PRINCIPAL SWINE FEEDS AND THEIR USE 



163 



One can use corn oilcakemeal in limited quantities mixed with 

 tankage. We have found it also works well with milk, when we 

 are depending on supplements to corn. Corn oilcakemeal alone, 

 however, is disappointing. It and tankage do not work well to- 

 gether, but corn, corn oilcakemeal and tankage make a splendid 

 combination when properly compounded. 



Alfalfa Hay. Alfalfa hay has a wide field of usefulness in 

 the ration of the brood sow. This is true in the western as well 

 as the eastern and central states. It can be placed in a rack, and 

 ordinarily brood sows will eat enough of it to balance the corn or 

 other grain ration which they receive. We want to be sure, how- 

 ever, that the sows receiving the basal grains such as corn, barley, 

 wheat, without other supplements, eat at least 1 pound of alfalfa 

 hay per head daily; if they do not, difficulties at farrowing time 

 may be experienced, as evidenced by small and weak pigs. We 

 have ground alfalfa and mixed it with the corn ration and secured 

 excellent results. Some figures on the use of alfalfa as a brood 

 sow ration are interesting. They follow: 



Use Alfalfa When Feeding the Brood Sow 



Results Animal Husbandry Section of the Iowa Experiment 



Station 



A little tankage fed along with the basal grain feed and alfalfa 

 helps out as does a little milk. Alfalfa hay is not well adapted to 

 fattening hogs, although it has been used in Nebraska with fairly 

 good results. We must emphasize the point, however, that swine 

 must not be made to eat it too closely. The leaves are much bet- 

 ter than the stem portions, which are too fibrous. 



