218 PRINCIPLES OF FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



cent of crude fiber, it is an indication that it has been 

 adulterated with peat. 



The principal u^e of tankage and meat meal is as a supple- 

 ment to corn for growing and fattening hogs. It not only 

 supphes the protein, but also the mineral matter in which 

 corn is deficient. Furthermore the protein of tankage is 

 especially rich in the amino acids in which corn is deficient. 

 For supplementing corn it is usually cheaper per pound of 

 protein and also more efficient than middhngs or oil meal. 

 Usually it is not profitable to feed more than 10 per cent 

 of tankage in the ration. The amount fed should depend 

 upon the amount of protein in the tankage, and upon the 

 protein requirement of the hogs. Tankage and meat meal 

 are more valuable adjuncts to the corn ration when the hogs 

 are fed in dry lot than when they have access to pasture. It 

 should be carefully mixed with the other feed to get an 

 equal distribution so that all the animals in the feed lot 

 will get an equal amount. Tankage will keep indefinitely 

 if it is stored in a dry place. It may spoil if allowed to soak 

 in the slop too long. 



In Europe, meat meal is sometimes fed in small quantitief^ 

 to horses, cattle, and sheep. It has not been used in this 

 country to any extent for animals other than hogs. 



Blood meal, or dried blood is blood from slaughtered 

 animals, dried and cooked. It is the highest in protein of 

 any feedingstuff, containing about 85 per cent. It is quite 

 low in mineral matter as compared with tankage. It is 

 used principally for pigs as a supplement to corn. Such 

 animals should hav(^ free access to some mineral mixture. 

 Pigs at 3 months old may be given a tablespoonful daily 

 and younger pigs in proportion, although tankage is usually 



