FOOD 133 



consume. The feeding-tronghs must be kept clean ; the 

 usual filthy surroundings of the piggery are by no means 

 essential to fattening. 



The foods most commonly employed for fattening pigs 

 are barley, maize, pea or bean meal, with potatoes and 

 dairy refuse. German authorities strongly recommend 

 sugar as an addition to the diet. The food should be 

 varied in character as in course of time the appetite 

 becomes fastidious. 



The excessive use of maize, it is said, should be avoided 

 as it makes the flesh yellow and flabby, while beans and 

 peas if used in excess cause it to become hard and stringy. 



Lawes and Gilbert found that 100 lbs. increase in live 

 weight with pigs was produced by 500 lbs. barley meal. 

 The animal stored up of every 100 parts of the food con- 

 stituents consumed, lB-5 parts of nitrogenous matters, 

 18"5 of non-nitrogenous, and 7'3 of mineral substances. 



FEEDING OF MILCH COWS. 



The proper feeding of cows is a most important matter. 

 In collecting the various dietaries recommended by men of 

 experience, it is singular to find so little uniformity. It 

 only shows the success of feeding does not depend upon 

 the details, so much as upon the general principles which 

 are observed. 



It is essential the cow should be kept in good condition, 

 but the storing up of fat must be avoided or it would defeat 

 two special objects, viz., milk supply and breeding capa- 

 bilities. The food given must be wholesome and nutritious ; 

 sufficient must be allowed, as bulk is absolutely essential 

 for rumination, but care should be taken, particularly in 

 feeding with grains, that no excess is given or it will pall 

 on the palate. Stinting must therefore be practised with 

 regard to the most favourite foods. 



Feeding at regular hours is essential, otherwise the 

 animals are kept in a restless condition, and the supply of 

 milk will be affected ; not only should regularity be ob- 

 served in feeding, but also in milking and watering. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



