FEEDING SWINE 253 



ture to the feed lot. In most cases corn is the ex- 

 clusive feed. Water should be at hand at all times 

 or available at frequent intervals. Rations contain- 

 ing one part of tankage or meat meal or soy bean 

 meal to eight or ten parts of corn, unless corn is low 

 in value, will produce a more rapid growth than corn 

 alone. 



Making Good Bacon. Feeding stuffs greatly in- 

 fluence the quality of bacon. Oily grains have the 

 strongest effect. To get good bacon, these oily 

 grains should be reduced to a half or a third of the 

 whole ration. Since corn is the principal food for 

 both lard and bacon hogs, it may compose as much 

 as 75 or 80 per cent of the ration. Middlings and 

 tankage may be used for the balance. 



In Canada, where bacon is in much favor, barley 

 is a common food for hogs. It is fed both ground 

 and soaked. Other foods used in combination with 

 it are skim milk, peas, oats and middlings. If oats are 

 used they should be crushed. The most profit from 

 bacon is secured when clover, alfalfa, cowpeas, or 

 rape are provided as forage. 



HOGGING OFF CORN 



Hogs as Harvesters. The practice of getting fall 

 hogs ready for market by turning them into the 

 cornfield while the corn is still green is not new, 

 but is a method not generally followed. There is 

 a feeling that hogging off is wasteful and poor 

 economy of labor and effort. The facts clearly indi- 

 cate that the custom economizes labor and expense 



