FEEDS FOR SWINE 635 



Tho wheat is somewhat richer than corn in protein, nevertheless it 

 requires the addition of a supplement to produce rapid and economical 

 gains for pigs not on excellent pasture. As the proteins of wheat are 

 unbalanced, like those of corn, the best results are secured with pigs in 

 dry lot if there is included in the ration a protein-rich feed of animal 

 origin, like the dairy by-products, tankage, or fish meal. Wheat should 

 be ground coarsely or rolled, for swine, for thus preparing this grain 

 increases the feeding value 16 to 22 per ct. 27 Soaking wheat is a poor 

 substitute for grinding, as it makes but little saving over feeding the 

 dry grain. Soaking ground wheat may increase its value slightly, but 

 perhaps not enough to justify the trouble. Ground wheat, especially if 

 too fine, tends to form a sticky mass in the pig's mouth. In such cases 

 it may be advisable to feed it in the form of a thin slop. 



946. Oats. Oats are excellent as part of the ration for young pigs 

 and for brood sows, for they are much higher in protein than is corn. 

 (223) But they are too bulky and high in fiber to serve as the chief 

 grain for fattening pigs, and moreover, are usually costly compared with 

 other cereals. In a trial by Thompson at the Oklahoma Station 28 fatten- 

 ing pigs fed oats and tankage gained only 1.34 Ibs. a day and required 

 633 Ibs. oats and 35 Ibs. tankage for 100 Ibs. gain. Others fed corn and 

 tankage gained 1.82 Ibs. and required only about two-thirds as much 

 feed for each 100 Ibs. gain. Oats in this trial were actually worth only 

 59 per ct. as much as corn. In 2 trials by Dowell and Lattimer at the 

 University of Alberta 29 pigs self-fed ground oats and tankage gained 

 0.34 Ib. less a head daily than others self-fed ground barley and re- 

 quired considerably more feed for 100 Ibs. gain. On the average oats fed 

 as the only grain was worth about three-fourths as much per pound as 

 barley. 



When oats are considerably lower in price per ton than corn or barley, 

 fattening pigs may be fed one-third oats and two-thirds of these more 

 concentrated grains. Trials by Henry at the Wisconsin Station 30 and 

 by Dowell and Lattimer at the University of Alberta, Canada, 31 show 

 that a much larger proportion of oats is not desirable. 



Where pigs are self-fed corn and tankage, free choice, it is sometimes 

 recommended that oats be supplied in addition, to furnish greater 

 variety. However, trials by Eice and Laible at the Illinois Station 32 

 show that there is usually no economy in this method. In fact oats would 

 have to be worth less than one-half the price of corn per bushel to make 

 the gains as cheap as on corn and tankage alone. As we shall see later, 

 this ration of corn and tankage can be materially improved by adding 

 certain other feeds. (966) 



Oats should be ground or crushed for swine, as they masticate the 



'"Bliss, Lee, and Snyder, Nebr. Buls. 144, 147; Withycombe, Ore. Bui. 80. 

 ^Okla. Rpt. 28, p. 28. "Information to the authors. 



"Information to the authors. "Information to the authors. 



. Rpt. 1889. 



