282 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1897. 
Experiments in Feeding Swine. 
dy the Journal of Agriculture (London) for March, 1895 (Vol. II., p. 444), 
some notice was given of the experiments in feeding swine, carried out at the 
Dairy Institute of Proskau (Silesia) in 1894. These experiments haye been 
continued, and an account of the results obtained during 1895 is given in the 
Landwirthschaftliche Jahrbiicher (Vol. XXV., Part III.) s 
The conclusions which appeared to be deducible from the experiments of 
1893-4 were, that too much maize was injurious to pigs under six months old ; 
owing to the formation of bone proceeding less rapidly than the development 
of fat, the bones were unable to sustain the weight of the body, and the limbs 
became stiff. No evil results followed from feeding with crushed barley. The 
question thus still remained to be determined, whether the maize was in itself 
injurious to young pigs, or whether it was deleterious only when given in too 
large quantities. A further point requiring elucidation was the best method 
of preparing the food, and data were also required to ascertain the value of 
fresh whey. Finally, with the view of discovering a fattening food containing 
a higher percentage of albumen, but less nitrogenous than cereal fodder, brewers’ 
dried grains were included in the experiment. 
To test these various points, four pairs of pigs (each pair consisting of a 
boar and a sow) were selected, all eight being born of one sow on the 5th 
April, 1895, and all being of about the same strength. The experiments com- 
menced on the 20th May, the boars having been cut two days previously. For 
the first four weeks (until the 16th June) all alike received 5% lb. of skim-milk 
and 63 oz. of crushed barley daily in five meals, 
The second period (17th June to 28th July) marks the transition from 
barley to maize and brewers’ grains. The individual pairs were now fed 
separately, and in such manner that the amount of barley was diminished week 
by week, the crushed maize (or brewers’ grains, as the case might be) being 
- correspondingly increased. At the same time, potatoes and whey were included 
in the rations. The amounts given daily to each animal (in five meals) from 
the 28th July to the 8th September were as follow :— 
Pair I.-—8'8 lb. skim-milk, 1.1 lb. scalded crushed maize, 22 lb. potatoes 
5, tI.—8°8 Ib. 5) » uncooked 7 i es, 7 
», III.—8'8 lb. A »  sealded 5 8% lb. whey 
»  LV.—4r4 Ib. - - 4, brewers’ dried grains, 5% lb. potatoes. 
At the end of this period the rations were increased, and were given only 
four times a day ; and again, at the end of a further six weeks’ period, a still 
larger quantity was given, and the number of daily meals was reduced to three. 
The milk was always given perfectly sweet, and usually mixed with the other 
food intoa mash; the same applies to the whey. The brewers’ dried grains 
were always scalded with a little boiling water, and the potatoes were also 
boiled. A little phosphate of lime was regularly mixed with the food. The 
animals were, till the beginning of October, allowed to be in the open fora 
few hours every day, when the weather permitted, and they were weighed 
regularly once a week until their slaughter on the 2nd and 3rd December. 
The chief conclusions drawn from comparisons of the weights of the 
animals throughout the whole period, and from the dead weights at the time 
of slaughter, were as follow:—The feeding with maize had good results. 
The course of the experiment seemed to show that, by gradually and carefully 
