SWINE GEOBGE E. DAT. 87 



poisonous to the hogs, though some German experimenters 

 succeeded in feeding a moderate quantity with milk. In the 

 Hght of our present knowledge, however, this food cannot 

 be recommended for swine. 



Feeding Value of Roots. As has already been inti- 

 mated, much of the feeding value of roots consists in their 

 effect upon the general health of the animal. They tend to 

 prevent indigestion and constipation, and to promote general 

 thrift. The results of tests at experiment stations indicate 

 that from 6 to 8 pounds of sugar beets, mangels, or turnips 

 are equivalent in feeding value to one pound of mixed meal ; 

 and that 4 to 4j^ pounds of potatoes are equivalent to one 

 pound of mixed meal. The meal equivalent of roots varies 

 considerably; depending upon circumstances, but the figures 

 given will serve as a general guide. 



Rape. This is an exceptionally valuable food for swine, 

 and may be pastured or cut and fed to the pigs in the pens. 

 For fattening hogs, best results were obtained by the Ontario 

 Agricultural College from feeding about a two-third meal 

 ration and all the rape the hogs would eat. The hogs were 

 kept in pens with small outside yards, and the rape was cut 

 and carried to them. This method of feeding gave more 

 economical gains than fattening on pasture, and the bacon 

 was of equally good quality. For breeding sows, however, 

 pasturing rape is preferable, owing to the exercise the ani- 

 mals receive. When on rape pasture, mature sows require 

 little other food, but young, growing sows require a mod- 

 erate meal ration in addition to the rape. 



Vetches. Hogs will eat vetches even more readily than 

 rape, but the vetches do not furnish so much food per acre. 

 Vetches are ready for pasture a little earlier than rape, and 

 if a part of the pasture lot is sown with vetches early in the 

 spring, it can be sown with rape after the vetches have been 

 eaten off, and thus the ground will give two pasture crops 

 during the one season. Vetches may also be used as a soil- 

 ing crop, as described under rape. 



