278 



MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



most convenient feed, the endeavor should be to so use the corn as to get 

 the greatest possible value out of it. But corn will not do its best if fed 

 alone, and as a single feed. It is exceedingly rich in oil and carbohy- 

 drates, the great fat producing properties. If it has a weak place it is 

 in the muscle producing property — the protein. The thing to do is to 

 strengthen the weak element in the corn by combining some feed strong 

 at the point where corn is weak. This may be done by combining with 

 it clover, cow peas, alfalfa, bran, oats or ship stuff. Bran, however, is 

 an expensive feed for hogs and is better suited for ruminants — cattle — 

 sheep. There is so much crude fibre in bran that pigs do not get all the 

 nutrient out of it like cows do. 



It is scarcely necessary to call your attention to the necessity for an 

 abundance of ash or mineral matter in our feeds for pigs. Corn is weak 

 in mineral matter that goes to make up the bone. It is so easily sup- 

 plied, however, in the form of wood ashes that it is no disparagement to 

 the corn. The prudent farmer will supply his hogs with plenty of wood 

 ashes and salt. 



As to condimental food, so-called "stock food," it is far better to 

 feed your pigs on diversified feeds, give them healthful environment so 

 that through healthy nutrition nature may produce thrift which is better 

 than to feed improperly and depend on condiments. Balancing the ratio 

 will be of infinitely more value than dosing with medicine. 



LONG FEEDS MAKE SLOW GAINS. 



It is a common observation that pigs full fed for a considerable 

 length of time make smaller gains. This is true with nearly all classes 

 of stock. The following table bears on that point : 



Table VII. Length of Feeding Period on Full Feed — Twelve Weeks. 



GRINDING GRAIN. 



Considerable work has been done on this subject by the Missouri, 

 Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin Stations. While the results show that 

 on the average, grain when ground will produce a somewhat larger 

 gain than when fed whole, yet the difference is so small that unless 



