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It is evident that meal feeding is profitable in the early stages of the growth of the pig, the weight to which it can be continued depending upon the price of pig-meat and : the price of meal. It is suggested that on this basis meal supplements can fill a useful and profitable role in times of milk scarcity, if at such times pigs of light weight are on hand. Milk Production in the Sow.—Measurements of the milk yield of sows and of the* composition of their milk have been made with a view to developing a more satisfactory basis to sow nutrition. The investigation to date has covered 5 Berkshire sows for their first three lactations. The following summarizes the results to date : (1) As a preliminary, observations were made on the suckling frequency of littersThe observed intervals were found to become longer as lactation progressed,, being about one hour in the week following farrowing and about 80 minutes, in the eighth week. There was a difference-of from five to ten minutes between the average interval during daylight and the interval during darkness. Thelatter interval was the longer. (2) The yields obtained were compared with the results of other workers in this field and were found to be much higher. The average yield per day persow was 14-25 lb. and the average total yield for fifty-six days 798 lb. Yield increases with each lactation from the first to the third. (3) The shape of the mean lactation curve as drawn for the Ruakura sows showed' not only greater production, but also that the peak yield was reached approximately two weeks later than was the case in previous studies byworkers in other countries. (4) The average composition of milk in the third lactation as measured by thethree constituents —fat, protein, and lactose —was fat 7-9 per cent., protein 6-5 per cent., and lactose s*o per cent. (5) The food units required for a pound of live-weight gain by the suckling litters in the first four weeks of lactation as against the last four, when the litter, as well as the sow, is receiving skimmed milk and meal, were 3.5 and 3-0* respectively. (6) As the milk-production fell with advancing lactation the intake of creep ration by the litter increased in almost direct proportion. The importance of" creep feeding is emphasized. (7) The better food utilization over the last four weeks is considered to be due to the use made of the creep ration by the litter. Food fed direct to piglets, gives more efficient utilization than when fed via the sow. Methods of accentuating this effect are well worth investigation. (8) An attempt has been made to measure the requirement for live-weight gain by the litter over the lactation period in terms of gross digestible energy.. A further trial which will provide additional information on this point isin progress. (9) It is suggested that once the energy requirements for growth are determined. it should be possible to determine milk yield indirectly by measuring creepintake and milk composition each week over the lactation. Progeny Testing of Berkshires. —This project aims to find what progress can be madein improving the following economic characters in pigs : (1) Prolificacy. (2) Growth rate. (3) Carcass quality. On the male side the method employed is to mate at least 5 sows to each sire to betested and to select 2 average pigs at weaning from two successive litters for growthrate studies under standard conditions. These litter representatives are slaughtered and carcass evaluations made according to the original standards developed for pork and bacon judging under competition conditions in New Zealand.

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