EXPERIMENTS IN PIG FEEDING. Six grade Essex sow pigs, two weeks old, all of the same litter, were taken from their dam on the evening of May 23d, and placed in a pen for experimental feeding. On the morning of the 24th they weighed collectively, twenty-two and onehalf pounds. They were fed on milk, which was wasted to a considerable extent the first two days, while they were learning to drink, so that the experiment was not commenced until the morning of the 26th, when they weighed together, before feeding, twenty-five pounds. The pigs were got by an Essex boar belonging to the College Farm, out of a sow that was supposed to be three-fourths Essex. The pigs were so nearly alike in appearance that it was difficult to perceive any difference, in either form or quality. The feed was carefully weighed each day, and the pigs were weighed at the close of each week, in the morning, before feeding. On the morning of June 9th, two pens of the same size were provided and three pigs were placed in each pen. As there was a slight difference at this time in the apparent size of the pigs, the three heaviest were placed in the pen marked A, and the three lightest were placed in the pen marked B. On weighing, it was found that the three in pen A, weighed 34.5 lbs., and the three in pen B, weighed 40.5 lbs. The feed throughout the experiment was the same for each pen, to the close of the 24th week, when a limited ration of roots was given to the pigs in pen A. A few oats were fed the 4th and 5th weeks, but as they were not readily eaten, a small quantity of shelled corn was substituted at the beginning of the sixth week. The corn produced scours in all the pigs, so that it was not fed the third day. The scouring immediately stopped, and the corn was again given in diminished quantity. As it was not readily eaten in pen B, and was rejected entirely in pen A, corn meal was substituted the seventh week. As the pigs became used to the meal, the quantity was gradually increased, while the milk was diminished, until the close of the 8th week, when it was entirely discontinued. The feed in both pens, from the beginning of the 9th week to the close of the 24th week, was corn meal and water exclusively. The meal was weighed and then mixed with water before feeding. But a small quantity was fed at once; as soon as this was eaten, a fresh supply was placed in the trough. From four to six feeds were given each day; the meal being carefully weighed each time, and a record made of the amount, on the spot. The pigs were weighed separately after the third week; each one being designated by a number. Pigs No's 1, 2 and 3 were in pen A, and pigs No's 4, 5 and 6 were in pen B. The seventh week of the experiment, pig No. 6, in pen B, met with an accident that would probably have interfered with the progress of the experiment, and it was therefore killed. Its live weight was 30 lbs., and its dressed weight, 23 lbs. In Table No. 1, is given the weight of the pigs at the close of each week, and the average weight for each week. The average weight is found by adding the weight at the beginning of the week, to the weight at the close of the week, and dividing the sum by two. The weights in this and the following tables, are given in pounds and decimals of pounds. |