36 



is no object, it may be possible to secure larger gains in weight by cooking a certain 

 portion of the feed to make the ration more palatable, thus stimulating the appe- 

 tite of the animal, but such gains are usually obtained at a comparatively high 

 cost. 



Grinding. — The question of grinding was discussed, under corn, and it 

 was shown that,' so far as corn is concerned, t]ie gain from grinding is compara- 

 tively small. Numerous experiments have been made with other grains to determine 

 the effect of grinding, it being generally supposed that grinding would ibe more 

 effective in the case of small grains than it would be with corn. It is out of the 

 question to review experimental work in detail in regard to this point, but it 

 may be said that grinding small grains, such as peas, barley, oats, and rye, has 

 almost invariably proved beneficial. Sometimes the advantage of the ground grain 

 has been very slight, and sometimes very marked, but the general evidence indi- 

 cates that it is advisable, when practicable, to grind such grains. When the cost 

 of grinding is excessively high, the practice may not be advisable, but, under 

 ordinary circumstances, it is tlie safe course. According to a compilation of 

 experiment station results, made by G-. M. Eommel (Bulletin 47, TJ. S. Dept. of 

 Agr.), the average saving effected by grinding small grains is 13.36 per cent. 



Wet vs. Dry Feed. — Considerable experimental work has been done with 

 wet and dry feed, and results are very contradictory. On an average, the two 

 methods of feeding show practically equal results. The writer's experience is 

 that when hogs can be fed dry meal in such a manner that they cannot waste 

 it, they make as good use of it as when it is wet. There is more tendency to waste 

 feed when it is fed dry, especially when a considerable number of hogs are fed 

 out of the same trough. Troughs arranged so as to prevent crowding will tend 

 to lessen the waste. In cold pens, dry meal feeding has some advantages, and 

 mixing dry meal with an equal weight of pulped roots makes a good ration. Under 

 ordinary conditions, it is difficult to see much advantage from dry feeding. 



Soaking. —Soaking feed is another practice which seems to give variable 

 results, according to experimental data. There seems little doubt, however, that, 

 in the case of dry hard grain fed whole, soaking is to be commended. In the case 

 of meal, freshly mixed feed will likely give as good results as soaked feed. 



Fermenting. — The practice of fermenting feed for swine was formerly 

 much more common than it is at present In the case of cotton-seed meal, the 

 Texas station recommends mixing the cotton-seed meal with other meal, and allow 

 the whole mass to sour. The New Hampshire Station obtained better results 

 from fermented bran than from unfermented bran. With feeds well adapted to 

 pig feeding, it is not likely that fermentation would he of any benefit. 



Mfthods of Feeding. 



" Hog Motor Grinder " vs." Hopper. ''—The Maryland Experiment 

 Station (Bulletin 150) reports tests with the "hog motor grinder," a contrivance 

 by means of which hogs grind their own grains as they require it. The grinder was 

 compared with a self- feed hopper. In the first test whole corn was used in the 

 hopper, and in the second test ground corn was used. The pigs were from four to 

 five months old at the commencement of the experiment. 



In the first test the hopper-fed pigs made an average daily gain per pig of 

 1.85 pounds, and the grinder-fed pigs 1.65 pounds. 



