L r a. 1630.7 Uc-133 I c.3 * I T'H'I (o^-l UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station URBANA, OCTOBER, 1909 • • • • • • • • *• * * CIRCULAR # WV .103 • • • _ • • • • • • • •• • • • •. FEEDING T'R-E'-F.IG *••••_• . - By Wm. Dietrich, Assistant Chief ifr’&Wfte, Hus*t>jfncTry INTRODUCTION In 1904 an investigation was started, the purpose of which was to develop a new feeding standard for swine. Or, to put the practice of swine feeding upon a fundamental basis and into such form that anybody who can follow instructions may get large and economical gains. In December, 1908, Circular No. 126, entitled “Food Require¬ ments of Growing and Fattening Swine,” was published. This gave some of the principal facts deduced from the data up to that time. Since then the work has continued at a more rapid rate than previously but has not yet been completed. Up to the prast. ent time thirteen experiments in all have been conducted invcffv-* ing the use of 618 pigs, all of which were bred and raised ujjon* the University farm. ..... • The object of this circular is two-fold as follows: tFjjisVjJoV give some of the principal facts that have been determii\^if;siuj^.*. the publication of Circular No. 126; second, to outline rf!*$.ethgtf*• for calculating rations according to the standard herein stfr .forth. This circular may be considered a supplement to ;ihe one.. # above mentioned and since the work undertaken by this Setles bi *• • • • • * • • • • • TV __L 0 «f n 2 experiments has not yet been completed the data presented are not to be considered final. While the conclusions arrived at are thought to be approximately correct, still they are subject to modification by subsequent experiments. ADDITIONAL FACTS Water At the time Circular No. 126 was published experiments were in progress to determine more definitely the amount of water required by pigs for maximum and most economical gains. The above mentioned circular specifies that with the system of feed¬ ing discussed therein this quantity is represented in general by a curve starting at 12 pounds, dvily per hundred pounds live weight with pigs two monthg.tfic&Vfirich is reduced gradually to 4 pounds daily, for pigs eighteenths old and in prime condition for mar¬ ket. Later experinfents»\a$ nearly as it is possible to determine • • •#••••* at this tijne # ,Hi&ve vqrifijfed, .Vftis curve. The work thus far, how- ever,.*iia*s \be’en sdm^wfeat handicapped by other undetermined factors, ^nd willdiaCv^e to be carried still further for more exact data. In the present light of the investigation the total quantity of water fed seems to be of greater importance than the manner in which it is fed. The latter consideration, however, has not thui far been so thoroly studied. In general all the water is given with the feeds in the form of a slop but a limited amount of recent data seem to show that, in so far as the water is considered in it¬ self, it makes some difference as to how it is fed as well as the us' of the right quantity. The best results have been obtained by feeding the bulk of the water after the rest of the feed has been eaten, using enough water to wet the dry feeds and enough feed in the water to make it palatable. During the hottest weather, however, it seems to be necessary to add a little more w^ater to the dry feed. But the manner in which water is used in a ration ‘Tugy exert considerable influence in other directions, as for in- • •stance the distribution of the other nutrients, the amount of ex¬ ercise the pigs get, etc. ..Va By giving the pigs dry feed or a thick slop and then free • • • ••• *.^Cce^s;t© water they did not do as well as in cases where the V.gLbovoSpecified quantity of water was mixed with all the dry feeds * in the f&rm of a slop. The former method, however, produced • • * « better’results in summer than in winter but was also comparatively * 4rfeffee’tive during the hot weather. This which is also borne out * • . tb£*data when compared with the water curve indicates that . * • 3 17& jo, 7 c • 3 in winter the pig will not drink enough and, that during th<» hot weather of summer he will drink too much when he is given free access to water. The requirement of water is given on page 10. Exercise A fact that has recently been determined indicates that the iniiuence of exercise upon the functional activities of a pig is an important factor. Hence the lack of exercise is a handicap to the fall pig because during the winter on account of cold weather not so much exercise is usually taken as in the summer, except during very hot periods. For maximum and most econom¬ ical production it seems absolutely necessary for the young and growing pig to have an abundance of exercise. Its chief value seems to be in the influence it exerts upon the respiratory and digestive functions. If pigs are changed from lots where they have had consider¬ able exercise to lots where they do not have so much their feed must be correspondingly reduced. Hence they will also make smaller and usually more expensive gains. If the weather con¬ ditions are such, as for instance when it is very cold, that the pig does not take the usual amount of exercise the ration should also be reduced correspondingly. Other conditions of environment may also necessitate changes in rations. Changes in Rations ■ c Changes like those above mentioned must necessarily be more or less abrupt. Otherwise the experimental data show that, in general, when changes of more than a very minor nature are to be made in rations they should be made gradually, both in the feeds used and in the total quantity of digestible nutrients con¬ tained therein. It takes time for a pig to become accustomed to changes so that he will eat, digest and assimilate the new ration as well as the old one, hence the more gradually such changes are made the better will be the results produced. Pasture • The experiments of this series prior to 1900 were conducted in small dry lots (4x5 rods). Those of 1909 and thereafter were started in larger lots, the object of which was to supply the re¬ quired amount of exercise. Later in the experiment the pigs were moved to the old lots to make room for younger pigs in the new lots. These (new) lots were built in a place where there was ILLINOIS STATE LIBRARY 4 an abundance of bluegrass as well as some rye during the early part of the season. The pigs of the first experiment in these new lots were fed in accordance with the standard evolved from data collected in the previous experiments where they were fed in the dry lot. The results from this feeding on pasture indicate that pigs can utilize to better advantage the same quantities of nutri¬ ents, in addition to the grass, than were fed in the dry lot experi¬ ments. It is believed that in grazing the pigs get the needed ex¬ ercise which stimulates the functions of respiration, digestion and metabolism, thus enabling them to utilize larger quantities of feed to better advantage. That is, they will make larger and more economical gains from a given quantity of feed, grain and pasture combined, when they have exercise than when they have no ex¬ ercise. EXPLANATORY NOTES Before entering upon the subject matter proper of the sec¬ ond part of this discussion, it is deemed advisable to give defini¬ tions and brief discussions of some of the terms used herein which may not be familiar to all. Nutrients are the ingredients or compounds of a feed or of feeds such as may be used by the animal, as for instance, protein, carbohydrate, and ether extract or fat. Digestible nutrients are those portions of the nutrients that are absorbed from the alimentary tract and not passed out in the feces. By coefficient of digestibility is meant the percent of a nutrient that is digested. The total quantity eaten minus that appearing in the feces divided by the total quantity gives the coefficient of digestibility or the percent digested. Proteins in general are the nitrogenous compounds that are used by the animal body for the production of the lean meat or muscle tissue, and, to a lesser extent, bone tissue of the body. Bones, as is well known, also contain a large amount of mineral matter. Feeds that contain a considerable quantity of protein are called nitrogenous feeds.- It must be remembered, however, that nitrogenous feeds in general also contain more or less of the other nutrients. For a thoro understanding of the term protein a further ex¬ emplification of the above definition is necessary. Total nitrogen compounds (Nx6i)are called crude protein. This includes all the nitrogen compounds of feeds. Sometimes these are erron- 5 eously called, for the sake of brevity, simply protein. True protein, or what is correctly meant when the word protein is used alone, includes only those nitrogenous compounds that may be used by the animal body to be built up into lean meat or muscle tissue of the body and otherwise to supply the protein metabolism. Subtracting the true protein or protein from the crude protein there is left what is called non-protein. This is also a nitrogenous compound but cannot be used by the animal body to supply protein metabolism or the purposes for which true protein is used. Protein is present to a greater or less extent in most all feeds but is found most abundantly in nitrogenous feeds. They are called nitrogenous because nitrogen is the distinguish¬ ing element of protein. Metabolism means the processes involved in the changes that food substances undergo in the animal body after they are digest¬ ed and taken into the system. This is in part comparable to what is meant by assimilation. Carbohydrate nutrients are those used by the animal body first for the production of energy; second, (during cold seasons or in cold climates) for the production of heat; and third, for the pro¬ duction of fat. This substance is found in most feeds but occurs in largest quantities in those classified as carbonaceous. The nutrient known as fat or ether extract is found to a greater or less extent in all feeds. These compounds are used by the animal body for the same purposes as carbohydrate nutrients. The mineral nutrients are such substances as common salt, lime, potash, the phosphates, etc. These are necessary for the construction of bone as well as for the proper working of the other functions of the animal body. There are two general classes of feeds, namely, concentrates and roughages. Concentrates are feeds that contain a compara¬ tively large percent of digestible nutrients and a comparatively small percent of undigestible material, or in other words, are the feeds that are not bulky. Roughages or bulky feeds are the op¬ posite of concentrates; those containing relatively large propor¬ tions of undigestible material. The pig is an animal primarily adapted to the use of concentrates. If too much concentrated feed and especially protein or crude protein is eaten the factor of ivaste is set up which makes feeding much more unprofitable. This is defined as follows: When a pig is fed more than a certain quantity of nutrients and especially protein he does not use the excess over and above this quantity as 6 economically for producing gains in live weight as when fed the quantity below this point. The portion lost on account of this less economical use is what is here termed the factor of waste. When the animal is once put under such conditions this habit of wasting apparently is more or less permanently established. In Circular No. 126 this was called the factor of protein waste but after re-considering all of the original data in detail together with the new data, it is thought to be more nearly correct to call it simply the factor of waste. However, the protein part of the ration seems to be the principal consideration in this connection, but the other nutrients may enter into this factor. CLASSIFICATION OF FEEDS A few of the most common swine feeds are given in the fol¬ lowing classification. The digestible nutrients given for these were obtained from various sources; some from the analyses of this station, some from the work of Armsby, of Pennsylvania, and some from the general feeding tables' such as given in “Feeds and Feeding” by Henry. In these tables, however, water Carbonaceous Concentrates Dry Feeds Digestible Nutrients per 100 pounds Water Cr. Pro. Carbo. E. E. Min. Mat Corn. 13.0 7.0 66.0 3.0 1.4 Dye. 11.6 8.1 69.7 1.3 1.9 Barley . 10.9 8.3 64.8 1.6 2.6 Wheat .. 10.5 8.9 69.2 1.7 1.8 Oats. 11.0 8.4 48.3 4.2 3.0 Kafir corn. 9.3 7.8 57.1 2.7 1.5 Rice. 12.4 4.8 72.2 .3 .4 Germ meal. 8.1 9.0 61.2 6.2 1.3 Hominy chops. 11.1 7.5 55.2 6.8 2.5 Green Feeds* Potatoes. 78.9 .5 16.4 .1 1.0 Artichokes. 79.5 2.0 16.8 o 1.0 Sugar beets . 86.5 1.1 10.2 .1 .9 Mangel wurzels. 90.9 .1 5.7 .11 1.1 Turnips. 90.5 .2 6.5 .1 .8 Pumpkin (field). 90.9 1.0 5.8 .3 .5 *Under certain conditions these may become roughages. I Nitrogenous Concentrates Dry Feeds Digestible Nutrients per 100 pounds Water Cr. Pro. Carbo. E. E. Min. Mat. Soy bean (grain). 10.8 29.6 22.3 14.4 4.7 Canada field pea (grain). 10.5 18.0 59.8 .6 2.6 Cow pea (grain). 14.8 18.3 54.2 1.1 3.4 Tankage. 7. 48.0 ...... 12.0 11.7 Meat scrap. 10.7 66.2 .3 13.7 4.1 Blood meal. 8.5 52.3 2.5 4 7 Oil meal O. P. 9.2 27.5 32.8 7.1 5.7 Oil meal N. P . 10.1 29.3 38.7 2.9 5.8 Gluten meal. 8.2 21.6 43.0 11.9 .9 Dark feeding flour. 9.7 13.5 61.3 2.0 4.3 Red dog flour. 12.0 14.0 66.0 2.0 3.3 Wheat middlings. 12.1 11.4 54.5 3.4 3.3 Wheat shorts. 11.8 12.2 50.0 3.8 4.6 Buckwheat middlings. 13.2 22.0 33.4 5.4 4.8 Buckwheat shorts. 11.1 21.1 33,5 5.5 5.1 Liquid Feeds* Skim milk. . 90.6 2.9 5.2 .3 Buttermilk . 90.1 3.9 4.0 1.1 Nitrogenous Roughages Dry Feeds Alfalfa hay. 8.4 7.0 37.3 1.4 7.4 Clover hay (red). 15.3 5.4 38.2 1.8 6.2 Wheat bran. 11.9 10.2 41.2 2.9 • 5.8 Green Feeds Digestible Nutrients per 100 pounds Water • Cr. Pro. Carbo. E. E. Min. Mat. Alfalfa . 71.8 3.0 11.2 .4 2.7 Clover (red). 70.8 2.2 14.8 .7 2.1 Cow pea . 83.6 1.8 8.7 .2 1.7 Soy bean. 75.1 3.2 11.0 .5 2.6 Vetch. Clovers other than red. •Under certain conditions these may become roughages. 8 Carbonaceous Roughages Green Feeds Rape. 84.5 2.1 34.4 1.7 — 2.0 Blue-grass . 65.1 3.0 19.8 .8 2.8 Oat fodder. 62.2 2.6 18.9 1.0 2.5 Rye fodder*.. 76.6 2.1 14.1 .4 1.8 and mineral matter are not considered as digestible nutrients. According to the data of this series of experiments it seems advis¬ able to also classify water as a nutrient and assume, since the pig requires more than is present in ordinary feed stuffs, that the entire quantity is digestible. Hence in the above table the entire water content is given under the head of digestible nutri¬ ents. The mineral matter, included in the table under this head, is also the total ash content of the feeds as obtained from compo¬ sition tables. The green feeds that are specified under the head of carbo¬ naceous concentrates contain a great deal of water. It is quite evident that if these were fed in large quantities so that the pig were compelled to take more water than his system demands these feeds would become roughages under such conditions in the sense that the pig would be compelled to take more bulk in the form of water than would normally go with the proper quantity of nutrients other than water. This would have a tendency to distend the capacity of his digestive apparatus. An excess of water, however, would have detrimental effects upon the pig. The liquid feeds specified under the head of nitrogenous con¬ centrates may likewise be considered either as concentrates or roughages, the same as the green feeds given under the head of carbonaceous concentrates. The nitrogenous roughages are given under two subject heads, dry feeds and green feeds. The dry feeds are roughages because of the large quantity of crude fiber they contain. The green feeds also contain the crude fiber but relatively less than the dry feeds because they at the same time contain a large quan¬ tity of water. This water plays an important part in the met¬ abolism and may take the place of water that is fed as such in connection with dry feeds. *Atthe Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station it was found that young rye plants con¬ tain 5.73 percent of protein which would throw rye fodder into the class of nitrogenous rough- ages. 9 The carbonaceous roughages are all in the form of green feeds and may be considered in the same light as far as water is concerned as the green feeds under the head of nitrogenous roughages. SELECTION OF FEEDS Feeds should be selected primarily with the end in view of furnishing the proper quantity of digestible nutrients in a palat¬ able form as follows: Water, protein, carbohydrate, ether ex¬ tract, mineral matter and also bulk. While some feeds may have values other than that of their content of digestible nutrients it is considered that if a pig is properly fed these become of minor importance. Home grown feeds should be used where possible, but where these are not available commercial feeds may be sub¬ stituted. While many of the commercial feeds are all right and as good perhaps as those that may be grown on the farm the pro¬ fit in general is greater from home grown feeds. Furthermore the supply of commercial feeds is limited and available only to a comparatively small number of feeders. The carbonaceous feeds in general must be used to make up the carbohydrate part of the ration and the nitrogenous feeds to furnish the bulk of the protein. All carbonaceous feeds contain some protein and most all nitrogenous feeds contain some carbo¬ hydrate; consequently in the selection of the feeds for a ration they should be combined in such quantities that the proper amount of digestible nutrients is supplied. Water is found to a greater or less extent in all feeds. Those classified as dry feeds usually contain only a small quantity, about 8 to 18 percent; other feeds such as liquid feeds and succulent feeds contain as high as 85 to 90 percent of water. Since, how¬ ever, these sources of water, except that of the liquid feeds, are not sufficient the pigs must be fed water directly as such. In order to get best results it is undoubtedly necessary, as shown by the experimental data, to feed the right quantity of water as well as the right quantity of the other nutrients, and as stated in Cir¬ cular No. 126, another one of the principal reasons that winter feeding of pigs has not been more successful is because an insuf¬ ficient amount of water was used. During the winter season in cold climates where the pig is given dry feed and free access to water he will apparently not drink enough for maximum and most economical production. 10 A pig under five or six months of age apparently cannot as¬ similate as much as he can digest; consequently best results are obtained if he is not fed more than he can finally use for the con¬ struction of body tissue and for necessary energy and heat pro¬ duction. In order to limit the nutrients to the amount that the pig can most profitably use, roughages may be introduced into the ration at this time. These serve a double purpose: First, tney satisfy the appetite of the pig, and second, they have a tend¬ ency to increase his capacity so that later in life when he other¬ wise would not eat as much as he could profitably use, he will be able to consume a larger quantity of nutrients. Roughages may also be used in considerable quantities by pigs that are simply be¬ ing maintained. METHOD OF CALCULATING RATIONS According to the method of feeding outlined herein the pig is fed certain definite quantities of digestible nutrients daily per hundred pounds live weight. Another consideration, however, which is necessary is the relation between concentrates and rough- ages of the ration. In the following cuts the horizontal spaces, shown by the vertical lines, indicate time in weeks and months. The horizontal lines give the value of the curves in pounds. Water The above cut shows the total amount of water required by the growing and fattening pig to be as follows: Starting at two months of age he should have 12 pounds of w T ater daily per hun¬ dred pounds live weight. This is gradually reduced during the following six months or twenty-six w T eeks to 4 pounds. At this time the pig should be in prime condition for market. As a means 11 of determining the amount of water indicated by the curve at the close of each week the following is suggested: It will be seen that the curve drops from 12 pounds to 10.5 pounds in five weeks’ time. This is a reduction of .3 pound for each week. Then, if 12 pounds of water is used at the start, 11.7 pounds should be used at the close of the first week, 11.4 at the close of the second week, 11.1 at the close of the third week, etc. A similar method may also be used for the following curves. Crude Protein The above cut shows the amount of digestible crude protein required by the pig daily per 100 pounds live weight, according to the data determined, for maximum and most economical pro¬ duction. The curve starts at .6 pound at the beginning of the ex¬ periment and rises to .7 during the first seven weeks. Follow¬ ing this it declines to .6 during four weeks’ time, then maintains a level of .65 for the next seven weeks. After this the greater part of the nitrogenous feeds are removed from the ration during four weeks’ time. Some protein, however, is fed to the close as pigs will do better if they have more protein than is found in corn. As stated in the introduction, the position of this curve as well as the others may be modified by subsequent investigation, but the quantities of protein specified above have thus far pro¬ duced the best results. This, however, should not be taken as absolute but should be modified to suit the length of the feeding period. As practised by the writer the pig is fed for six months, from 3 to 9 months of age, according to this formula. Thus the pig is 8 months old at the close of the feeding period. With this prac¬ tice the last 8 weeks is considered as the fattening period and the first 18 weeks the growing period. This growing period is divid¬ ed in the middle by a period of four weeks during which the pro¬ tein curve drops for the purpose of reducing the factor of waste, as stated in Circular No. 126. With a short growing period a continuous increase during the period would be all right but when a comparatively large quantity of protein is fed for a consider- 12 able length of time under practical conditions the factor of waste apparently becomes so great that feeding becomes relatively more unprofitable. Carbohvdrate The above cut shows the amount of digestible carbohydrate required by the pig daily per 100 pounds live weight. It will be no¬ ticed that starting with the pig at two months of age he should have 2.2 pounds of digestible carbohydrate daily per 100 pounds live weight. After this as indicated by the curve it is gradually increased during the following eighteen weeks when the curve reaches 2.6 pounds. As already stated, in this series of exper¬ iments the pigs were usually started at two months of age and fed until they were eight months old making a feeding period of twenty-six weeks. The carbohydrate curve, as above given ex¬ tends over only the first eighteen weeks of the experiment. Dur¬ ing the last eight weeks the pigs were put on full feed on a ra¬ tion that was primarily carbonaceous in nature. The latest data of this series of experiments seem to indicate that this curve might be raised to good advantage, starting at 2.4 and ending at 2.8 pounds. Ether Extract or Fat As specified in Circular No. 126, pigs will apparently make larger gains if they are given a little more fat in their ration than is ordinarily present in the common feeds of the farm. The ether extract curve presented in the above mentioned circular is not repeated here because not many ether extract feeds are avail¬ able, hence it is somewhat difficult to control this factor. Soy beans are rich in this ingredient and if the protein of the ration is obtained from this source the ration will also be better on ac¬ count of its greater fat content. There seems to be no danger of getting too much fat or ether extract from this source. 13 Mineral Matter All feeds contain some mineral matter; some feeds contain a considerable quantity, other feeds a very small quantity. Differ¬ ent soils contain different quantities of mineral matter, and veg¬ etation grown in these soils will to some extent have varying quantities of mineral matter contained in it in accordance with the soil upon which it grows. Ground water also contains more or less mineral matter in accordance with the quantities in the soil. Since the amount of mineral matter present in the soil, in the water, in the vegetation and in different feeds is so decidedly variable, and since there is no standard for the requirement of * mineral nutrients by the pig, it seems necessary in order to get best results in feeding to give the pig free access to a variety of mineral substances so that he can supply, according to the dic¬ tates of his appetite, whatever is deficient by way of mineral substances in his feed. In order to supply these mineral sub¬ stances the results on the station farm seem to be quite satisfac¬ tory if the pig is given free access to salt, charcoal, air-slaked lime, bone meal, wood ashes, clean soil and soft coal cinders. These, with the exception of the last two, are kept in different compartments of a trough before the pigs at all times. Method of Procedure As an example for calculating a ration for a bunch of pigs, the following may be taken: Suppose that a bunch of pigs is two months old and weighs 685 pounds. The curves in the above cuts show that at this time the pigs require daily per hundred pounds live weight 12 pounds of water, .6 pound of digestible crude protein and 2.2 pounds of digestible carbohydrate. Multiplying these quantities respectively by the total live weight, namely, 685 pounds and pointing off to the proper figure we find that this bunch of pigs will require a total of 82.2 pounds of water, 4.11 pounds of digestible crude protein and 15.07 pounds of digestible carbohy¬ drate per day. Suppose that alfalfa, corn, barley, skim milk, soy beans and water are to be used to make up this ration. To facili¬ tate matters a table should be constructed specifying the amounts of digestible nutrients present in these feeds from one to nine pounds inclusive as follows: 14 ✓ Digestible Nutrients Per Pound Feed Corn Barley F cr Wat. Pro. Car, E. E. M. M. Wat. Pro. Car. 1 E. E. M. M. Lb. 1 .13 .07 .66 .03 .01 .11 .08 .65 .02 .03 1 2 .26 .14 1.32 .06 .02 .22 .16 1.30 .04 .06 2 3 .39 .21 1.98 .09 .03 .33 .21 1.95 .06 .09 3 4 .52 .28 2.61 .12 .04 .44 .32 2.60 .08 .12 4 5 .65 .35 3.30 .15 .05 .55 .40 3.25 .10 .15 5 6 .78 .42 3.96 .18 .06 .66 .48 3.90 .12 .18 6 7 .91 .49 4.62 .21 .07 .77 .56 4.55 .14 .21 t 8 1.04 .56 5.28 .24 .08 .88 .64 5.20 .16 .24 8 9 1.17 .63 5.94 .27 .09 .99 .72 5.85 .18 .27 9 Digestible Nutrients Per Pound Feed Soy Beans Skim Milk Alfalfa Lb. ' Wat. Pro. Car. E.E M.M. Wat Pro. Car. M.M. Wat. Pro. Car. E.E. M.M. Lb. 1 .11 .30 .22 .14 .05 .91 .03 .05 .01 .08 .07 .37 .01 .07 1 2 .22 .60 .44 .28 .10 1.82 .06 .10 .02 .16 .14 .74 .02 .14 2 3 .33 .90 .66 .42 .15 2.73 .09 .15 .03 .24 .21 1.11 .03 .21 3 4 .44 1.20 .88 .56 .20 3.64 .12 .20 .04 .32 .28 1.48 .04 .28 4 5 .55 1.50 1.10 .70 .25 4.55 .15 .25 .05 .40 .35 1.85 .05 .35 5 6 . 66 1.80 1.32 .84 .30 5.46 .18 .30 .06 .48 .42 2.22 .06 .42 6 7 .77 2.10 1.54 .98 .35 6.37 .21 .35 .07 .56 .49 2.59 .07 .49 7 8 .88 2.40 1.76 1.12 .40 7.28 .24 .40 .08 .64 .56 2.96 .08 .56 8 9 . 99|2.70 1.98 1.26 .45 8.19 .27 .45 .09 .72 .63 3.33 .09 .63 9 i By the use of this table tenths of pounds, unit numbers of pounds and ten times unit numbers of pounds may be added to the ration by reading the quantities of nutrients correctly with respect to the decimal point. To get tenths read with the decimal point one place to the left and for ten times units numbers one place to the right. This table simplifies matters by eliminating the multiplica¬ tions at each operation. The abbreviations at the heads of the col¬ umns in the above table stand for the following: Wat., Water; Pro., Crude Protein; Car., Carbohydrate; E. E., Ether Extract, and M. M., Mineral Matter. Pigs two months old can use but a limited quantity of a rough- age like alfalfa, consequently in making up this ration not much can be used at this time. Suppose that corn and barley are to be used in the proportion of 2 parts of corn to 1 part of barley and that but a limited amount of skim milk is at hand. In order to make up this ration, then, the following is evolved: 15 The total amount of nutrients required per day as shown above for the bunch of pigs weighing 685 pounds is as follow, Wat. Pro. Car. 82.2 4.11 15.07 In order to get these quantities the following amounts of feeds are necessary. These are obtained by first putting down the de¬ sired amount of the roughage (alfalfa), with its water, protein and carbohydrate, then the carbonaceous concentrate (corn and barley) and the skim milk. Have enough of these so that the carbohydrate when added will be nearly equal to the required quantity. Next list the nitrogenous concentrates (soy beans) in sufficient quantity to bring up the protein as well as the carbohy¬ drate to the required amount. If this does not come out right the first time it can easily be adjusted by means of the preceding table. When this is done add sufficient water to bring up this part of the ration to the standard. Wat. Pro. Car. Alfalfa .3 lb. - .024 .021 .111 Corn 10.0 lb. = 1.300 .700 6.600 Corn 2.0 lb. = .260 .140 1.320 Barley 6.0 lb. = .660 .480 3.900 Skim milk 40.0 lb. = 36.400 1.200 2.000 38.644 2.541 13.931 Soy beans 5.0 lb. = .550 1.500 1.100 Soy beans .2 lb. = .022 .060 .044 39.216 4.101 15.075 Water 43.0 lb. = 43.0 82.216 4.101 15.075 The above mentioned quantities of feed, then, namely: Alfalfa .3 lb. Corn 12. lb. Barley 6. lb. Skim milk 40. lb. • Soy beans 5.2 lb. Water 43. lb. should be fed to these pigs for one day when they are two months old. In order to get the increase specified by the curves in the above cuts an estimate must be made as to what the pigs will weigh at the close of the week. Suppose that it is estimated that the lot will gain 65 pounds during this week, making its total weight 16 at the close of the week 850 pounds. This estimated live weight should then be multiplied by the quantities given by the curves in the above mentioned cuts at this time, which are as follows: Wat. Pro. Car. 11.7 .615 2.22 Multiplying these by the estimated live weight the following is obtained as the requirement of nutrients at the close of this and the beginning of the following week: Wat. Pro. Car. 99.45 5.2275 18.87 To get these quantities take the total amount of nutrients fed at the beginning of the week and add enough feeds so that the nutrients of the same will bring the amount up to the quantity stated above w T hich is required at the end of the week. Proceed the same as above, namely, add the roughage first, the carbonace¬ ous concentrates next, then the nitrogenous concentrates and last¬ ly the water. By so doing the following will be obtained: Wat. Pro. Car. 82.216 4.101 15.075 Alfalfa .7 lb. = .056 .049 .259 Corn 3.0 lb. = .390 .210 1.980 Barley 1.0 lb. = .110 .080 .650 Barley .5 lb. = .055 .040 .325 82.827 4.480 18.289 Soy beans 2.0 lb. = .220 .600 .440 Soy beans .5 lb. = .055 .150 .110 83.102 5.230 18.839 W ater 16.4 lb. = 16.4 99.502 5.230 18.839 These quantities of nutrients correspond very closely to those above that were calculated as the requirement of nutrients at this time. The above mentioned quantities of feeds that were used to get the additional nutrients should be added to those fed at the begin¬ ning of the week and the totals are the quantities to be fed at the close of the week. By adding these the following are obtained: Alfalfa 1.0 Corn 15.0 Barley 7.5 Skim milk 40.0 Soy beans 7.7 Water 59.4 17 This is the total quantity to be fed per day at the close of the week. The quantity of feed fed on the first day of the week then may gradually be varied to that fed on the last day. Thus there will be a gradual increase fed from^day to day. 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 as above. The vertical lines in the cuts indicate the age of the pigs and stage of the period of feed¬ ing. The point at which these intersect with the curves for the various nutrients indicates the amounts of these in pounds as spe¬ cified by the horizontal lines. Multiply these quantities by the total live weight and proceed as above. 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 well fed it may be necessary, in order to get best results, to start back a little farther than at the point in the above cuts indicated by the age of the pigs in question. In order to furnish variety and get large and economical gains as large a number of feeds should be used in the ration as possible. The greater the number of feeds the better will be the ration. Of course, the greater the number of the feeds the great¬ er will be the amount of work in calculating the ration. In the above calculated ration corn and barley are used for the sake of variety, both being carbonaceous concentrates. The proportion of these two feeds may be governed to some extent by the amounts available. Skim milk is likewise a feed of the same class as soy beans. The alfalfa is used primarily for furnishing bulk. At the be¬ ginning of the period with the pigs two months of age they 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 four or five months of age it will be necessary to gradually decrease the alfalfa 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 increase in protein and carbohydrate. ) 18 t t /■ METHOD OF FEEDING The way in which the ration is fed to the pigs is a matter of considerable importance. As outlined in Circular No. 126, it is of primary importance that each # pig in the lot should get its proportionate amount of the various food nutrients, and very great harm results if the nutrients, and especially the crude pro¬ tein, are unequally distributed among the individuals of a lot. For the sake of equal distribution of this ingredient especially, it is suggested that the grains used be ground and mixed with the milk and water, thus making a slop of all the ingredients except the mineral matter. A little of the corn, however, may be fed whole in order to develop the teeth and to accustom the pigs to feed in this form for purposes later in life when it may be advan¬ tageous to use feeds in this form. The feeding trough should be arranged, either by a swinging panel over the trough or by having it in a separate feeding pen so that the slop can be poured into it without being disturbed by the pigs. When the slop is in the trough and the pigs are ail present the panel over the trough may be swung back or the gate, which should be a wide one, may be opened into the feeding pen so that all the pigs can come to the trough at the same time. Then, by having pigs of equal size in the lot and not having too many to¬ gether, there will result a good distribution of the nutrients to the different individuals of the lot. If it is impossible to have the feeds ground it is still possible to distribute the various nutrients fairly well as follows: If the protein is to be fed in the form of soy beans or peas, these may be harvested and stored away together with the vine. At feed¬ ing time sufficient may be weighed out to furnish the proper amount of protein and this distributed over a large feeding floor or on pasture where the pigs can have free access to it. While they are doing the hulling and grinding, all will have an oppor¬ tunity to get their proportion. This also presupposes that pigs of equal size and age are being fed together and that they will eat with approximately the same rapidity. If the protein is thus distributed, the corn may be fed in the form of ear corn or shell¬ ed corn. If then the right quantity of water is fed fairly good results will be possible. During the winter season, however, when pigs will not drink enough by such practice it is neces¬ sary to mix at least a small quantity of meal with the proper quan¬ tity of water to make it palatable. This should then be fed to them in the trough. / 19 \ If the alfalfa above mentioned is fed in the form of a meal, it might be mixed with the balance of the feeds in the slop. But this is an expensive form in which to feed alfalfa. In the summer time pigs may be allowed to eat it from the pasture. In winter the alfalfa may be chopped as fine as possible with an ordinary fodder cutter and then mixed with a little meal and sufficient hot water or steam to thoroly wet it. This will be eaten very readily if fed while the pigs are hungry. However, it takes training to accustom a pig to eat any feed. If bran is used as a roughage it may be mixed into the slop. As to the number of feeds per day, it is shown in Circular No. 126 that with the system of feeding outlined therein better results are possible when pigs are fed three times per day, rather than when fed only twice per day. It may be possible when pigs get to the age at which they are ordinarily termed shotes, and get considerable of their feed in the form of green feeds from pasture, that this may answer the purpose of the noon feed. 3 0112 121972571 Illinois State Reformatory Print