EXERCISE 89 

 COMPUTING A STANDARD RATION FOR PIGS 



Fig. 141. The effect on the growing pig of feeding 

 an unbalanced ration 



The upper picture shows how the pig looked at the be- 

 ginning, weight 28 pounds. The lower picture shows its 

 appearance at the end — after having been fed all the 

 corn it would eat for six months, weight 3 1 pounds 



Object. To ascertain what combinations of common 

 feeds will fatten young and growing hogs most cheaply. 



Materials. Paper; pencil; table of feeding standards in 

 Appendix. 



Directions. Assume that pigs weighing 150 pounds each 

 are to be fed until they weigh 200 pounds, or through the 

 second feeding period, which is a period of growth as well 

 as of fattening. The feeding standard for pigs in this 

 period requires daily for each 1000 pounds of live weight 

 from 36 to 45 pounds of dry matter, which should contain 

 6.4 pounds of protein, 30 pounds of carbohydrates, and 1.6 

 pounds of fats, and should have a nutritive ratio of 1 : 5.2. 



1. Suppose wheat middlings and corn are combined in 

 the proportion of 32 per cent middlings to 68 per cent 

 corn, or 9 pounds of middlings to 27 pounds of corn. 

 What is the nutritive ratio and how does it compare with 

 the standard? 



2. Let us 

 suppose that 

 tankage is added 

 to make a ration 

 of 25 pounds of 

 corn, 8 pounds 



of wheat middlings, and 2 pounds of tankage, or corn 62 

 per cent, wheat middlings 32 per cent, and tankage 6 per 

 cent. Compute nutrients, and compare with the standard. 



Compute, and compare with the standard, rations made 

 up of the following feeds offered in the proportions named, 

 estimating the amount of each which should be fed daily : 

 shelled corn, 100 pounds; sweet potatoes, 100 pounds ; pea- 

 nut meal, 50 pounds. Also shelled corn, 100 pounds ; cas- 

 sava, 100 pounds; peanut meal, 50 pounds. 



Questions. What rations are most commonly used in 

 your community for brood sows, for mothers and young 

 pigs, for weanlings, for fattening hogs? What are the most 

 common hog pastures in your neighborhood ? Which is the 

 best? With clover or alfalfa pasture, is as much protein re- 

 quired in the grain as when the hogs are confined to a dry 

 lot ? Is as much required when hogs are running on bluegrass 

 or bermuda grass ? What are the most common commercial 



Fig. 142. Effect on the growing pig of feeding a 

 balanced ration 



The upper picture shows the appearance of the pig at the 

 beginning of the test, weight 17 pounds. The lower 

 picture shows how it looked after having been fed for six 

 months on a balanced ration, weight 200 pounds. This 

 pig is full brother to the one shown in Fig. 141 



proteins available for swine feeding? What is the principal source of carbohydrates in swine feeding? 



References. Waters, H. J. Essentials of Agriculture, pp. 402-406. Ginn and Company. Henry and 

 Morrison. Feeds and Feeding Abridged, pp. 347-350. The Henry Morrison Company. Day, G. E. Pro- 

 ductive Swine Husbandry, pp. 142-185. J. B. Lippincott Company. 



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