242 ELEMENTARY TREATISE ON STOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING 



for swine feed. The large amount of potash salts in the ash 

 of beet molasses is liable to produce scouring when fed in other 

 than limited quantities. In Louisiana cane molasses is fed to hogs. 

 Hogs are extremely fond of it and seem to thrive on it. The 

 writer believes a limited quantity, when the market price is low, 

 will prove a profitable fattening food. Cane molasses is high 

 in digestible carbohydrates and when corn is fed, the roughage 

 should be nitrogenous. Cane molasses is in such demand by 

 manufacturers of mixed feeds, syrup mixers, and as a feed for 

 mules and horses, that it is questionable whether it can be used 

 by the economical feeder. 



Leguminous Hays.~~Clover and alfalfa are excellent roughage 

 to feed with concentrates as corn, barley, rye, wheat, rice polish, 

 etc. It should be the aim of every feeder to harvest these crops 

 when the stems are small and tender, and prevent the loss- of the 

 leaves and finer parts, to furnish them in the best condition for 

 hogs. These hays should be ground, scalded and added to the 

 grain and fed about once a day. These nitrogenous hays are 

 not satisfactory to feed during the finishing period but supply 

 protein in a cheap form for the early periods of fattening. 



Peanuts are used a great deal in the Gulf States to fatten hogs. 

 The vines are first harvested or grazed with cattle or sheep and 

 then the swine are turned on to harvest the peanuts. It has been 

 found profitable to allow the swine either a field of corn or to 

 supply corn to them while they are on peanuts, as peanuts alone 

 do not make firm pork. It is estimated that an acre of Spanish 

 peanuts will furnish sufficient food for 8-10 hogs depending upon 

 the grain supplied and the length of time they are kept on the 

 pasture. Peanuts are considered more profitable than corn for 

 pigs, as 3 Ibs. of peanuts make I Ib. of pork, while it takes 5 Ibs. 

 of corn to produce a pound of gain. 



Roots are too bulky and contain too much water to be con- 

 sidered favorably as fattening feed. They may be used for brood 

 sows' suckling pigs as they tend to increase milk production. The 

 local conditions will determine whether to raise roots for swine 

 feeding. 



