648 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



an animal can have perfect comfort without the balanced ration, so I would 

 say, "Furnish to the swine family, which are the most economical meat 

 producers of all animals, a balanced ration." This being settled, each shall 

 use his utmost efforts to secure this ration at lowest possible cost, whether 

 purchased off the farm for cash, or indirectly on the farm with the equiva- 

 lent of cash. The method will differ to some extent according to the indi- 

 vidual as to his knowledge of the contents of the different feeds and the 

 conditions under which he can produce or purchase the same. 



Some one says how are we to know what a balanced ration is. Well, 

 we all know nature makes no mistakes, so we will commence with milk — 

 whole milk, which surely is a balanced ration for the young pig, which we 

 find to contain the following nutrients water 87.5, protein 3.2, carbohy- 

 drates 5, fat 3.6. Now, the ratio is what most concerns us, which is to be 

 found by multiplying the fat by 2%, add to the carbohydrates and divide 

 by the protein, which in this case gives us 1 to 4.4 which is the ratio of 

 whole milk. As skim milk and whey are among the products, many think 

 they must have for pigs. We will figure a ration from these products. 



First, skim milk with a ratio of 1 to 1.9 and oats 1 to 6.5, we will add 

 the two ratios and divide by 2 which we find to be 1 to 4.2 using 10 pounds 

 oats to 100 pounds milk. 



Now, if the feeders wish to use whey instead, which has a ratio of 1 to 

 6.6, he may use oil meal, which has a ratio of 1 to 1.5, and middlings, 

 which has a ratio of 1 to 4.7. Adding these three ratios and dividing by 3 

 you have a ratio of 1 to 4.2, same as the skim milk ration. In this case 

 6 pounds each oil meal and middlings would be used to 100 pounds of whey. 

 Whey and oats are practically the same, were it not for the bulk skim 

 milk and whey could be used half and half and make the balance. In this 

 case middlings alone added would make a balance. 



But another party says I have neither skim milk nor whey. Well, 

 we are sorry for him but still he can use one-half wheat, rye, oats or bar- 

 ley, and the other half, the "better half," should be oil meal, gluten soy 

 bean, or cow pea. So each of these mixtures will give practically whole 

 milk. 



The above ration should be widened as the pig grows older until the 

 last stage of fattening should be about the ratio of 1 pound oats, barley, 

 wheat or rye to 2 pounds of corn. Blue grass in the latter case would bal- 

 ance the corn. 



On our own farm we use a system of pasture with peas, rape, oats and 

 rye. Mr. McPherson says young clover and peas have practically the same 

 value per 100 pounds as whole milk and to them may be added as pasture 

 rape, alfalfa, soy bean and cow pea, each being a fine balance with corn. 

 So it will be seen it is comparatively cheap to balance the ration while 

 on pasture. 



The rule followed by Mr. McPherson and others of our Canadian 

 friends (who are as good feeders as 1 have ever met) is to feed 1 pound 

 of corn to every 60 pounds the hogs weigh and have found this to give best 

 results. However, do not feed corn to speak of even while on pasture till 



