

924 Report oF THE First ASSISTANT OF THE 
‘Pig Feeding — Different Breeds. 
Several lots of pigs of different breeds have during the year ~ 
been fed from birth, feeding them with the mother until they 
had learned to eat readily from the trough. .The pigs were of 
Berkshire and Poland China breeds and of Poland China-Duroc 
cross. Three pigs of Berkshire-Cheshire cross were also fed 
for a short time with the others. Of Poland China and Berk. 
shire there were eight pigs in each lot throughout the trial. Of 
Poland China-Duroc cross there were seven pigs while they 
were fed with the sow and six pigs for the rest of the time. 
For the first four weeks they were fed wheat bran and skim 
milk. For the next period of five to six weeks, during part of 
which time the sow was still with them, they were fed skim milk 
and a mixture (“No. 1”) of equal parts wheat bran and wheat 
middlings. For periods following they were fed besides skim 
milk, grain mixtures numbered 2, 3,4 and 5. No. 2, consisted of 
equal parts wheat bran, wheat middlings and corn meal. No. 3,_ 
of four parts corn meal, one part wheat bran and one part wheat 
middlings. No. 4, of ten parts corn meal, one part wheat bran, one 
part wheat middlings. No. 5, of twenty parts corn meal, two 
parts wheat bran, one part wheat middlings. In calculating the 
cost of the rations, wheat bran is rated at eighteen dollars per 
ton, wheat middlings at twenty dollars per ton, corn meal at 
twenty-two dollars per ton and skim milk at twenty-five cents 
per 100 pounds. 
The average weight of the Berkshire pigs at beginning was 
3.7 pounds, of the Poland China 2.9 pounds, and of the Poland 
China-Duroc cross 3.7 pounds. The average weight of the 
Berkshire-Cheshire cross was 2.1 pounds. At the close of the ~ 
feeding trial which lasted a little less than seven months, the 
Berkshires averaged 198.8 pounds in weight, the’ Poland China’s 
196.5 pounds, and the Poland China-Duroc cross 197.8 pounds. 
All the pigs were entirely healthy throughout the trial. The 
cost of all gain made for the whole trial, was for the Berkshires 
8.82 cents, for the Poland Chinas 3.76 cents, for the Poland 
China-Duroc cross 3.80 cents, — practically the same for 
all. The Poland China pigs were ready to _ leave 
the sow about a week younger than the others. The Berkshire 
sow lost most in weight while suckling the pigs and the Poland 

