SWINE 327 



the necessary food elements than any other food. The fol- 

 lowing are suggested as rations suitable for growing hogs 

 that have, in addition, access to good pasturage : 



1. Corn, 60%; shorts, 30%; tankage, 10%; or 



2. Corn, one-third; wheat, one-third; oats, one-third, 



ground; or 



3. Corn, one-half; shorts, one-half; or 



4. Corn, 60% ; shorts, 20% ; linseed-oil meal, 20% ; or 



5. Corn, one-third; milk, two-thirds. 



It has been shown by careful tests that if pigs must be 

 fed in dry lots, ration one, consisting of corn sixty per cent., 

 shorts thirty per cent, and tankage ten per cent., will produce 

 double the gain that can be secured from corn alone. 



Fattening hogs. Pigs should be ready for fatten- 

 ing by the time they are from six to six and one-half months 

 old. When fattening begins, the ration should have a much 

 larger proportion of corn. In fact, hogs may be profitably 

 fattened on corn alone, through the addition of milk to the 

 ration pays. 



While being fed for fattening, the hog does not require 

 the amount of exercise needed during the growing period. 

 It is not best, however, to shut feeders up in a close pen, 

 for a certain amount of exercise is necessary to keep the 

 hog in a healthy condition and good appetite. 



Snapped corn is preferable to husked ears on account of 

 the greater amount of work demanded of the hog, and the 

 slower eating required. W r here the fields can be properly 

 fenced off, the best of all ways to feed corn to hogs is to 

 allow them to do their own harvesting. This method of 

 feeding, called "hogging down" corn, gives the hogs about 

 the right amount of exercise, allows them to eat whenever 

 they desire, and saves the farmer the labor of husking, 

 hauling and feeding. The same amount of corn will also 

 produce more pork. 



