FEEDS FOR SWINE 365 



for growing, fattening pigs, the gains will usually be slightly larger 

 than where other protein-rich feeds, such as tankage, wheat middlings, 

 linseed meal, or soybean meal, are fed as supplements. These dairy 

 by-products are especially valuable for young pigs after weaning and 

 also for brood sows. If no water has been added, buttermilk is fully 

 equal to skim milk for pig feeding. 



It has been emphasized before that skim milk, buttermilk, or whey 

 should always be pasteurized at the creamery or cheese factory before 

 being returned to the farm, in order to prevent the spread of disease, 

 especially tuberculosis, to which pigs are particularly susceptible. 



Proper proportion of milk to grain. — Skim milk and buttermilk 

 are too watery and also too rich in protein to produce economical 

 gains when fed alone. They should therefore always be fed with the 

 cereals or such carbonaceous concentrates as hominy feed. The pro- 

 portion of skim milk or buttermilk to be fed with corn or other grain 

 will depend first on the age of the pigs and next on the relative price 

 of the feeds. After sufficient milk has been supplied to balance the 

 ration, any addition will not increase the rate of gain and may even 

 lower it if too much is fed. 



Just after weaning 4 to 6 lbs. of skim milk to each pound of corn 

 will be sufficient, to make maximum gains with pigs in a dry lot. As 

 they grow older the proportion of skim milk or buttermilk needed to 

 balance the ration decreases as follows: Pigs weighing 50-100 lbs., 

 3 lbs. milk to I lb. corn; pigs weighing 100-150 lbs., 2-2.5 lbs. milk 

 to 1 lb. corn ; pigs weighing 150-200 lbs. or over, 1.5-2.0 lbs. or less. 

 (See Appendix Table V.) Pigs on such pasture as alfalfa, clover, 

 or rape need less milk to balance the ration. 



Considerably more milk may be fed than is here stated with satis- 

 factory results when a surplus is at hand ; tho it will not have so high a 

 value per 100 lbs. as when only sufficient is fed to balance the ration. 

 This is shown in trials by the senior author at the "Wisconsin Sta- 

 tion 10 in which a total of 88 pigs, usually weighing 100 lbs. or over, 

 were fed different proportions of skim milk and corn meal. When 

 1 to 3 lbs. of skim milk was fed to 1 lb. of corn, 327 lbs. of milk saved 

 100 lbs. of corn. However, with 3 to 5 lbs. of milk for each pound of 

 corn it required 446 lbs. of milk to save 100 lbs. of corn; and with 

 5 to 7 lbs. of milk per pound of corn, 574 lbs. 



Money value of skim milk. — The money value of skim milk, com- 

 pared with corn at various prices, provided not over 1 to 3 lbs. of milk 

 is fed with each pound of corn, is shown in the following table, de- 

 rived from the studies of the senior author. 



io Wis. Ept. 18b5. 



