284 LIVE STOCK MANAGEMENT. 



twelve hours or steamed before feeding. Where alfalfa or 

 clover hay is added to the ration during the fall or winter 

 months it should be cut up very fine, steamed and added to 

 the ration. Hogs which are being fattened, especially if they 

 are being forced for a quick finish, should have some kind 

 of a condiment. This will aid digestion and give tone to 

 the system. In this respect, sulphur to the amount of one 

 teaspoonful every two or three weeks has sometimes been 

 found to be very beneficial. Probably one of the most com- 

 mon and at the same time beneficial preparations in this 

 respect is prepared from charcoal, wood ashes and certain 

 other adjuncts which are considered to be beneficial to the 

 health of the hogs which are being fattened. The following 

 mixture has been recommended : Six bushels of corn cob 

 charcoal that has been well crushed, or three bushels of 

 common charcoal, with one bushel of ashes, eight pounds of 

 salt, and two quarts of air slacked lime. Dissolve one and 

 one-half pounds of copperas in hot water, sprinkle it over 

 the mass and thoroughly mix. Put this into self feeding 

 boxes or somewhere where it will be protected from the 

 weather, and let the pigs partake of the same at will. 



It is very important that the hogs be kept in comfort- 

 able quarters, well bedded and clean. They should be fed 

 all that they will eat up clean within a half hour or so after 

 feeding. It is a bad mistake to feed more than they will 

 clean up in the course of twenty minutes or half an hour. 

 It is much better to underfeed a little than to overfeed, espe- 

 cially during warm weather. Any feed which is left over 

 during warm weather soon ferments, and thus becomes unde- 

 sirable. The feed floors and troughs should be kept very 

 clean. In fact, most good swine feeders sweep off their 

 floors and feed troughs every morning and evening. 



