PIGS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5458, 7 August 1929, Page 3

PIGS.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS. FOOD VALUE. Pigs multiply more rapidly, mature more quickly on less food, and produce more flesh than any other domestic animal. In support of this statement it is known that the increase annually in cattle ranges from 80 to 90 per cent.( in sheep 100 to 150 per cent., and in pigs 1000 to 1800 per cent, The pig exhibits even greater superiority over other animals in its marvellous power to convert a given amount of food into flesh. It requires 131 b of dry matter in the form of food (that is, the ordinary ration with moisture removed) to secure a gain of lib of flesh in a bullock ; in a sheep it takes 81b to 91b for a gain of 11b of mutton ; but in the pig it only needs from 41b to 551 b to produce 11b of pork. In slaughtering, sheep dress 55 to 60 per cent, dead weight, bullocks 60 to 65 per cent., and pigs 75 to 80 per cent. The pig scores again in so far that the carcase contains more edible meat in proportion to bone than that of any other flesh-producer. It has been scientifically ascertained that more energy can be developed from a pound of pork than from an equal quantity of mutton or beef. In contrast with hind quarter of beef or mutton, fresh ham gave 60 per cent, greater energy value than the mutton and 45 per cent, more than the beef.