Management and Feed of Swine. 561 



of pork now produced in the United States can easily be doubled 

 without any corresponding increase in the total cost of production. 

 The large and general use of the legumes, rape, and roots by those 

 who raise swine means larger litters of pigs, a reduction in the 

 present heavy death rate of the young, and the more rapid growth 

 of sturdy, vigorous shotes that will finally fatten more quickly and 

 on less corn than under the still too common system of well-nigh 

 continuous corn feeding from birth to slaughter. 



Growing legumes and roots will so improve the soil that all of 

 the feed from this source which is fed to the pig is produced at 

 small cost. Fields as well as pigs will be benefited by this rational 

 expansion which should rapidly come in our system of pork pro- 

 duction thru combining the feeding of legumes and roots with 

 the proper use of corn and the other cereal grains. 



920. Tankage. — The slaughter-house by-product, tankage, carries 

 a large percentage of highly digestible protein, and that which con- 

 tains ground raw bone also carries much phosphorus and lime in 

 addition. This by-product is always helpful in feeding young pigs, 

 especially when little or no dairy waste is available. Where corn 

 is otherwise the sole feed employed in fattening smne, tankage will 

 greatly cut down the feed requirements and induce the more rapid 

 laying on of fat. The feeder should bear in mind the peculiar 

 properties and advantages of tankage and never hesitate to use it 

 when necessary. (888) 



921. Dairy by-products. — Skim milk and buttermilk are ideal 

 feeds for swine, especially brood sows and growing pigs. Rich 

 in digestible protein and carrying much mineral matter, they should 

 never be fed alone but always in combination with such starchy 

 feeds as corn, barley, kafir, milo, emmer, and millet. This com- 

 bination stands unexcelled for producing economical growth and 

 for fattening. So useful are these feeds that the breeder of pure- 

 bred swine should in many cases keep a dairy in order to have these 

 by-products for the sows and their young. Skim milk, fresh or 

 slightly soured, combined \Adth any of the cereal grains will give 

 to young pigs quality and finish possible from no other feed. Be- 

 fore skim milk and whey from the factory are returned to the farm 

 they should always be sterilized to forestall danger of tuber- 

 culosis. (881-7) 



922. Correctives of mineral nature. — Pigs often show a strong 

 craving for unnatural substances — soft brick, mortar, rotten wood, 

 charcoal, ashes, soap suds, and many other articles being greedily 



