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IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



HAND VERSUS SELF FED PIGS ON ALFALFA. 

 Pigs, weaning to market, full fed. 



*Some meat meal fed in dry lot following forage. 



hand fed scheme. The return for a bushel of corn was greater where 

 the self feeding scheme was used. Where shelled corn and meat meal 

 were both self fed in separate feeders, the gains were most rapid of all, 

 the feed consumption largest, the feed required for 100 pounds of gain 

 less, and the cost per 100 pounds was decreased; then, too, the return for 

 a bushel of corn was larger. 



This point needs emphasis: The "free will" fed pigs, receiving both 

 corn and meat meal on alfalfa (all three feeds self fed), finished for 

 market at the weight of 250 pounds, forty-nine days ahead of the hand 

 fed corn only lot. The range would have been even greater had not meat 

 meal been fed to the "ear corn alone" lot after the forage season was 

 over. It is quite a saving, if you can, and still get better results, to do 

 away with forty-nine days of hog feeding. As compared to the two hand 

 fed lots receiving both corn and meat meal, there was a saving of twenty- 

 six days when the self feeder for all feeds was used, as compared to 

 hand feeding. These indications are noteworthy: 



1. Growing and fattening pigs that are full fed corn by hand on 

 alfalfa need a protein supplement. (Recent developments of our feeding 

 trials tend to show that pigs self fed corn on alfalfa pasture do not need 

 as much supplement as where they are hand fed. This is contrary to 

 our expectations, and we must await further evidence before making 

 definite statements in regard to the truth or falsity of the indication.) 



2. The self feeding of corn and meat meal in separate self feeders 

 is practical and economical on alfalfa. 



3. When corn is hand fed, there is a question (unless corn is kept 

 before the pigs almost continually) as to whether or not meat meal Is 

 to be free will. Relative prices are important in the consideration. 



4. Considerable labor was saved in self feeding; risk, interest, and 

 responsibility were lessened by having hogs ready for market earlier. 



To show the preference of hogs for corn, even though on pasture 

 supplemented with a large number of feeds in separate feeders, figures 



