CORN AS FEED FOR HOGS 



357 



Stomach of a horse is of limited capacity, hence the food should be 

 quite concentrated. This requirement is fulfilled by corn. 



However, a work horse requires a narrow nutritive ration. The 

 nutritive ratio of shelled corn is i ig.y, which means that for every 

 pound of digestible protein which is fed, there accompanies it 9.7 

 pounds of digestible carbohydrates. This is spoken of as a medium 

 ratio. Accordmg to the Wolflf-Lehmann feeding standards, the horse 

 at medium work requires a nutritive ration of i :6.2, which is much 

 narrower than that supplied by corn. In other words, there is too 

 much carbohydrates and fat for the amount of protein present. 

 A larger percentage of protein is necessary to balance the heat-form- 

 ing constituents. Draft horses sweat profusely and appear "logy" 

 when fed corn too heavily during the working season. In winter, corn 

 is bound to form a large part of the farm horse ration because of its 

 abundance in the corn belt. 



Next to oats, bran is the best mixture with corn. It separates the 

 particles of corn so that the juices can get at them. At times in win- 

 ter, the whole grain feed may be made up of corn, and it may even 

 supply three-fourths of the ration in summer. 



CORN AS A FEED FOR HOGS. In arranging a ration for hogs 

 it should be kept in mind that this animal has a very limited digestive 

 ciapacity and therefore cannot consume a large quantity of bulky food. 

 The purpose for which the ration is fed, whether for fattening, grow- 

 ing, or to the mother when carrying her suckling young, is also an 

 important consideration. 



For the Sow. Corn being so high in carbohydrates and fat, tends 

 to produce an excess of internal fat in a brood sow before farrowing. 

 After farrowing and during the suckling of the pigs, corn can be used 

 in supplying the carbonaceous part of the ration. But it must be 

 remembered that corn has a constipatory effect upon the sow, which is 

 contrary to practical feeding. An addition of oil meal or grass will 

 be necessary to produce laxativeness. 



For the Growing Pig. The type of fat hog in the Mississippi Val- 

 ley has been molded during the first months of the life of the pigs 



LIGHT, MEDIUM, AND HEAVY GRAIN RATION FOR PIGS. 







S2 25 g 





Average weight, each pig, August 27 



Average weight, each pig, October 27 



Average gain from August 27 to October 27 . . 



Daily gain per pig. ; 



Average amount of corn ■ consumed by each 



pig per day 



Corn consumed per pourd of gain 



Cost of corn per 100 pounds of gain 



Cost of pasture per 100 lbs. of gain, $14.30. . . 

 Total cost per 100 pounds of gain, $14.30. . . 



74.00 



75.40 



1.40 



.02 



73.50 



95.20 



21.70 



.34 



1.33 



3.86 



2 08 



.66 



73.50 



113.30 



39.80 



.63 



2.48 



3 98 



215 



.30 



2.74 



72.50 



128.20 



53.70 



.85 



3.46 

 4 23 

 2.28 

 .16 



2.45 I 



2.ti< 



