UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
jfSSB3aS%t- 
In Cooperation with the 
Agricultural Experiment Stations of Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Mis- 
sissippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1492 
Washington, D. C. 
February, 1928 
SOME RESULTS OF SOFT-PORK INVESTIGATIONS, II 
Prepared by O. G. Hankins, Animal Husbandman ; N. R. Ellis, Associate Bio- 
logical Chemist; and J. H. Zeller, Assistant Animal Husbandman, Animal 
Husbandry Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, in consultation with those 
named on the preceding page as responsible for the work 
CONTENTS 
Page 
The soft-pork problem 1 
Cooperation in the investiga- 
tions 2 
Fundamentals of the problem 4 
Broadened scope of the work 5 
Relation of composition of fat to 
firmness of carcass 6 
Results of the investigations 11 
A. Corn with nonsoftening sup- 
plements following peanuts_ 12 
B. Corn with tankage following 
soy beans 16 
C. Corn with tankage following 
soy beans supplemented 
with a medium ration of 
shelled corn 20 
Page 
Results of the investigations — Contd. 
D. Soy beans with corn in defi- 
nite proportion 29 
E. Rice bran with tankage 33 
F. Rice bran with tankage fol- 
lowed by corn with tank- 
age 37 
G. Rice polish with nonsoften- 
ing supplements followed by 
corn and brewers' rice with 
nonsoftening supplements 39 
Summary 46 
Literature cited 50 
THE SOFT-PORK PROBLEM 
The products of soft hogs have certain undesirable characteristics. 
There is a lack of firmness in the fat which may be so extreme as to 
cause a typical soft, flaccid, shapeless condition in the products, 
which makes them inconvenient to handle and unattractive to many 
people. The hams are probably least and the lard most subject to 
criticism, depending on the proportion of fat in the product. 
The soft-pork problem until recent years was considered as sec- 
tional in scope, important only'in peanut-producing localities. Estab- 
lishment of the fact that other feeds, especially soy beans, have a 
softening influence on hogs has expanded the problem to one of 
nation-wide importance. Soy beans have a wider adaptation, are 
produced in greater quantity, and are utilized in pork production to 
a greater extent than any other recognized softening feed. 
Producers, packers, dealers, and consumers are concerned in the 
problem of soft pork. The producer marketing medium soft, soft, or 
