1 Juyz, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 441. 
EXPERIMENT IN PIG FEEDING. 
By JOHN MAHON, Principal, Queensland Agricultural College. 
In submitting the following figures in connection with the experiments 
under review, I may mention that very many thanks are due to Mr. John Reid 
for his trouble in supplying figures in connection with the manufacture of the 
pigs into bacon, loss between live and dead weights, and report on the quality 
of each lot. 
I wish to make a few remarks in reference to the experiments and 
regarding the merits and demerits of the various breeds of pigs kept at the 
college ; these remarks are based on careful observations and practical results, 
and may therefore be taken as most reliable. The pigs kept are bred from the 
best blood procurable in Australia, and include the Berkshire, Improved 
Berkshire, Tamworth, Yorkshire (large, middle, and small) breeds. These 
breeds have been carefully crossed for the purpose of testing their value as 
flesh producers, consideration being given to the cost of same, and also to the 
quality of the bacon. The following are the crosses that have been made 
during the last three years, the results of which have been carefully watched :— 
Tamworth sire, Berkshire dam; Large Yorkshire sire, Berkshire dam; Middle 
Yorkshire sire, Berkshire dam; Small Yorkshire sire, Berkshire dam. During 
the six months ending December, 1901, the total increase of all breeds was 
160. The average litters were :—Large Yorkshires, 8 ; Middle Yorkshires, 8°5 ; 
Tamworths, 10; Berkshires, 7; Orossbreds, 7:2. The Middle Yorkshires were, 
with one exception, on first litter, and therefore the same percentage could not 
be expected as from sows on second or third litter. We have but one large 
Yorkshire sow which produced eight on the second litter. From the above it 
may be gathered that the Tamworth is the most prolific, though I am inclined to 
think that the large Yorkshire under the same conditions would surpass 
her. It is notable in connection with the different crosses that the pigs in 
colour follow the sires; for instance, in every case where the Yorkshire is 
crossed with the Berkshire sow the pigs are white; Tamworth boars get red 
or sandy animals with a few black spots. Results here as elsewhere point to 
the Yorkshire, or Yorkshire cross, as being the best and most profitable of all 
breeds. It would of course be absurd to expect good results from faulty 
parents, and it would be as well for breeders to bear this in mind. I have 
found the product of the Middle Yorkshire, crossed with a large roomy 
Berkshire sow, to be excellent pigs; the litters are large and healthy, and they 
are good doers. The large Yorkshire mates well with a close compact sow 
(Berkshire). Although the crosses are good, I have found the pure Yorkshires 
to be the superior pigs in every respect. They are prolific breeders, produce 
healthy pigs, quick growers, small food consumers, and their bacon is of the 
highest standard as regards quality, yielding a high percentage of lean flesh 
well distributed among the fat, which is one of the characteristics of high class 
bacon, for which the demand is becoming greater every day. It may be 
thought by those who have had no experience of the Yorkshire pigs that they 
will not withstand the hot rays of the sun. This, however, is not the case, 
because it may be said of the present day Yorkshire that the hair is much 
thicker, stronger, and longer than was formerly the case, so that, when turned 
out or exposed to the sun, they are not liable to scorch, but the hair becomes 
bleached and somewhat reddish in colour. The Yorkshire of earlier days 
possessed. fine skin and hair, and was therefore affected considerably by the hot 
sun’s rays. In the English Live Stock Journal of 14th February, 1902, Mr. 
_ Sanders Spencer, a well-known breeder of pure stock in England, writes as 
follows :—‘‘ Prolific pigs—It is often asserted that purebred pigs are slow 
breeders. Willyou grant me space to give your readers a list of the farrowings 
of my large white sows during the month of January last? Ist January, 
Holywell Charlotte farrowed 13 pigs; 2nd, Holywell Tabbs, 14 pigs; 5th, 
Holywell Czarina, 13 pigs; 6th, Holywell Accident, 12 pigs; 8th, Holywell 
Bluebird, 11 pigs; 8th, Holywell Smithfield Slit-ear, 15 pigs; 9th, Holywell 
