282 LIVE STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



be made during the early fall or spring months. The weather 

 is then not too cold nor too warm in fact, about right for 

 the best gains. In real cold weather a considerable amount 

 of the feed is used for the production of heat to supply the 

 heat required for the maintenance of the animal body. In 

 real warm weather, on the other hand, a considerable amount 

 of feed may be wasted. Where two litters per year are to- 

 be reared it will be found best to fatten the first bunch and 

 market them during the months of September and October. 

 The second litter should be fattened and ready for market 

 some time during the latter part of March or the month of 

 April. These are things which each and every feeder must,, 

 to a certain extent, control himself. 



Concerning the various kinds of feeds which are to be- 

 used in the fattening of hogs, in this connection we must 

 consider the feed stuffs which are available, those which are 

 home grown and most easily grown, those which are most 

 palatable for the animals, and, lastly, those which are most 

 economical. All of these factors must be considered in 

 selecting the ration. There are a great many different kinds 

 of rations, comprised of different combinations of feed stuffs,, 

 which give very good results. One important factor seems 

 to be that variety be supplied. A combination of feed stuffs- 

 always gives better results than any single feed stuff when 

 fed alone. 



In the western states corn must be the basis, and form a 

 large proportion of any grain ration fed. This is due to the- 

 fact that corn is the staple grain grown in this country. 

 Taking it one year with another it is the most economical 

 feed which the farmer has at hand for swine feeding pur- 

 poses. Corn, however, is not a well balanced feed for young 

 and growing hogs, thus should be fed in conjunction with 

 some other feed stuffs which are rich in those compounds- 

 such as protein and ash, in which corn is deficient. Corn is- 

 a strictly fattening food. For hogs which are a year or a 

 year and one-half old, and which are to be fattened in a 

 short time, perhaps a ration of corn will prove as economical 

 and give as heavy returns for the feed consumed as any- 

 other feed stuff or combination of feed stuffs that can bo- 

 used. 



Hogs, however, as a general rule are not kept until a 

 year or one and one-half years old before marketing, but are 

 marketed at from six to ten months of age, thus should be 



