FEEDS FOR SWINE 651 



will be no deficiency of calcium or of phosphorus, when enough tankage 

 is fed to balance the grains. 



965. Important points in feeding tankage. Tankage is so high in pro- 

 tein and hence so expensive a feed that every farmer who uses it should 

 understand clearly the methods of feeding it most economically. Due to 

 its richness in protein, only a relatively small proportion of high-grade 

 tankage is needed to supplement corn or other grains. For pigs weighing 

 100 to 150 Ibs. which are fed corn and tankage in dry lot, without pasture, 

 9 to 10 Ibs. of tankage per 100 Ibs. of feed is enough to balance the 

 ration. Pigs over 150 Ibs. need only 6 to 8 per ct. of tankage in their 

 ration. To balance the ration of young pigs soon after weaning, it would 

 be necessary to feed 14 to 15 per ct. of tankage with corn, but, as is 

 pointed out later, much better results are usually secured with pigs 

 when certain other supplements are fed in addition to tankage. (966) 

 With barley, wheat, and rye less tankage is, of course, needed than with 

 corn. Pigs on such protein-rich pasture as alfalfa, clover, cowpeas, or 

 rape need only about half as much tankage as those in dry lot. For in- 

 stance, pigs weighing 100 to 150 Ibs., on good pasture, need only 5 Ibs. 

 of high grade tankage to every 95 Ibs. corn. 



It is pointed out elsewhere that pigs self -fed corn and tankage, free 

 choice, in separate compartments of a self-feeder usually eat about the 

 correct proportions of these feeds to make a well-balanced ration, no 

 matter whether they are in dry lot or on pasture. Due to the convenience 

 of this method of feeding and the saving of labor, it has become very 

 popular thruout the corn belt. Tho good results are commonly secured 

 when corn and tankage are thus self -fed, free choice, sometimes the pigs 

 either over-eat on tankage, or else they fail to take enough to balance 

 their ration properly. In such cases it may be necessary to discontinue 

 free choice feeding and either self -feed them a mixture of ground corn 

 and tankage in the proper proportions, or else self -feed the shelled corn 

 and hand-feed the tankage. 



When pigs are self-fed such combinations as barley and tankage or 

 wheat and tankage, free choice, they frequently over-eat on tankage to 

 such an extent as to increase the cost of the gains materially. Free 

 choice feeding of such combinations is not, therefore, to be recommended 

 generally. Since these grains should be ground or crushed for swine, 

 probably the best plan, if self -feeding is to be practiced, is to mix the 

 ground grain and tankage in the proper proportions to make a balanced 

 ration and then self -feed the mixture. In determining how much tankage 

 to use, the recommendations of the Morrison feeding standards may be 

 safely followed. With tankage as the supplement, only the lower amounts 

 of protein that are recommended in these standards need be supplied, as 

 the proteins of tankage are efficient in balancing the proteins of the 

 grains. 



When pigs are hand-fed their rations, it makes no difference whether 

 the tankage is mixed with the other feed in suitable proportions or 



