FEEDING HOGS 287 
in mineral elements the lack is told in smaller bones and 
slower gains. Ground bone or bonemeal can be intro- 
duced advantageously into the ration, either when the 
hogs are in the feed lot or on pasture. Soft coal, char- 
coal and salt, either in mixture or given separately, should 
be kept before the animals at all times. 
8. Making a slop—When pigs are young, food in the 
form of slop is most easily and safely fed. At first it 
should be quite thin. The nearer it approaches the con- 
sistency of buttermilk the better for the pigs. As the 
SLOPPING THE Hocs 
Different lots are fed in accordance with their requir ts. The attendants pass 
from pen to pen, mixing the slop as needed and in accordance with size and num- 
ber of animals in each pen. 
pigs grow it is a mistake to continue to feed a very thin 
slop. An over-supply of water in slop is harmful; fat 
production is retarded. If food is given in slop continu- 
ously the water is to be lessened as the animals increase 
in size. When a weight of 100 pounds or so has been 
reached, the pigs now being five or six months old, the 
slop should be so made as to have a consistency some- 
what like mush. If the pigs demand more water than 
this food supplies, let it be available as drink. 
