340 SWINE IN AMERICA 



While wheat may, on the whole, have a slight advan- 

 tage over corn except as a finishing feed, the disparity in 

 prices ordinarily makes it the more expensive. It is 

 e\ident that wheat will not be used to any large extent in 

 America as food for swine, except in years of extra- 

 ordinarily low prices. In sections outside the corn- 

 growing territory, where wheat may perchance be the 

 cheapest feed, rye or barley is usually available as a sup- 

 plement, together with clover, alfalfa, or other pastur- 

 age. A good proportion when feeding wheat is two 

 pounds of wheat to one pountl of barley, fed coarsely 

 ground and soaked sufliciently to saturate the meal 

 thoroughly, and given in quantities varying according 

 to the age of the pigs, but not larger than they will clean 

 up well. A mixture of two parts of rye, two of barley 

 and one of wheat is excellent. In any event, wheat 

 alone would not be best, and some other suitable feed 

 should be provided with it. Where wheat is more 

 readily available than corn the type of hog will more 

 nearly approach the bacon demand, and corn will con- 

 tinue to reign where the lard hog' flourishes. As wheat 

 possesses more of the growth-furnishing elements than 

 of fattening material, compared with corn, it is of greater 

 Aalue for breeding stock and young pigs, when properly 

 used. In the opinion of Prof. H. M. Cottrell, finish- 

 ing on wheat has some tendency to make the meat tough. 



Experiments made at the Central experimental farm 

 of Canada show that wheat may be more or less damaged 

 by frost without destroying its value as hog feed. 

 Spoiled wheat — bleached, shriveled or sprouted — rejected 

 or greatly cut in price at the mill, ma}' be turned to 



