CHAPTER IX 



METHODS OF FEEDING ON FORAGE 



The question whether pigs fed com or other home- 

 grown grains when on green forage should receive in 

 addition a nitrogenous supplement like tankage, shorts, 

 or linseed-oil meal, is one which demands the attention 

 of nearly all hog-raisers. Three important factors affect 

 this problem and should be considered before a decision 

 is reached. These are : first, the composition of the 

 forage, particularly as regards its supply of protein; 

 second, the age of the pigs; and third, whether a full 

 or a limited grain ration is fed. In addition, the price 

 of these supplements must be considered in every case. 



THE COMPOSITION OF FORAGE CROPS 



The ability of a forage successfully to balance a straight 

 grain ration depends on its richness in protein and the 

 quantity of forage eaten by the pigs. That some forage 

 crops contain more protein than others, and that the 

 same forage varies widely at different states of its growth, 

 are shown by the analysis presented in Table LXVII. 



It is generally understood that the legumes — alfalfa, 

 clovers, soybeans, and cowpeas — are considerably richer 

 as a class in protein, in proportion to the amount of 

 carbohydrates, than are the non-legumes like rape, 

 green rye, blue-grass. An examination of this table, 

 however, will fail to show any great difference, especially 



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