EXfEUlMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



515 



COMPARATIVE VALUE OP SKIM MILK AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTS TO THE 

 CEREAL GRAINS FOR PIG FEEDING. 



Reference to this table, which shows the relative values of the differeiit 

 nitrogenous supplements commonly used with farm grown grains, should 

 enable the feeder to decide which of these feeds would be most profitable 

 at prevailing prices at any time. Skim milk, tankage and middlings are 

 very commonly used and are all very palatable to the pig in combination 

 with grain feeds. Oil meal shows a very high value in comparison with the 

 others but is less desirable as it is not so palatable and pigs do not 

 eat it as readily. 



BUTTERMILK. 



Table I shows that buttermilk has practically the same composition as 

 skim milk and feeding trials at several stations (Massachusetts, South 

 Dakota, and North Carolina) where skim milk aud buttermilk have been 

 compared, showed very little dillercncc in their feeding value. While 

 buttermilk is produced in much smaller quantities than skim milk, still 

 the 1917 production of buttermilk in Michigan is estimated at nearly 

 120,000 tons, so that the feeding value represented is no small item. Un- 

 like skim milk, the bulk of the buttermilk is pi-oduced at creameries and 

 must be shipped or hauled back to tlic farm if used for feeding purposes. 

 This necessitates extra expense fur shipping and hauling and as a result 

 large quantities of buttermilk are often thrown away entirely for lack of 

 suitable means of disposal. 



WHET. 



AVhey production in Michigan during 1017 is estimated at approxi- 

 mately 34,000 tons. Wliey is not a very satisfactory feed for calves, 

 but for pig feeding purposes has about 50'o the value of skim milk, 

 according to extensive experiments at Wisconsin and Ontario. The 

 analysis in Table I shows that whey differs in composition from skim 

 milk and buttermilk principally in protein, the latter having been removed 

 in the form of casein in making the cheese. For this reason whey 

 should be used in combination with other feeds which will supply tlie 

 necessary protein. Whey should be fed up as promptly as possible as it 



