CAEE AND MANAGEMENT OP ANIMALS 865 



better than feeding on one particular kind, but the mixture 

 must be judicious ; maize, for instance, can be used in the 

 earlier stages of fattening, but only in small quantities 

 towards the end, as it renders the flesh yellow and flabby. 

 Pea- or bean-meals are good for older pigs, and produce a 

 firm flesh, though in excess they cause it to become hard 

 and stringy. Oatmeal is very valuable in forcing young 

 animals for an early market, while barley-meal is the best 

 single meal which can be given. 



No food must be permitted to remain in the troughs. 

 Howard only allows troughs to boars and invalids ; the 

 others are turned out by pens into a yard to feed ; if this 

 system is adopted, it must be carried out regularly and 

 systematically. 



Howard recommends for fattening pigs a mixture of 

 equal parts of bean, maize, and barley meals ; to three 

 parts of these is added one part of sharps, and if forcing 

 is required a little linseed cake is added in a scalded 

 condition. 



Cooked food for pigs is not recommended by the best 

 authorities, as it causes considerable loss in digestion, 

 though if potatoes are given they are best in the cooked 



state. 



The swill-tub is a permanent institution in pig-feeding, 

 where all sorts of kitchen and dairy refuse finds its way ; 

 among the latter whey and skim milk are extensively used 

 in pig feeding. The swill-tub has frequently been the 

 cause of death owing to the contents of the brine-tub 

 finding its way in, and producing poisoning (see p. 195). 



Pigs that are not allowed a run abroad, require a certain 

 amount of earth or cinders to be provided ; but all stock 

 pigs should be allowed exercise daily to keep their limbs 

 and feet in order, and to regulate their bowels and 

 bladder. 



Show pigs are sometimes ball fed, which process is 

 carried out after the usual thinner trough food, by means 

 of balls the size of an egg, composed of mixed meal and 

 milk. These are offered to the pigs after being dipped in 



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