138 HOW TO FEED YOUR HOGS 



Group 1. Corn plus linseed oilmeal, basal ration. Group 2. 

 Same as Group 1, excepting the pigs got a little more than 3/5 of 

 an even ounce of salt daily per group, or about 1/13 of an ounce per 

 pig daily. This was mixed with the feed. Group 3. Same as Lot 

 2, excepting twice as much salt, practically 2/13 of an ounce daily 

 per pig. Group 4. Same as Group -2, excepting four times as much 

 salt, practically 4/13 of an ounce daily per pig. This is a little 

 over !/3 ounce. Group 5. Same as Group 1, excepting that salt 

 was allowed ad libitum, or free-choice style, being placed in a 

 separate trough. This group of pigs consumed on the average 

 practically an ounce of salt daily, or one-eighth of an ounce per 

 head daily. 



This experiment was run for a check period of 90 days before 

 salt was fed, and during this 90-day period all groups were fed 

 the same proportion of corn and linseed oilmeal; then after these 

 90 days were passed the groups were fed as stated with their dif- 

 ferent allowances of salt. As soon as salt was allowed we find that 

 for 71 days following the first period, or for the 71 days during 

 which they were on salt, for every 84.24 pounds gain made by Group 

 1, receiving no salt, Group 2 gained practically 10 pounds more or 

 94.02 pounds. This shows the advantage of a little salt. Group 

 3 gained more than 12 pounds more or 96.97 pounds, showing a 

 still greater advantage from feeding salt in just a little greater 

 quantity. Group 4 gained 94.13 pounds, which was not quite 10 

 pounds more, indicating that too much salt can be fed where it is 

 mixed with the feeds. The most interesting development was that 

 Group 5, receiving salt ad libitum, gained practically 13 pounds 

 more on the same basis, or 97.23 pounds, showing quite clearly, so 

 far as this test is concerned, that ad libitum or free-choice feed- 

 ing is the best, so far as the gain is concerned. 



It is easy to allow salt free-choice style. We do it by giving 

 pigs free access to salt, using the rock salt preferably to prevent 

 waste. We think there is no question that if pigs really need salt 

 very badly they will be able to get it from the rock variety. We 

 like very much the block salt, which is on the market, and prefer 

 it to the rock, because it is not so hard and because pigs can get 

 more of it in less time, and yet it is hard enough to prevent waste 

 when it is under cover. 



Let us now look to the feed requirement for 100 pounds of gain 

 during the salt-feeding period of 71 days. For every 101.88 pounds 

 of feed required to produce a unit gain, Lot 2 required 94.29 

 pounds; Lot 3, 91.56 pounds; Lot 4, 89.92 pounds and Lot 5, the 

 best of all, only 89.36 pounds. Hence we see that all groups that 

 received salt required less feed for 100 pounds of gain on this 

 interpretation than did the no-salt group, and also that where the 

 salt was allowed free-choice style the most creditable showing was 

 made. 



