AUTHOR'S METHOD OF FEEDING 



159 



given above is intended for growing and fattening pigs 

 that are to be finished for market by the time they are 

 eight months old. Pigs intended for breeding purposes 

 should not be fattened to the same extent that market 

 hogs are and should not be fed so much protein because 

 this sets up the factor of waste, making them more un- 

 profitable afterwards. The protein requirement of such 

 pigs is shown in the following cut: 



CUT 20A. PROTEIN REQUIREMENT OF BREEDING PIGS. 



This curve starts with pigs at the same age as the one 

 above and takes them past a year of age. About this 

 time it is assumed that the young sows will farrow and 

 must be fed with reference to this. After farrowing and 

 raising their litters they will be considerably reduced in 

 weight and can then be started on a somewhat higher 

 quantity of protein than they received immediatley before 

 farrowing. This then should be reduced again to about 

 2 pound or less at two years of age when they reach 

 maturity. 



A pig seems to be very sensitive to the amount of pro- 

 tein fed, especially during early age, and is very easily 

 stunted by an excess. It may even be overfed before it 

 is weaned so that its final live weight will not be as great 

 as it would be if it were not overfed at this time. 



