296 scientific feeding of animals 



up daily 2-5-3-8 g. lime and 2-0-4-1 g. phosphoric 

 acid per 50 kg. live weight. To cover this need 

 the food per 200 lbs. live weight should contain 

 1 oz. lime and 1 oz. phosphoric acid ; these quanti- 

 ties are, as a rule, contained in the ordinary 

 ration for lambs. 



(3) The feeding of growing pigs. 



With regard to the feeding of young pigs there 

 is not, unfortunately, any investigation which 

 throws light upon their requirements, and so the 

 experience of practice has to be relied upon. Ex- 

 perienced breeders allow those pigs which are in- 

 tended for breeding purposes to suck for 6-8 weeks, 

 whereas those which are to be fattened may be 

 limited to 4 weeks. Weaklings may be allowed 

 to go on for as long as ten weeks. 



When only 2-3 weeks old the young pigs begin 

 to gnaw and eat other food, which is an indication 

 that some whole barley, wheat, or crushed oats 

 should be given. They should also have from 

 this time onward some charcoal, coal, earth, or 

 sand given to them daily. 



In consequence of the rapid growth of the young 

 pigs the mother is soon unable to feed them 

 sufficiently, so from the third week on whole cow's 

 milk, after being boiled and diluted with an equal 

 quantity of water, is given in a lukewarm state. 

 As the composition of sow's and cow's milk differs, 



