The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-08-27
weight Of Pigs for FroAt.

1t is always understood, as a general
rule, that young animals take on flesh
with greater gain in proportion TO cost of
food than do those of larger growth.
Up to the time of maturity, increase of
frame may be expected from the excess
OF food above that needed TO sustain life
When growth of frame ceases the chief
addition possible thereafter is in the form
of fat, and this is much less in amount
and cannot be added so quickly as when
growth of frame and increase of flesh
make double tax on the organs
of digestion. In paper uby F. w
. Wall of the Wisconsin experiment station,
in the Chicago Live Stock Report, we
find some very interesting experiments
made in feeding pigs of various sizes by
Prof. Sanborn and w. A Henry. Over
500 animals were included IN the various
trials. They were divided into seven
groups. according to weight, varying
from under so pounds to $50 pounds OF
tifty-nine animals with. an average weight
of 81 pounds. the amount of feed for one
pound of gain in weight was $50 pounds;
l3o animals with an average weight of l76
pounds, gained one pound of flesh for each
81 pounds of feed.
These were che extremes Of gain from
feed. Hogs that weigh heavier than 2U0
pounds in some cases made better gains
blldII GllC BLBS budb NGTH SOulGWldb ll2UUer.
This is phenomenon that we often
noted when we were feeding hogs, and it
has been generally observed by many
other farmers. We account for it by the
fact that the chief food of fattening hogs
is corn, which is very difficult to digest,
and that the digestion of the older ami
mails was better than that of those
younger. This is undoubtedly the fact.
/ The pig that is suddenly changed to corn
feed will for a liftlo 10
rapid gain in weight, but its digestion
will soon be so much impaired that it
cannot assimilate the food it eats, and
thus does not make the gain it should.
We find in the tables that II hogs
which had an average weight of 333
pounds made an average gain of one
pound for each f. As pounds that they con
sumed. This is larger gain than was
made by any of the lots between $50 and
300 pounds live weight 1t was nearly as
good product from the food consumed as
was given BY pigs weighing l26 pounds.
That was one pound gained for each Az
pounds of food eaten. This, we believe,
also confirms the experience of most
farmers that large and very fat hogs will
m AXE considerable gain in weight while
| eating comparatively little. 1t is not a
/ good practice, however. to fatten hogs in
this way, for the sluggishness in move
/ ment which is mainly responsible for this
increased gain from food impairs the
health of the animal, and. OF course.
makes the pork unhealthful for those
who use IL.
1t is only mature, full-grown hogs that
can digest ration composed mainly of
corn. and even for them a mixed ration
with more of protein or heterogeneous ter
in the matfeed is better than an exclusive
corn diet. A mixture of fine wheat mid
dlings slightly cooked in water will be
eaten in considerable quantities by fat
tening hogs. II will increase the ability
of the stomach to digest food, and in the
younger animals it will materially aid
growth as well.
The practical conclusion from these ex-
periments is that II usually pays best to
kill pigs by the time they weigh 1870
pounds, and from that up to 200 pounds
II allowed to go much heavier than this
the cost of feed in proportion to gain is
increased, except when the hogs become
too fat and sluggish to take exercise, and
then the extra. gain is at the cost of i'm
paired healthfulness of their pork when
they are killed. Such pork may be very
solid and not waste in frying, but its
unhealthfulness should prevent it from
being bought or used.