258 LIVESTOCK ON THE FARM 



then may gradually be varied to that fed on the last day. 

 Thus there will be a gradual increase fed from day to day. 



The average weight for the week may also be taken to 

 calculate the ration and then this uniform quantity may be 

 fed during the week. This simplifies matters considerably 

 and in practice proves entirely successful. 



To determine the quantity of feed necessary for a bunch of 

 pigs at any time between the ages of two months and eight 

 months the same method is followed. The vertical lines in 

 the figures indicate the age of the pigs and stage of the period 

 of feeding. The point at which these intersect with the line 

 for the various nutrients indicates the amounts of the nutrients 

 in pounds as specified by the horizontal lines. Multiply 

 these quantities by the total live weight and proceed as before. 



As is clearly evident this method of feeding is intended for 

 pigs that have been well fed from the time they learned to 

 eat. If a feeder has a bunch of pigs that have not been fed well 

 it may be necessary, in order to get the best results, to start 

 back a little farther than at the point in the chart indicated by 

 the age of the pigs in question. Thrifty lean pigs need to be 

 fed a little more. This is accomplished by adding a little to 

 the weight used in calculating the ration. 



In order to furnish variety in the above-calculated ration, 

 corn and barley are used, both being carbohydrate con- 

 centrates. The proportion of these two feeds may be governed 

 to some extent by the amounts available. Skim milk is a 

 feed of the same class as soy beans. 



The alfalfa is used primarily for furnishing bulk, and also 

 protein. At the beginning of the period, the pigs, two months 

 of age, will not be able to use a very large quantity of this. 

 As they grow, however, during the next two or three months 

 they will be able to take more and the quantity in the ration 

 should be increased so that the appetite of the pigs is nearly 

 satisfied. After the pigs are four or five months of age, it will 

 be necessary gradually to decrease the alfalfa or other rough- 

 age in order to make room for the gradually increasing quan- 

 tity of the protein and carbohydrate nutrients. The reduction 

 in the amount of water will also help to make possible the in- 

 crease in protein and carbohydrates. 



