312 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



has a special fitness, and, in connection with milk, affords a combinar 

 tion that can scarcely be equaled. It, in my opinion, is the main feed. 

 In order, however, to provide a variety aad keep the appetite always 

 on edge, it is well to have at hand ground oats, ground or shelled 

 soaked corn for occasional feeding. Ground barley is also held in high 

 appreciation by some, and may be used in place of corn to good advan- 

 tage during the earlier portion of the period of fitting. A quantity of 

 oil meal is an essential to be used as a means of keeping the boweli 

 properly regulated. 



In feeding shorts, mix it into a thick slop. A watery, sloppx feed 

 is objectionable, leads to overloading the stomach and unbalancing the 

 digestive machinery. The feed should be prepared fresh for each meal, 

 and only in such quantities as may be sufficient for the time. I believe 

 best results are obtained by feeding three times a day, and each time at 

 an exact hour. This regularity at stated times is quite important when 

 feeding three times daily. Be careful never to overfeed, or to give 

 enough so the hog leaves any in the trough. Give only what he will 

 clean up as though he is afraid It will get away from him. I do not 

 mean that he is to be forced to leave the trough hungry, but it is the 

 fitter's duty to know when the pig has enough, and when it is at the 

 point of getting too much. Keep the pig eating as much as it can as- 

 similate, and no more. Of course the earlier feeding should not be 

 so heavy as that of the later part. Too much forcing in a young pig 

 is certain to cause breaking down in the feet, and too free corn ration 

 at any time is apt to produce the same result. 



It will be well, perhaps, to give a word of caution as to shorts. The 

 perfection of milling machinery has lately succeeded in extracting the 

 most valuable feeding elements from shorts, so that in some cases lit- 

 tle remains but woody fiber having no strength. When we have advised 

 the use of shorts it was the old fashioned sort 



I have made no mention of the use of stock foods and the more lately 

 introduced packing house by-products, having had but little experience 

 with them, and being inclined to place full confidence in the articles 

 mentioned. 



Having gone to all the trouble of securing a perfect physical condi- 

 tion, it is not to be overlooked that a proper system of grooming and 

 furbishing are called for so that it may be presented to the best advan- 

 tage, so that every strong point will stand out prominently, and every 

 shortcoming be diminished to its smallest possible point. 



This paper brought up the question of how long- before 

 show time you must feed your show stuff to which Mr. Roberts 

 said: "If I was going to show I would not feed any more 

 than I had to for the show. You have to take care of them 

 from the word go to get the pig up in good shape. Take 

 care of him from the time he is born and never let him get 

 back. If a pig is to be shown in the six months class it takes 



