610 Feeds and Feeding. 



quirements of an all-around feed. Wheat is much superior to 

 corn for young pigs and shotes. (167, 802) The flesh of wheat- 

 fed pigs is considered very satisfactory, generally carrying less 

 fat than that from corn-fed animals. Because the grains are 

 small and hard, wheat should always be reduced to meal before it 

 is fed. Soaked wheat has proved unsatisfactory with many feed- 

 ers. As we have seen, (852) wheat and corn meal in combina- 

 tion give better gains than either separately. 



922. Middlings. — As a feed for swine at all periods of their 

 development, middlings stand pre-eminent. Because it con- 

 tains much protein and ash and is not loaded with crude-fiber 

 like bran, this feeding stuff is particularly suited to the nourish- 

 ment of very young pigs, ranking next to the by-products of the 

 dairy for that purpose. (107) Middlings serve admirably with 

 corn for feeding pigs during the fattening period. Like other 

 milling by-products, middlings are said to produce soft pork, and 

 therefore should never be fed alone, but always with corn, barley 

 or other grains. 



923. Bran. — This part of the wheat grain carries much protein 

 and mineral matter, but its fibrous, chaffy character renders it 

 ! nfit for the digestive apparatus of the young pig, which has but 

 a limited capacity. (896) Middlings rather than bran should be 

 fed to young pigs, but as they increase in size some bran may 

 be fed with advantage, especially where it is desirable to add 

 volume to the feed. Bran may be fed with good results to breed- 

 ing stock and to a limited extent to fattening swine, the amount 

 in the latter case being restricted, lest the volume of the feed 

 be too much increased. Harris^ recommends that bran be sup- 

 plied to pigs in a separate trough, where they can eat it at will. 



924. Barley. — Judging from the European standard, barley 

 leads the cereals in the quality of pork produced. (894) In 

 quantity of product returned from feeding a given weight of 

 grain it yields to corn. (857, 894) Because consumers are grow- 

 ing more critical, the pig feeder should study ihe uses of barley 

 in the feeding pen that he may profit by using it whenever op- 

 portunity offers. Barley flourishes in the Western states, and in 



* The Pig, p. 233. 



