FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



ing fattened but such feeding would seem excessive in cold 

 climates and under American conditions would prove costly. 

 Even when fed to breeding ewes in very large quantities, 

 there is some hazard that urinary troubles may follow, and 

 such hazard is increased in the case of rams. 



For swine of all ages, mangels may usually be fed with 

 profit, when not getting other succulent food. They are 

 too bulky for feeding in large quantities to young swine or 

 to swine that are being fattened, but to brood sows in win- 

 ter they may be fed so freely as to form the bulk of the ra- 

 tion. When swine are first put upon a ration of new corn, 

 a few pounds of mangels daily help to balance the ration. 

 The Michigan experiment station has demonstrated the 

 feasibility of harvesting mangels with swine so as to cheap- 

 en materially the cost of production. The swine are given 

 grain in addition. The amount required is less than 50 per 

 cent of what would otherwise be needed during the first 

 part of the grazing, but toward its close, more grain would 

 be required to properly finish the swine. Under all condi- 

 tions of forced feeding or fattening with grain, a pound or 

 two or even more of mangels fed daily will aid in regulat- 

 ing the digestion. Swine feeding after cattle that are being 

 fed corn heavily, will be more healthy and thrifty if given 

 nangels in addition, and will also withstand a visitation of 

 hog cholera better than those not so fed. Swine are more 

 fond of mangels than of rutabagas, turnips or carrots. 



To horses, mangels are not much fed under American 

 conditions, but there are no good reasons for not feeding 

 them more or less when obtainable. Moderate amounts 

 will aid in keeping the digestion of horses in tone as well as 

 in the case of other stock. A few pounds fed daily 

 with dry food will materially aid in giving draft foals 

 that development of bone and muscle that is so much 

 desired i:i this class of horses, and will prove greatly help- 

 ful to idle horses and brood mares in winter, but small 

 amounts only should be fed to horses at hard work. 



