The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-23
Winter Food for Swine.
Baltimore sun.

baltimore sun.
Now, while we would not be understood as say
ing that pumpkins, any more than mangel- wurz-
els or any other root crops, are equal to corn
as winter food for hogs, yet what we do say is
that when fed to growing hogs, along with corn,
either of such crops is better than all corn for
the complete development of the animal They
are the next best substitute for grass-the best
get in winter-and should be more ex-
tensvely raised. Not that when fed alone at
any season of the year they can be made to take
the place of corn, for they contain too little of
the fat and flesh forming constituents to make a
complete ration for the animal; but as winter
food for growing hogs they are grand adjuncts to
grain feed of any kind well a most excel
lent corrective Of the bowels The stomach of
pig under six months old has not the digestive
capacity to assimlate harmonious development
oe form. AS we'll might we expect yeasling
calves, wintered on straw, to develop into proper
FORM They may live on it and grow plenty of
paunch, and that is all; but there is not nutri-
ment enough in such food to keep up the animal
heat. without which there can be no complete de-
veopment of form. Like pigs confined to grass
or vegetable diet. there Is bulk enough and to
spare in food, but it is notcomposed of such con-
stituents as will meet the demands OF nature in
the full development OF the carcass.
On the other hand, pigs as well as calves. fed
on grass alone have their digestive organs so dis
arranged by the over production of fat as to pre-
vent the full development of the system We
saw such food is too heating, and 80 it is when fed
alone; but that is no reason why we should jump
at conclusions and denounce it while running
wild over pumpkins, mangel-wurzels or any
thing else. They both have their place in judi
cious feeding, and in the winter time, when there
is no grass to be had. stock require along with
their corn food something more succulent and
easy to digest To illustrate: A ton of corn in
the ear contains but 228 pounds of water and sos
pounds of heterogeneous, albuminous, and fatty
matter, while ton of pumpkins contains as
much as l, 800 pounds of the former and only %
pounds of the three latter. ton of oats
contains only 260 pounds of water and Clio
pounds of heterogeneous, albuminous, and fatty
matter, while ton of mangel- wurzeIs contains
Ito pounds of the former and only 80 pounds
of the three latter. 1t is evident, then, that we
cannot pro6tably feed pumpkins or mangel
wurzels alone. but their chief value is as COM
plement to grain food In other words, we can
not make fat and muscle as cheaply with pump
kins and mangels as with corn and oats. But as
corn is too heating and constipating a food when
fed by itself, and pumpkins and mangels too
washy, science and common sense both tell US
to feed enough of each if we would have com
piete ration. II is from such a source of feeling
that the best results come, whether for health
or profitable growth. Pumpkins may be planted
in the corn-feld as late as the lst of June, and
the yellow or cow pumpkin is the best for hogs