GENERAL SWINE MANAGEMENT 37 



and according to some authorities is superior to clover. Blue grass 

 IS used for pasture by some breeders. During certain seasons of 

 the year many breeders have found it profitable to use wheat, rye 

 or oats as a pasture grass. The pasture regardless of the grass or 

 forage contained should neither be too large nor too small, especial- 

 ly for fattening or grooving swine, although it is not objectionable 

 to have a large area for brood sows. Swine in pasture usually re- 

 quire ringing to prevent rooting. In some portions of the coun- 

 try, roots of various kinds are grown for feed purposes and serve 

 admirably as a bulk feed. For this purpose, sugar beets, turnips, 

 mangels and carrots are used for hog feed in different sections 

 of the country. Pumpkins, squash, apples and potatoes are used 

 to some extent in some localities for swine feed. 



GARBAGE FEEDING 



Garbage feeding of swine is now done on a large scale adjacent 

 to the larger cities in all parts of this country. It was recom- 

 mended by the government as a means of conservation, and garbage 

 feeding was instituted near practically every large camp in this 

 country during the recent war. As the population increases there 

 will of necessity be greater need for the conservation and conver- 

 sion into food, of materials that are now wasted. Swine can com- 

 plete the cj'cle between man's waste and his food, and from a sani- 

 tary point of view pork from garbage-fed hogs is not injurious and is 

 a wholesome food. 



Garbage when not contaminated with foreign substances, such 

 as broken glass, lye, paint, varnish, etc., is not injurious to swine. 

 The feeding should be done on especially constructed platforms, 

 preferably of concrete. These platforms should be thoroughly cleaned 

 at least once daily in warm weather, to prevent putrefaction prod- 

 ucts from accumulating, and also for sanitary reasons. In the 

 beginning swine should be fed sparingly of garbage until they be- 

 come accustomed to it. The quantity fed must be determined by 

 the nature of the garbage, but it should not be piled into the troughs 

 in excess of what will be consumed each day. Garbage-fed hogs, 

 when shipped, will shrink more in proportion than those fed on 

 grains. 



Sanitation 



The ordinary hog feeders do not appear to recognize the value of 

 good sanitation in their feed- lots and shelter houses, and many 



