MOST ECONOMICAL METHODS OF PRODUCING PORK.

Bay of Plenty Times, 24 April 1890, Page 1

MOST ECONOMICAL METHODS OF PRODUCING PORK.

A series of experiments recently parried put in America to ascertain what; trfere ihe most economical methods of prodocing pork, both as regards its quality, its proportion of lean to fat, and its weight, hare proyed the superiority of maize as a food for ! tpigs. It was f blind that 4£lb of whole maize produced lib of pork, and, as a bushel of maizejrarelj cottfi more ihan 33, an ample margin for profit was left. A similar quantity of ground maize was required to pror duce lib of pork, but when a bushel , of maize was ground only 12flb were produced, so that the expenditure of money ia grinding the maize was unnecessary. Compared with oats, maize was found, much more valuable and far cheaper, for a bushel of maize meal was found to do as much work in pork production as three bushels of oats, or, taking the two foods weight for weight, lib of maize meal was worth 2lb of oats. In the experiment, which lasted for some fout weeks, over which period the average was taken, a quarter bushel of ground oats was require«r to produce lib of pork when fed in conjunction with maize meal, half of each being given. The quantity of maize consumed by the pigs was at the rate of 211 b per 1001 b live weight. > ■- Taking the price of maize in Illinois at Is 2d a bushel, it was found that even during the cold weaihe? pork was produced for less thftQ lid alb.