CHAPTER III 



PRINCIPAL SWINE FEEDS AND THEIE USE 



To obtain a fairly adequate idea as to the merits and uses of 

 different feeds employed in the practical production of pork, it is 

 well to take up each feed separately, and discuss it from many 

 feed angles angles that determine the feed's field of usefulness 

 in swine husbandry. The points to cover are practical economy 

 in the feeds used; particular outstanding qualities; shortcomings 

 and how remedied; palatability ; adaptability; effect on health; 

 influence on production of pork products; methods of preparation 

 necessary; relative value as compared to other feeds; general dis- 

 tribution and appreciation accorded; and general as well as spe- 

 cific information as to how to use the feed to the best advantage in 

 rations. With these points in mind, we shall begin with the first 

 feed corn or Indian maize grain. 



Corn or Indian Maize Grain. Our most efficient basal swine 

 feed is corn. Corn grain is widely and extensively used in suc- 

 cessful practice. Corn is highly relished, being a great favorite 

 among feeds when pigs are given a chance to eat to suit them- 

 selves, being preferred to barley, oats, rye, wheat and similar feeds 

 so far as quantity consumed is a measure of that favoritism. Corn 

 is highly concentrated, hence often abused in its use. Why? 

 Because of its low content of fibre and the high value of the feed- 

 ing materials present, 'other than fibre, it is a great fattening feed, 

 and as a result breeding stock may often become too fat on it; 

 further, because hogs like it so well that swinemen are apt to use 

 it to the limit, and in many cases the trouble is too much corn as 

 well as too little of some of the essential feeds necessary to balance 

 corn. There is nothing the matter with corn in these cases, ex- 

 cepting that it is not handled right. One can abuse almost any 

 kind of feed by using it wrongly. Even such a good feed as milk 

 can be made to appear relatively inefficient if it is not used judi- 

 ciously and carefully. 



Corn a Healthful Feed. Corn is a very healthful feed and so 

 far as we know does not contain any toxic products as does cotton- 

 seed meal, or linseed oilmeal sometimes, or the embryos, germs of 

 wheat (found largely in wheat middlings and wheat bran). Corn 

 produces a good product, pork made from it being sweet and quite 

 firm and of good character, presenting a good appearance. Lard 

 from corn-fed hogs is especially good, because of its whiteness, 

 firmness and general appearance. But corn has its shortcomings. 

 "Corn-alone" feeding is a bad procedure. What is the matter 

 with corn? Corn lacks in quantity and quality of protein for 

 practically all classes of swine excepting, possibly, for the short 

 finishing of hogs that have attained most of their growth and are 



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