240 SWINE IN AMERICA 



condition of the digestive tract, render parturition eas- 

 ier, increase the flow of milk and aid in the production 

 of a more vigorous offspring. It is necessary, however, 

 to observe the precaution not to give beets except in 

 small quantities to the sow during the first week after 

 farrowing. They are liable to affect the milk, causing 

 bowel trouble among the young pigs. 



"What has been said of sugar beets will apply in very 

 much the same way to mangels and carrots. The food 

 value of all three for swine is very much the same. It 

 can be said of carrots, however, that they are very much 

 more expensive than either sugar beets or mangels, ow- 

 ing to the labor involved in giving them the proper culti- 

 vation and the difficulty found in harvesting. Under 

 conditions frequently found in Montana the sugar beet 

 is preferable to the mangel for the reason that it keeps 

 much better during the winter season. The mangel, 

 which projects above the ground with a sparse top for a 

 covering, is frequently touched by an early frost, and 

 then will not keep well. As the sugar beet makes its 

 growth within the ground and the crown is well covered 

 with leaves, early frosts, even severe ones, will not do 

 any damage. During the last two years we have had 

 sugar beets to feed as late as the middle of June. The 

 argument against the use of roots is that they are ex- 

 pensive to raise. On the average farm only a very 

 small area is required to produce an abundance of pig 

 feed. One acre will produce, at a fair average, not less 

 than ten to 12 tons of beets, and these, if properly treat- 

 ed, will not cost more than $25 per acre. They are in 

 realit}^ one of the most economical foods." 



