17 
SOFTNESS OF THE CARCASSES 
Table 5 gives a summary of data from these two groups of hogs. 
Table 5. — Average weights, gains, days on feed, gradings, and refractive indexes 
of back and leaf fats for 78 hogs fed soybeans followed by com and tankage 
[Initial weight of hogs on soy beans, 85 to 160 pounds, in two groups] 
Number 
of hogs 
Initial 
weight, 
aver- 
age 
Gain 
Days on feed 
Final 
weight 
Slaugh- 
ter 
weight 
Average grade 
Refractive index 
Soy 
beans 
Corn 
Soy 
beans 
Corn 
Back 
fat 
Leaf 
fat 
43 
35... 
Pounds 
101. 58 
130. 46 
Pounds 
. 28. 79 
40.71 
Pounds 
92.88 
107. 37 
51.77 
49.60 
52.30 
56.74 
Pounds 
223. 25 
278.54 
Pounds 
211.00 
261. 63 
Medium soft 
do 
1. 4603 
1. 4602 
1. 4600 
1. 4598 
In the case of the pigs with initial weights ranging from 85 to 114 
pounds the average gain on the hardening ration was 3.23 times that 
made on soy beans, while the heavier group gained on the hardening 
ration 2.64 times that made on the softening ration. The hardening 
periods averaged 52.30 days and 56.74 days, respectively, but in 
neither case were hard or even medium-hard hogs produced as an 
average. The fact is clearly shown that excessive gains and time on 
corn with tankage as a hardening ration are required to overcome 
the softness caused by the exclusive feeding of soy beans to hogs of 
the sizes indicated. 
To show these results in graphic form each group of hogs was 
divided according to gains made on the softening ration and further 
divided with reference to gains made on the hardening ration. 
Figure 6 illustrates the results which were obtained with the hogs 
having initial weights of from 85 to 114 pounds. The three sub- 
groups made average gains of 13, 36, and 54 pounds on soy beans. 
The subsequent hardening on the corn ration is clearly shown in 
each case. As with peanuts, however, the softening on soy beans 
evidently occurred more rapidly than the subsequent hardening on 
corn with nonsoftening supplement, in relation to the gains made 
on the two rations. Points A, B, and C represent gains of 26, 72, 
and 108 pounds on the hardening ration after gain of 13, 26, and 
54 pounds, respectively, on soy beans. The former figure is double 
the latter in each instance. All three points indicate degrees of firm- 
ness which would class such hogs as soft or medium soft. This 
result is covered by a conclusion released by the cooperating agencies 
after the 1925 conference (7). The conclusion follows: 
Soy beans grazed alone or with minerals self -fed to pigs starting at weights 
ranging from 85 to 160 pounds and making at least a moderate rate of gain 
through a period of from six to eight weeks will not produce firm carcasses 
in the usual case, even though a subsequent gain in weight has been made by 
the pigs on corn with tankage double that previously made on soy beans. 
Figure 7 shows the results which have been obtained with the hogs 
having initial weights of 115 to 160 pounds, inclusive. The average 
gains on soy beans made by the three subgroups were 15, 38, and 61 
pounds. In each case the hardening influence of the corn ration is 
very clearly shown. The hardening in all three subgroups, however, 
occurred more slowly than the softening on soy beans, in relation to 
the gains made on the two rations. It will be recalled that the same 
