PRINCIPAL SWINE FEEDS AND THEIR USE 13? 



tent necessary for his own bones' normal development; hence it 

 must be supplied, and by feeding limestone in a separate feeder 

 this need is taken care of. If limestone, which, by the way, is the 

 cheapest form we know of, cannot be secured, then dependence 

 can be placed on air-slacked lime, which is practically the same 

 thing, only in a finer stage of division. This can be secured at 

 almost any lumber yard. Pigs sometimes eat the cement from the 

 foundations of buildings in order to get the necessary lime for their 

 development. We well remember having a bunch of pigs that did 

 this. They ate large holes into the foundation wall of a certain 

 building next to which they were quartered. 



In practice many prefer finely ground b<5ne meal as the cal- 

 cium source in furnishing both calcium and phosphorus. The 



author is inclined to the same preference. 



* > 



Rock Phosphate. This should preferably be finely-ground, 

 really powdered. Rock phosphate is supposed by some to be the 

 remains of animals, and hence we find large quantities of calcium 

 and phosphorus present, as in bone. These two chemical elements 

 comprise the basal elements of bone, so much so, in fact, that when 

 we speak of tri-calcium phosphate we instinctively think of bone. 

 Rock phosphate will supply both the calcium and phosphorus, and 

 there is not so much need for limestone when the rock phosphate 

 is available. Remember, however, that limestone does not furnish 

 phosphorus ; hence even with limestone in the ration, phosphate is 

 advisable. Bonemeal from the packing house is rich also in cal- 

 cium and phosphorus and carries some protein and fat and may 

 take the place of the rock phosphate, being more acceptable but 

 somewhat more expensive relatively. It only takes a small per- 

 centage of the total feed as bone meal, usually not over 1, more 

 likely less, hence a little greater expense in such a small item 

 is hardly noticeable. 



Wood Ashes. Wood ashes contain three elements that are 

 particularly advantageous calcium, phosphorus and potassium. 

 All are essential in the make-up of the animal body. About one- 

 half of the wood ashes is calcium carbonate or a pure limestone. 

 Wood ashes have been widely used for years and years by success- 

 ful hogmen, and the practice of using them is good and sound. 



Common Salt. By all means supply common salt freely. Some 

 folk have the idea that it should not be allowed, but nevertheless 

 it should. . Some experimental tests at Ames clearly have shown 

 that common salt allowed at free-will is a valuable addition to the 

 ration. It costs little, but it may yield a high return. To get an 

 idea as to the results we have had in the feeding of salt, we present 

 the results on some well-grown young swine of approximately 150 

 pounds average weight. These pigs received a basal ration of corn, 

 linseed oilmeal, in the ratio of 6.1 pounds of corn to each pound 

 of linseed oilmeal. Eight pigs were in a group, there being 

 five groups in all. These groups were fed as follows : 



