660 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



Where pigs have been self-fed soybeans and corn, free choice, the 

 results have not been nearly as favorable. In 5 trials, 100 pigs averaging 

 98 Ibs. in weight gained only 1.15 Ibs. a head daily when self -fed soy- 

 beans and corn, while on tankage and corn the average daily gain was 

 1.69 Ibs. and the pigs required 17 per ct. less feed for 100 Ibs. gain. 

 These poor results were caused in part at least, by the pigs failing to eat 

 enough of the fatty soybeans to balance their ration. 



When soybeans are used as the only supplement to grain for pigs not 

 on good pasture, a mineral supplement should be added to supply 

 calcium. (916) Sometimes pigs fed soybeans and grain alone in dry 

 lot become unthrifty and may even suffer from paralysis. 101 In such 

 cases choice legume hay should be included in the ration, as this will 

 usually prevent the trouble. Soybeans are quite commonly ground for 

 swine, but this is probably unnecessary, unless such preparation is 

 required to get them to eat enough soybeans to balance their ration. 

 (256) 



Soybean oil meal, from which most of the fat has been extracted, 

 contains 40 to 50 per ct. crude protein, and is much more palatable to 

 swine than soybeans. (257) Therefore, it is one of the very best protein - 

 rich concentrates of plant origin for pork production. Soybean oil meal 

 has been compared directly with tankage as the supplement to corn for 

 pigs in dry lot in 6 trials summarized in the following table. In these 

 trials 90-lb. pigs were self -fed either soybean oil meal and corn or tankage 

 and corn or else were hand-fed the same feeds for periods averaging 71 

 days: 



Soybean oil meal vs. tankage as a supplement to corn 



Daily Feed for 100 Ibs. gain 



Average ration gain Corn Supplement 



Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



Lot 7, * Soybean oil meal, 0.58 Ib. Corn, 5.2 Ibs 1 . 55 342 36 



Lot II, * Tankage, 0.48 Ib. Corn, 5.7 Ibs 1 . 62 350 30 



*Average of 5 trials by Robison (Ohio Bui. 349) and 1 by Vestal, Indiana Station (Information to the 

 authors). 



No matter whether the pigs were self-fed, free choice, or hand-fed, 

 the gains were nearly as rapid on soybean oil meal as on tankage. In 

 these trials 100 Ibs. soybean oil meal replaced on the average 83 Ibs. 

 tankage and 22 Ibs. corn. With tankage at $60 a ton and corn at 56 

 cts. a bushel, this would give it a value of over $50 a ton. In one trial 

 by Robison, in which soybean oil meal unusually high in fat was used, 

 poor results were secured, similar to those sometimes occurring with 

 soybeans. In feeding soybean oil meal it should be borne in mind that it 

 is low in calcium. (916) 



978. Cowpeas. In the South cowpeas are of great importance in eco- 

 nomical pork production. (262) Most commonly pigs are turned into 



100 Average of 2 trials by Vestal, Ind. Station, information to the authors; and 

 1 each by Griswold, Miss. Station, information to the authors; Morrison and 

 Bohstedt, unpublished data; and Robison, Ohio Bui. 349. 



1<rl Robison, Ohio Bui. 349. 



