain 

 appear to be made when it is ground and soaked for twenty- 

 four hours. If grain is fed whole, part of it is frequently 

 voided without being digested. Maturity or ripeness of the 

 animal affects the quality of the flesh. 



Butter and Bacon Trade of Queensland. 



The Board have received from the Agent-General for 

 Queensland some information, taken from the Annual 

 Report of the Treasurer ot that colony, relating to the 

 export trade of the colony in butter and bacon. 



With regard to butter, it was anticipated that the trade of 

 1898 would show a large increase over 1897; but the dry 

 weather had such an effect upon the milk supply that the 

 exports fell far short of expectations. This year, however, 

 the season has been favourable, and the stocks in hand 

 are so large that the volume of exports will probably 

 greatly exceed that of 1898. 



