558 Feeds and Feeding. 



fat production. For breeding stock corn should never constitute 

 over half the ration, the proportion fed being smallest with young 

 animals. (115) As pigs increase in size and the demand for nitroge- 

 nous and mineral matter becomes less, more of this starchy grain 

 can be fed, until at fattening time it may well form most of the 

 ration. Corn should usually be fed whole and on the cob, except 

 to young pigs and those in the last stages of fattening. Where the 

 kernels are hard and cannot be readily chewed, corn should be 

 ground or soaked. (842-5) 



914. The minor cereals. — Only wheat that is below grade can now 

 be profitably used for swine feeding. The hard, small kernels 

 should always be ground to meal and mixed with corn or barley, 

 since such combinations are superior to either grain fed alone. (848) 

 The milling by-products of wheat are most valuable for swine, low- 

 grade or red-dog flour being particularly suitable for very young 

 pigs, while flour middlings serve admirably with all classes, espe- 

 cially in combination with corn. Middlings produce a soft pork 

 if too liberally fed. (849, 850) Bran is a muscle-building food, but 

 its chafl'y nature renders it unsatisfactory for the young pig. It is 

 eminently useful with breeding stock otherwise living on rich con- 

 centrates and in a limited way with fattening swine. Bran is rich 

 in nitrogenous matter and phosphorus, but is low in lime and has 

 laxative properties. These facts should always be in the mind of 

 the feeder. (165, 852) 



From the European standpoint barley leads the cereals in the 

 quality of the pork it produces, while in the quantity of pork pro- 

 duced it falls slightly below corn. Where high-grade bacon is de- 

 sired the barley grain will prove particularly useful. In all cases 

 barley should be ground to a meal, or preferably rolled, before it is 

 fed. (854) Kafir and milo, both rich in starch, rank below corn 

 for pig feeding, but lead in the regions where they flourish. (858-9) 

 Emmer, because of the chaffy hull, and millet, because of its hard, 

 fibrous seed coat, should always be ground and the chaff or hulls 

 removed before feeding to young pigs, while these parts may re- 

 main for the older animals if bulk is needed in the ration. (857, 860) 



915. The legume seeds. — Canada peas, cowpeas, soybeans, and 

 peanuts are rapidly advancing in importance and usefulness for 

 swine feeding. They furnish nitrogenous matter in great abun- 

 dance, and some carry much fat. Wliile the starchy cereal grains 

 are the great fattening concentrates, the leguminous seeds are essen- 

 tial in furnishing nitrogenous matter for building the muscular 



