132 Pork Production 



on most farms to follow cattle, the present systems of 

 feeding and handling will probably change but little. 



FOOD DEMANDS OF THE GROWING AND FATTENING PIG 



The successful growing and fattening of pigs require 

 that they be supplied with those feeds which will meet 

 their body needs. Two general classes of feeds are re- 

 quired in the proper development of every young animal : 

 first, those which produce fat and heat ; and second, those 

 which supply bone and muscle. The first is commonly 

 called carbohydrate or fat-producing feeds, and the latter, 

 protein or growing feeds. For the most vigorous and 

 economical development, these constituents must be fed 

 in the proportions which will satisfy without waste the 

 demands of the pig for growth as well as fat production ; 

 i.e., the ration must be balanced. These demands vary 

 with the age and development of the pig. The weanling 

 pig weighing 35 pounds requires a considerably larger 

 proportion of growing elements than does the mature hog 

 when being fattened. In the development of the pig 

 from weaning to the market weight of 250 pounds, there- 

 fore, the requirements for bone and muscle-building feeds 

 decrease very regularly, while the need and capacity for 

 using the heat and fat-producing feeds progressively 

 increase. 



When feeds are high priced, as is now the rule, it is 

 not possible to grow pigs successfully and with profit 

 if attention is not given to feeding rations which are 

 balanced. The importance of this has been repeatedly 

 emphasized by the experiences of practice and the results 

 of carefully conducted feeding tests at the experiment 

 stations. 



