SWINE PRODUCTION 229 



these fattening feeds 10 per cent of high grade tankage or to feed more or less 

 other nitrogenous feeds like red dog flour, wheat middlings and oil meal in 

 addition to the highly carbonaceous feeds like corn or barley. Corn may be 

 fed on the ear or shelled and there is little or no gain in grinding or soaking 

 it. The exercise and feeding of coarse feeds should be reduced during the 

 finishing period. If pigs are to be carried and finished at an older age they 

 should be continued on pasture and a limited amount of grain until the finish- 

 ing period is reached. Only under conditions where pasture is abundant and 

 there is an opportunity to make an economical growth and to fatten hogs after 

 steers or in a manner to make profitable gains, is it a good policy to produce 

 heavy butcher hogs. The most economical gains are usually those made by 

 pigs weighing under 250 pounds. 



Fall pigs that do not get the benefit of pasture and forage should be 

 provided with most suitable quarters and rations including dairy by-products, 

 a good mixture of concentrates and during the growing period clover, alfalfa 

 or other legume hay or chaff and roots. Finely cut legume hay mixed in the 

 slop is excellent for growing pigs in winter. 



Cooked potatoes mashed and mixed with meal can be fed to good ad- 

 vantage. Only in the instance of feeding potatoes does it pay to cook feed 

 for hogs. Hot water to provide warm slop for pigs in winter will add to their 

 growth and the economy of gains made. 



Self-Feeders for Hogs. Experiment Station trials on growing and fatten- 

 ing hogs with self-feeders and the experience of practical swine growers show 

 that this method of feeding after weaning is well adapted to the quick growing 

 and fattening of pigs. The method is also well adapted to fattening old sows 

 or sows that are to be turned to the butcher soon after pigs are weaned. 

 When it is the plan to grow pigs largely on pasture and not hurry the growth, 

 the self-feeder should not be used. Judgment must be exercised in using 

 self-feeders for pregnant sows. Bulky feed like cut legume hay will need to 

 be supplied to prevent sows getting too much grain and becoming too fat. 

 Corn and meat meal or tankage in separate compartments of the self-feeder 

 with good alfalfa or rape pasture, and access to salt and plenty of pure, fresh 

 water, provides a most economical system of producing pork. Evvard of the 

 Iowa Station has also found that the self-feeder may be used to good advan- 

 tage in dry lots for feeding shelled corn and tankage. Salt, ground limestone 

 and charcoal were also furnished pigs in a self-feeder under dry lot conditions. 



Water Essential to Hogs. Dietrich, who is a good authority, concludes 

 that a proper amount of water for pigs ranges from 12 pounds daily per 100 

 pounds of weight, from time of weaning down to four pounds per 100 pounds 

 during the fattening period. It is his opinion that pigs do not drink water 

 enough in winter and that they should be encouraged to drink more than they 

 usually do by warming it and mixing more of it in their slop. 



Feeding for Bacon. Day, of the Ontario Agricultural College, is one 

 of the best authorities on bacon production in America. The highest grade 

 and quality of bacon requires that the fat should be clear white, the flesh firm 



