FEEDS FOR SWINE 625 



while those fed tankage in addition weighed over 200 Ibs. and were ready 

 for market. 



The older pigs averaged 148 Ibs. in weight when the experiments 

 began, and hence could stand the ration of corn alone somewhat better. 

 Nevertheless, they gained only 1.03 Ibs. a head daily, while those fed 

 tankage in addition gained 1.59 Ibs. There was also nearly as great a 

 difference in the feed required for 100 Ibs. gain as in the case of the 

 younger pigs. 



Corn alone vs. corn and tankage for growing, fattening pigs 



Average Daily Feed for 100 Ibs. gain 



length gain Corn Tankage 



Average ration of 



trials 

 Days Lba. Lba. Lbs. 



Trials with young pigs 

 Lot 7, corn alone 



Corn 3.5 Ibs 122 0. 59 642 



Lot II, corn and tankage 



Corn, 4.4 Ibs. 



Tankage, 0.48 Ib 122 1. 18 387 42 



Trials with older pigs 

 Lot I, corn alone 



Corn, 5.7 Ibs 69 1.03 617 



Lot 77, corn and tankage 



Corn, 6.1 Ibs. 



Tankage, 0.67 Ib 66 1.59 400 43 



The folly of feeding such an unbalanced ration as corn alone is shown 

 by the fact that in these trials 100 Ibs. of tankage saved 607 Ibs. of 

 corn with the younger pigs and 505 Ibs. of corn with the older ones. It 

 is shown later in this chapter that even when pigs have good pasture in 

 addition to corn, better results are secured when some protein-rich con- 

 centrate is added to the ration, to balance it more completely. Corn 

 alone is fairly satisfactory for fattening old sows, for they have com- 

 pleted their growth and hence need less protein. However, even here the 

 use of some supplement will usually produce cheaper gains. 



From the fact that the value of tankage as a supplement to corn has 

 been emphasized in this discussion, it must not be concluded that tank- 

 age is superior to other protein-rich supplements. Skim milk, butter- 

 milk, fish meal, and combinations of other feeds will give fully as good 

 results, as is pointed out later in this chapter. In fact, for young 

 pigs not on pasture, tankage fed as the only supplement to corn does not 

 usually produce as rapid gains as such combinations as tankage, linseed 

 meal, and chopped alfalfa or tankage and corn germ meal. (966) 



Corn alone is just as unsatisfactory for pregnant sows as it is for 

 young pigs, as is pointed out in the next chapter. (1014) Farmers who 

 persist in wintering their sows on this poor ration have no basis for 

 complaint if their pig crop is a failure. On account of the poor results 

 which have been secured with corn improperly fed, many breeders 

 recommend that not over one-third to one-half the ration for brood sows 



