444 DOMESTIC ANIMALS, DAIRYING, ETC. 



It is generally considered that there is no other feed equal to 

 corn for pork production. This is true, provided the corn is used 

 judiciously. But if it be fed alone for any length of time there are 

 few feeds which are poorer, as the experiments described below strik- 

 ingly demonstrate. If, however, corn is fed in combination with 

 other feeds, its use is to be highly commended, and it can be used to 

 great economical advantage, too, even though it sells upon the 

 market as high as $1 a bushel. 



The hog is not adapted to living on corn alone, and when we 

 require it of him we are forcing him to do a thing which is not con- 

 sistent with his nature. Man likes a mixture of feeds or a change in 

 diet; so do the lower animals. The hog in its wild state is omnivor- 

 ous, feeding upon roots, nuts, fish, grass, fruit, snakes, etc. ; in fact, 

 but few feeds can be mentioned that he will not eat if he be given the 

 opportunity. Our domesticated hogs have inherited the tendency to 

 select their feed from a variety of substances, and when we inclose 

 them in a pen and give but one feed, we are not allowing them to 

 reach their highest possibilities. (F. B. 411.) 



Corn alone is not a good ration for hogs. The growing animal 

 requires a certain proportion of muscle forming material along with 

 the fattening nutrients of the food. From the farmer's standpoint, 

 the important functions of the protein are the production of lean 

 meat, tendons, wool, hair, and building up and maintaining the vital 

 organs of the body. The carbohydrates and fats are used in the for- 

 mation of fat and in the production of the heat and energy of the 

 animal body. Corn is rich in the fat forming compounds but is de- 

 ficient in protein and consequently the best results cannot be ob- 

 tained by feeding it alone. (Ok. B. 80.) 



The specific effects of corn as an only food, as evidenced by the 

 growth of young swine, are in general, a retarded development of 

 proteid and bony tissues, and an over-development of fatty tissue. 

 This results in the production of fine-boned, poorly muscled, under- 

 sized and over-fat animals, which reach their limit of growth pre- 

 maturely, and which are characterized by less than normal breeding 

 capacity. Impaired fecundity seems to result from discouragement 

 of proteid increase generally, and from the lessened circulation of 

 blood in the female reproductive organs, this last being caused by 

 pressure of the excessive amounts of internal fat which accumulate 

 about these parts. With hogs fed on corn alone the bones, muscles, 

 liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and spleen all compose an abnormally 

 small proportion of the increase in weight, and fat composes an ab- 

 normally large part of the increase. (Mo. B. 81.) 



Exclusive corn feeding proved very unprofitable, and especially 

 so where the pigs used were young and small at the beginning. When 

 the mixed ration of corn chops, rice bran, and tankage was fed in the 

 place of the straight corn ration the gain was much more rapid and 

 the cost of that gain much reduced. (Tex. B. 131.) When corn 

 was fed alone but 43 cents was realized upon each bushel of corn 

 used. ^ The way to secure a better price for the corn is to feed it in 

 combination with some other feed. 



