41,0 Western Live-stock Management 



a little more than its weight of any of the cereals. Un- 

 fortunately, peas are usually too high in price to be 

 utilized with advantage in fattening hogs. 



A mixture of grains will usually be found superior to 

 any single grain ; and with the exception of field peas, 

 any of the above feeds will give better results when prop- 

 erly supplemented with a protein feed. With the possible 

 exception of corn, grinding will be found profitable and 

 even with corn there is usually an advantage in grinding 

 during the finishing period of fattening. None of the 

 other treatments ordinarily given grain for fattening pigs 

 has any advantage. 



SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDS 



Although most of the nutrients needed by the pigs 

 must be supplied by the grains, it has seldom been found 

 satisfactory to use grain alone. The grains may be lack- 

 ing in protein, mineral matter, palatability, bulk, or suc- 

 culence, so that the addition of some other feed may be 

 desirable. These additional feeds are designated as 

 "supplemental," since they supplement rather than re- 

 place the grain in the ration. The rational use of supple- 

 mental feeds is the real test of a skillful feieder. 



Since most of our farm grains are deficient in protein, 

 supplements are judged largely as a source of this nutrient. 

 Alfalfa hay is high in protein and although suitable for 

 brood sows and boars, is too bulky for fattening. It may 

 be used to fair advantage at the start. Its continued 

 use in any considerable quantities will almost certainly 

 result in slower gains, and a poorer finish. Alfalfa pasture 

 is as bulky as the hay, but is more palatable. In the 

 irrigated parts of the West, alfalfa is usually so cheap that 



