824 



Suggestions for Pig-Feeders. 



[jan. 



per ioo lb. gain was even greater, and on the average 33*5 lb. 

 in favour of rape. Carlyle found that for pig-feeding one acre 

 of rape pasture had a feeding value of about £\ when fed 

 with maize meal and shorts. 



Oil Cakes. — Experiments conducted in Denmark in 1887-8 

 on 12 estates with 406 pigs fed with hemp-seed cake, sun- 

 flower-seed cake, palm-nut meal, and peanut meal showed 

 that 1 lb. of oil cake is no more than equal to 1 lb. of rye or 

 barley.* In a subsequent trial, when less than half the con- 

 centrated food consisted of oil cake, the ration was nearly as 

 effective as a pure grain ration, but with an increase of oil 

 cake poorer results were obtained. 



The residue from linseed crushing is regarded in America, 

 according to Coburn, f as an excellent supplement to 

 maize, and Shaw regards oil cake at the rate of 4 oz. per day 

 as useful for sows for some time both before and after 

 farrowing. It must, however, be used with care, some 

 breeders considering that it will cause abortion if used exces- 

 sively. Experiments at the Missouri Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station (1905-6) t showed that linseed oil-cake meal 

 was more valuable than wheat middlings as a supplement to 

 maize. Maize meal alone produced 100 lb. of gain for 556 lb. 

 of grain, but when one part of linseed oil-cake meal was 

 combined with five parts of maize meal, 100 lb. of gain were 

 produced from 377 lb. of grain, and this result was borne out 

 by three other tests. 



In general, oil cakes and oil-cake meals, except in very 

 small quantity, have not been found suitable for pigs. 



Skim Milk. — This by-product of the dairy is one of the 

 most valuable aids to the fastening of pigs, so much so that 

 dairying and pig rearing are commonly said to go together. 

 It is a well-known fact that it is largely the regular supply 

 of skim milk and buttermilk that ensures the excellence and 

 even quality of Danish bacon. Milk is usually fed in con- 

 junction with cereal meals, and it is then that it is most 

 effective. It may be taken as worth id. to per gallon 

 when used in this way, and experiment at the Wisconsin 

 Station || showed that the best returns were obtained when 



* Henry, op. cit., p. 588. t Coburn, op. cit., p. 374. 



X Coburn, op. cit. p. 375. II Henry, op. cit., p. 572. 



