410 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 
Ajthough 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 feeder. 
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 
