The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-02-03
Cooked Food for Pigs.

Editors Country Gentleman: l have for
second time been trying an experiment in
the line Of fattening pork, and testing the
merits of different varieties of food-cooked
and uncooked-in the production of pork:
and although the pigs in question are not
yet slaughtered, the experiment is virtually
ended-the result of which, with q few
suggestions, propose to present to your
readers.
The animals selected for the purpose Of
experiment are pure-bred Chester Whites
their existence dating from March 81, 1868.
They had been kept in good thrifty condition
until October "a, when commenced feeding
them all they would eat Of newly husked
corn. They were fed one week and weighed.
| then fed another week and weighed, noting
the gains. | measured the corn, and the
four pigs consumed exactly one bushel of
shelled corn per day; the average gain per
day during the week was triie under nine
pounds. The account would stand thus
for every bushcl of whole grain fed re-
ceived nine pounds of pork-value, S .0S
gain of each hog per day, two and one-cighth
pounds.
November 6, l commenced feeding
cooked meal--fed eleven days and again
weighed the average daily gain during the
eleven days was eleven pounds. They con-
sumed three fourths of bushcl of meal per
day. The account for cooked meal would
stand thus for every bushel of cooked meal
fed received thirteen and three-fourths
pounds of pork-yalue, 5 IS !; gain Of each
pig per day, two aud threc-iourths pounds.
November II, | commenced feeding cooked
potatoes and meal -four bushels Of potatoes
to one of meal the meal stirred in after
the potatoes had cooked. This was fed
eight days, when the pigs were again
weighed, the average daily gain being nine
and three-eighths pounds. They consumed
one and fourth bushels of the mixture
daily. The account for potatoes and meal
would stand: for every bu5hel fed received
seven and one-half pounds of pork-value,
ninety cents average daily gain per pig,
two and one third pounds.
November q, commenced feeding. in
addition to cooked potatoes and meal, what
corn the pigs would eat. kept no data as
to the amount consumed, but weighed again
December 5, and found the weight of the
four pigs to be 1861 pounds-.a gain of two
and two-tbirds pounds per head during 3
very cold week. should judge the amount
consumed during the last eleven days of
experiment was largely above that con-
sumed at any previous period Of equal du-
ration.
The result of my experiment helps to
establish the conviction in my mind that to
produce cheap pork, and to produce this
CHEAP pork fast, ut least three things are
Nd fc3Jrfb J'ocjr1bIo
First, get good breed of hogs; the Ches-
ter White is my favorite. Secondly, feed
cooked potatoes and meal principally.
Thirdly, an occasional change Of diet is
indispensable to the most rapid development
of fat, and conducive to the general thrift of
the animal. If hogs are confined in pen,
dirt should be thrown in frequently, which
will be greedily devoured. 1t prevents
scurvy and costiveness.
The fourth desirable part is spaying. /
think this practice is very much neglected,
and its value very much underestimate by
majority of feeders. Although this arti-
Gle is not designed to discuss the merits or
dement's of the practice, would simply
state that, in addition to the above expert
ment, / noted the weekly gain Of each hog,
The gain of the barrow was regular-that
of the sows spasmodic. | noted the gain OF
a SOW during one week when in heat-it
was less than six pounds. She then had
connection with the boar, and after recover
ing from the effects, weighed after another
weeks feeding, and found the gain twenty
sour pounds. Ihave frequently noted gains
of four pounds daily, and even more, II
sows during the first few weeks of preg-
nancy. When we consider the fact thai
one-third Of fattening sow's time is occu
pied in the development of the provocative
propensity, how can we fail to see the pecu
mary interest involved in the adoption Of
the system Of spaying!
Brother farmers, do away with the ole
system of feeding unlocked food. Get some
Chester White pigs Tor some other gooc
breed. Get large kettle, and employ
some good mason to fix it nicely in an arch
if you cannot do it yourself. Get your
arch wood dry in advance. Fill your kettle
two-thirds full of potatoes, and watel
enough to cook them after they are cooked
add as much meal as you can stir in. WheI
sufficiently cool, feed to your pigs. Pursu
this course, and If you fail TO grow som,
pigs which you will be proud to show you
neighbors-if you fail to cave ten bushels 0
shelled corn worth 3l.20 per busheD fol
every two hundred pounds of pork 20,
make-then say that Wayne county neye
sent to the Albany market hog that dressed
three hundred pounds.
An objection was raised by one Of you,
correspondents to my article last spring OF
Cooked as. Uncooked Food for Pigs" be
cause | failed to take into account the woot
consumed in cooking feed. In reply,
would say l viii bind myself to furnish