12 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1492, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
data from animals used in the different experiments. Specific 
reference will be made to initial weight under each of the sections 
reporting conclusive results, which are to follow. 
To avoid the use of unthrifty animals it was agreed by the co- 
operating agencies early in the investigations that pigs having an 
initial weight of approximately 100 pounds should be not more than 
six or seven months of age, with those of higher or lower weights 
varying in maximum age accordingly. The degree of leniency 
suggested by this standard seemed necessary on account of the diffi- 
culties often experienced by some stations in obtaining suitable ex- 
perimental animals. 
To a very considerable extent the pigs used in the experiments 
were well bred. Most of them were purebreds, the Berkshire, 
Chester-White, Duroc-Jersey, Hampshire, Poland-China, and Tam- 
worth breeds being represented. In addition, there were a number 
of grades and crossbreds, and some of mixed or unknown breeding. 
Effort was made in all cases to balance the sex factor by using equal 
numbers of barrows and sows. Type is a factor recognized as 
probably influencing variations in firmness, and, therefore, in these 
experiments uniformity in type among the pigs was sought and 
attained to a A^ery great extent. With few exceptions the pigs used 
were of medium type. 
A. CORN WITH NONSOFTENING SUPPLEMENTS FOLLOWING PEANUTS 
Results from feeding corn with nonsoftening protein supplements 
for hardening purposes following peanuts were reported in detail 
in Department Bulletin 1407 (4). The results given were confined 
to those obtained from pigs weighing from 85 to 114 pounds, inclu- 
sive, when the peanut feeding was begun. Data from 97 animals 
were presented and discussed, and certain conclusions stated. It 
was pointed out that peanuts are decidedly softening and that corn 
with nonsoftening protein supplements fed after peanuts has a hard- 
ening influence, although the hardening progresses rather slowly. 
It was impossible to recommend a practical method of producing 
strictly hard carcasses with pigs having the range of initial weights 
given above, when they have been fed peanuts for a period of about 
eight weeks. Excessive gains on the hardening ration, far beyond 
the practical point, had been required to produce even medium-hard 
carcasses. 
Further work along this line has furnished data from 15 additional 
hogs, fed at the Animal Husbandry Experiment Farm, which have 
been studied in conjunction with the 97 previously considered. The 
added data have given no essentially different aspect to the question. 
It is possible now, however, to state more definitely the results which 
may be expected from this plan of feeding. The following con- 
clusion relating to this question was released after the 1925 con- 
ference of the cooperating agencies ('/). 
Peanuts grazed or self -fed in dry lot with or without minerals to pigs start- 
ing at weights ranging from 85 to 115 pounds and making gains of approxi- 
mately 40 pounds or more on that feed through a period of approximately 
eight weeks will not produce firm carcasses at the usual market weight of 200 
to 225 pounds attained by subsequent feeding of corn with tankage after the 
peanuts. 
