FEED AND CARE OF SWINE 237 



water just before feeding to render it more palatable. Corn 

 is often profitably fed without the addition of any other grain 

 when pigs |are on good leguminous pa'sture or rape. The 

 amount of corn to use in the ration depends upon the age of 

 the pigs. Young pigs require more protein and ash, to supply 

 nutrients to furnish growth, than mature animals. Corn alone 

 does not contain enough protein and ash to supply the needs 

 of young pigs, therefore it is necessary to supplement it with 

 materials rich in protein and ash, and use it in smaller propor- 

 tions for young pigs. Wood ashes, bone meal, etc., are often 

 fed pigs that are kept in pens, to furnish sufficient ash to form 

 strong bones, especially when corn is the only grain fed. Swine 

 on pasture do not generally require to be supplied bone form- 

 ing materials as they secure an ample supply from the pasture. 



Wheat should always be ground for pigs. It meets the re- 

 quirements of young pigs better than corn because of its higher 

 percentage of protein and mineral compounds. It is consid- 

 ered of equal feeding value to corn and produces pork of fine 

 flavor. When the price is low this feed is very profitable for 

 pork production. A mixture of wheat and corn meal or wheat 

 and barley, is better than when fed alone. A combination of 

 wheat and skim milk makes an excellent food for young pigs. 

 Sometimes wheat is soaked for a day before feeding but this is 

 not as satisfactory as wheat meal. Experiments show an in- 

 crease of one pound gain from about 5 Ibs. of wheat. 



Wheat Middlings or Shorts is a suitable feed for all ages of 

 swine. A mixture of shorts and corn, shorts and barley, or 

 shorts and skim milk, produces firm pork. This feed should 

 never compose the whole grain of the ration as when fed alone 

 the pork is liable to be soft. This by-product seems to be es- 

 pecially adapted for pork production and should be used with 

 other feeds and when the market price will permit. For young 

 pigs middlings gives fine results. 



Wheat Bran is not adapted to young pigs because it is too bulky 

 and coarse and contains too much fiber. It is sometimes fed in 

 small amounts to brood sows but it is not generally popular. 



Wheat Screenings when cheap may sometimes be profitably 



