402 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



In addition to pastures some feed that is more concentrated 

 should be used. Corn is the principal grain used in many sec- 

 tions, but barley, kafir, milo, and wheat, if not too high-priced, 

 can be used where corn is not available. But corn and pasture 

 do not supply all the food materials needed by the growing pig. 

 There should also be a proper allowance of some feed rich in 

 protein, such as skim milk, tankage, meat meal, wheat shorts, 

 or middlings. The amount of grain given should be just enough 

 to keep the young hogs thrifty and growing, but not enough to 

 make them fat. Too much fat will cause them to be lazy, and 

 they will not graze enough to make the cheapest gain nor to 

 develop strong constitutions. 



Breeding stock should not be fed too much corn, as it tends 

 to produce too much fat, and the amount of protein-bearing 

 feeds should be increased over that required for fattening hogs. 

 The protein foodstuffs should consist mainly of bran or ground 

 oats and shorts, with a small amount of oil meal or tankage. 

 The sow should be fed alfalfa hay if it is available, as it will 

 both improve and cheapen the ration. A ration consisting of 

 50 per cent corn, 25 per cent shorts, 18 per cent wheat bran, 

 4 per cent linseed meal, and 3 per cent tankage, with good 

 pasture or alfalfa hay, will give splendid results. 



532. Feeding the young pig. The pigs soon learn to eat, and 

 as soon as they do, a separate pen or eating place should be 

 provided. It is a good plan to give the pigs what feed they will 

 eat readily twice a day. It is better to feed a little under their 

 capacity than to feed more than they can consume. The mother 

 should be fed so that she will produce a good flow of milk, as 

 this is the best feed the young pigs can have. A mixture con- 

 sisting of 62 per cent corn, 30 per cent shorts, and 8 per cent 

 tankage, with alfalfa hay or a good pasture, makes an excellent 

 ration for the growing pigs. 



533. Finishing the hogs for market. Experiment-station re- 

 sults and farm practice have shown that between the ages of six 

 and twelve months and between the weights of from one hun- 

 dred and ninety to two hundred and fifty pounds is the most 



