374 FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



various stations, in which the pigs in one lot were fed an average of 

 5.4 lbs. of concentrates per head daily and those in a second lot 3.6 

 lbs. of concentrates and 5.6 lbs. of roots. The pigs given no roots 

 required 499 lbs. of concentrates for 100 lbs. of gain, while those fed 

 roots in addition required only 358 lbs. of concentrates and 631 lbs. of 

 roots. In these trials each 448 lbs. of roots saved 100 lbs. of concen- 

 trates. With the high prices now ruling for concentrates, many 

 farmers can profitably grow roots for winter succulence for their pigs. 

 Danish farmers grow no Indian corn, and yet, by means of waste prod- 

 ucts of the dairy, purchased feeding stuffs, and root crops, mostly 

 beets, they lead the M'orld in the production of pork, both as to quality 

 and also as to quantity, considering the area of the country. 



Roots not only add variety to the ration but reduce the amount of 

 concentrates required, and aid in maintaining the health of the ani- 

 mals. On account of their slightly laxative effect and their bulkiness, 

 roots are especially valuable for brood sows in winter. As they tend 

 to growth rather than fattening, they are also excellent for young 

 pigs. Indeed, in finishing pigs the allowance of roots should be re- 

 stricted, or the desired finish will not be secured. For fall feeding, 

 root crops may be gathered economically by turning pigs in to graze 

 the field. 



The relative feeding value of the various root crops depends on the 

 amount of dry matter they yield per acre in any particular locality. 

 According to Day,^^ sugar beets are most readily eaten by pigs, man- 

 gels ranking second in palatability. 



Potatoes should be cooked for pigs and fed with concentrates, pro- 

 tein-rich feeds being included in the ration. In various trials 340 to 

 442 lbs. of potatoes have saved 100 lbs. of grain. 



Sweet potatoes are an excellent root crop for fall and early winter 

 feeding in the South, especially for the cut-over pine lands. Planted 

 in June and early July, they are ready for feeding by the middle of 

 October. Since the tubers are low in protein, pigs grazing sweet po- 

 tatoes should be given such feeds as soybeans or cowpeas. 



Silage. — Clover, alfalfa, or other legume hay is generally more sat- 

 isfactory for pigs than silage of any kind. Corn silage is too woody 

 and too low in digestible matter to be valuable for swine. If shotes 

 and breeding stock live on a limited allowance of rich concentrates 

 alone, they may suffer from lack of proper bulk in the ration. In 

 such cases, if roots or legume hay are not available, even corn silage 

 will be helpful in distending the digestive tract. 



The legume hays. — With the prices of feeding stuffs ruling high, 

 the swine feeder must make the largest possible use of alfalfa, clover, 



1" Productive Swine Husbandry, p. 206. 



