Food nutrients required for maintenance of brood sows and for growth of pigs to weaning time

Abstract

A great many experiments have been carried on with swine, which have determined the amount of feed necessary and the cost to produce a pound of gain during periods of fattening, with various kinds and combinations of foodstuffs; but there is a decided lack of knowledge regarding the cost of maintaining the brood sow throughout the year and the cost of producing the pig to weaning time. Such lack of data has helped to retard the placement of Agriculture upon a business basis. There have been no data available by which a charge could be made against the "feeder hog" at time of weaning. Such factors along with the difficulty of division of labor have prevented the farmer from applying business principals to his profession; and the lack of application of business principles to farming has resulted in depressing the net profits that might accrue from the profession. From November 18, 1908 to March 2, 1910 - a period of 469 days - the following experiment was conducted with the hope of furnishing to the feeder and others interested material from which the real cost of the pig at weaning time could be ascertained. The object was to collect such data as would warrant the debiting of the pig at weaning time with certain chargers. In order to do this it was necessary to determine the cost of maintenance of the brood sow throughout the year, including the cost of maintenance while farrow and suckling pigs.