210 FARM ANIMALS 



which hogs require most and which must be ac- 

 cessible to them at all times are charcoal or ashes 

 and salt. It is strictly necessary that an abundant 

 supply of charcoal or soft coal should be provided 

 hogs that are maintained in pens or during the 

 winter when the ground is frozen. There seems 

 to be a natural requirement for this material on 

 the part of all hogs and it must be provided, if the 

 best results in health and strength of bone are to 

 be obtained. A good plan consists in mixing ashes, 

 charcoal, air slaked lime and salt. Pigs eat about 

 one-tenth of a pound of salt per day and eat the 

 charcoal and asnes as fancy strikes them, 



COARSE FORAGE 



The stomach of the hog is not large as compared 

 with that of cattle or sheep. It is more like that of 

 the horse in size and the digestive process resembles 

 that of the horse, except that it is considerably 

 more active. The hog, however, is an omnivorous 

 animal and not a ruminant and is, therefore, not 

 adapted to utilizing large quantities of coarse fodder 

 in a profitable manner. 



In the arid states where alfalfa is such an im- 

 portant forage crop it has been found that alfalfa 

 nay is readily eaten by hogs to the extent of one- 

 half of a pound per day in addition to a pound or 

 more of sugar beets and a suitable grain ration. 

 Where alfalfa hay is fed in self feeders it is always 

 observed that hogs spend much of their time pulling 

 it out and eating it between the regular feeding 

 times for grain. Where tests have been made to 



it has been demonstrated that five pounds of alfalfa 

 hay may be used to take the place of three pounds 



