FEEDS FOR SWINE 677 



uneconomical feeds. In these trials alfalfa or clover hay has been a 

 much more efficient addition than roots to the rations of brood sows or 

 fall pigs. (1020) We might expect this, since legume hay is rich in good 

 quality protein, in calcium, and in fat-soluble vitamine, and it has a 

 desirable laxative effect. Roots are palatable, succulent, and laxative, 

 but are low in protein and in calcium. Moreover, most roots are low in 

 fat-soluble vitamine, tho yellow carrots are rich in it. Roots should be 

 chopped before being fed to swine. 



Sometimes root crops may be economically gathered by turning pigs in 

 to graze the field. At the Michigan Station, 1 * 7 Shaw turned pigs receiving 

 one-third of a normal grain ration into a beet field to do their own forag- 

 ing, and found that 1 acre of sugar beets produced 716 Ibs. and 1 acre of 

 half sugar beets and half mangels 792 Ibs. of gain. In the South root 

 crops may be advantageously used as forage for pigs during the winter. 



999. Comparison of root crops. The relative value of different root 

 crops per ton depends primarily on their dry matter content. For ex- 

 ample, in trials at the Danish (Copenhagen) Experiment Station 148 4.0 

 Ibs. sugar beets containing 21.2 per ct. dry matter equalled 1 Ib. of ground 

 barley, when fed in combination with skim milk, whey, and grain. With 

 "fodder" beets containing 16.5 per ct. dry matter, it required 5.0 Ibs. to 

 equal 1 Ib. of barley, and with mangels, containing 11.0 per ct. dry 

 matter, it took 7.5 Ibs. to replace a pound of barley. According to Day, 149 

 sugar beets not only possess the highest feeding value per ton, but are 

 also most readily eaten by pigs. He states that hogs prefer mangels to 

 carrots. (367-72) 



1000. Wet beet pulp. Wet beet pulp is not as commonly fed to swine as 

 to cattle or sheep, but limited amounts may be successfully used. In a 

 trial at the Utah Station, 100 130-lb. pigs, fed 3.3 Ibs. wheat shorts and 

 12.3 Ibs. wet beet pulp a head daily, gained 1.2 Ibs. per day and required 

 275 Ibs. shorts and 1,030 Ibs. beet pulp for 100 Ibs. gain. Compared with 

 pigs fed shorts alone, 609 Ibs. of beet pulp replaced 100 Ibs. of shorts. 

 (275) 



1001. Potatoes. Marketable potatoes are usually worth too much to 

 feed to hogs, but cull potatoes can be economically utilized for pork pro- 

 duction. (374) They should preferably be cooked for swine and should 

 be fed with concentrates. To balance the ration some protein-rich feed 

 should be added, as potatoes have even a smaller proportion of protein 

 than does corn. In 2 trials by Henry at the Wisconsin Station 151 442 Ibs. 

 of potatoes fed after cooking equalled 100 Ibs. of corn. At the Copen- 

 hagen (Denmark) Station 152 Fjord found 400 Ibs. of cooked potatoes 



147 Mich. Bui. 233. 



"^Copenhagen (Denmark) Station, Rpt. 1892. 

 "Productive Swine Husbandry, p. 208. 

 ^Utah Bui. 101. 

 151 Wis. Rpt. 1890. 

 - '"Copenhagen (Denmark) Station, Rpt 1890. 



