Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-02-07
PLG EEEDLNn
Thc Result Of Experiments ni the Bur-
liugtou station

Iington station
The Vermont Agricultural Experiment
station, during the past season tested the
comparative merits Of three breeds Of
swine-the Berkshire, Yorkshire aud Ches
ter White-and the economy of feeding at
the different ages up to the time when they
reached the weight Of 200 pounds The
result Of the experiments are reported in
Bulletin No H. The report says;
The dairy is the leading branch Of farm.
ing in Vermont, and the raising Of pigs for
the profitable utilization Of the skim milk is
an important auxiliary.
In studying the various methods Of feed
ing employed by even the best farmers in
the state, it has seemed evident that there
was great waste Of food under the pres
ent feeding systems IL was also found
that several breeds Of hogs are raised in the
state each claimed by its advocates To be
the best. To test three OF these breeds,
and to give some positive information
about the economy Of pig feeding. the fol.
lowing experiments were undertaken. 4
perusal Of the results will bring out these
facts
/. Pig feeding is profitable even at the
low price of vt cents per pound, dressed
weight Provided,
,. The pig is sold at an early age.
B. The pig should be sold rs soon as pos
siblc after 1t reaches a live weight of 1870
pounds
A. Grain can be fed to young pigs with
profit fed to pigs weighing over POO lbs
there is a loss
D Young pigs should be fed a ration in
which the flesh producing material is more
ba . La. e. l..
g. The old saying. grow the pig and then
fat him, should be changed to, grow the
pig and then sell him
I. BY using this system Of feeding and
selling, it is possible to raise two sets Of
pigs in twelve months
). The fertlizing value of the food con
sumed by the pig is the equal to nearly one
half the value Of the pork
y. In these trials the three breeds, Berk
shire, Chester White and Yorkshire. show.
Ell but little difference whatever differ
ence there was being in favor Of the Ches
ter White
An additional summary Of results is given
as follows
/. The experiment was conducted with
two pigs each Of the three breeds, Berkshire.
Chester White and Yorkshire. 1t lasted
from May Il 10 Nov. II 1889
,. The Chester Whites gained in live
weight about fifth faster than the 9th
ers and the Berkshires a little faster than
the York shires
3. The Chester Whites required one.
seventh less food to produce pound in
crease in live weight than the others which
differed but little from each other.
1. The Chester Whites produced their
growth at "A cost in food consumed of three
cents per pound, while the other breeds ate
3! cents worth of feed for each pound of
growth, difference Of about - per cent in
favor of the Chester Whites
.. The six pigs together gained l0sSj
lbs in live weight or an average per pig of
% lbs. day
6 They consumed jjS2 quarts skim milk.
1923 lbs. corn meal and ss4 lbs wheat
bran, or an average Of , - lbs dry matter
to each pound gained in live weight.
:. They sold for } cents per pound
dressed weight, and ,hrank IS per cent in
dressing, making the selling price equal to
432 cents per pound live weight The
whole selling price was 81 01. aud the value
of the feed consumed S3G.22 leaving profit
of $40 So
3 Pigs require more food to produce a
pound of growth the older they grow
hence the longer they are kept the more it
costs for each pound of growth and the less
profitable they become
.. When skim milk is worth - cents per
100 lbs, corn meal SIS per ton. bran $40,
and the pork is sold for 81 cents per pound
dressed weight, there i, uo prof in feeding
after the live weight reaches 1 - to $50 lbs
10. If the value of the manure is consid
cred As an offset to the care, these pigs paid
the cost of the grain they ate and an aver