S2 SWINE GEOBGE E. DAT. 



as roots, or green food, should always be fed with it, and 

 skim milk makes a great improvement. It is not generally 

 regarded with favor as a food for breeding sows, and when 

 used for this purpose, it should constitute only a small pro- 

 portion of the ration. 



Wheat. This grain' has a higher feeding value than 

 barley, but requires mixing with other meal to get the best 

 results. It combines very well with barley, or barley and 

 middlings. 



Oats. Owing to the amount of fibre in this food, hogs 

 cannot digest it so well as can cattle. Oats are more suitable 

 for matured breeding stock than for young or fattening pigs, 

 though a few finely ground oats may be used in a mixture 

 to give variety and to lighten heavier meal, such as that from 

 peas, wheat or corn. A few finely ground oats combined 

 with middlings make a very good food for young pigs, 

 though it is better to have any coarse hulls sifted out. 



Rye. Rye has a food value a little lower than wheat, and 

 a little higher than barley. It may be used in practically 

 the same way as wheat. 



Corn. This is a fattening food and is not conducive to 

 the development of bone and muscle. It is entirely unsuita- 

 ble, therefore, for use as the main part of a ration for young 

 growing pigs or for breeding stock. When fed alone, it 

 gives poor results in producing gain in weight, and its bad 

 influence upon the quality of bacon has already been de- 

 scribed. If fed at all, it hould be mixed largely with barley 

 or middlings, or both, and some form of succulent food or 

 skim milk should always be fed with it. Owing to its ten- 

 dency to produce soft bacon, it should be used as little as 

 possible when bacon is the object. 



Middlings. This by-product is also called shorts, though 

 some millers make a distinction between shorts and mid- 

 dlings. It is almost universally used for young pigs, and 

 mixed with skim milk when such is available. If very 

 floury, it is safer to mix some finely ground oats with it, or 



