Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-09-17
Winter Food for Swine.

Now, while we would not be under
stood as saying that pumpkins, any more
than mangel-wurtzels 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
auimal. They are the next best substitute
for grass-the best we can get in winter
and should be more extensively raised.
Not that when fl 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 fl sh forming constituents
to make complete ration for the animal;
but as winter food for growing hogs they
are grand adjunctS to grain feed of any
kind, as well as most excellent correct
i've of the bowels. The stomach of pig
under six months old has not the diges-
tive capacity to assimilate harmonious
development of form. AS we'll might we
expect yearling 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 nutriment
enough in such food to ksep up the ami
NAL heat, without which there can be no
complete development of form. Like
pigs confined to grass or vegetable diet
there is bulk enough and to spare in
food, but it is not composed of constitu-
ents that will meet the demands of nature
in the full development of the carcass.
On the other hand, pigs as we'll as
calves fed on grass alone have their d.
gestive organs so disarranged by the
reproduction of fat as to prevent the
full development of the system. We
say such food is too heating, and so 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-wui tzels, or ANYTHING
else. They both have their place in judi
cious feeding, and in the winter time,
when there is grass to be had, stock re,
quire along with their corn food some
thing more sucaulent and easy to digest.
/ To illustrate: A ton of corn in the ear
contains but 229 pounds of water and
668 pounds of nitrogeuous, albuminous,
and fatty matter, while a ton of pump
kins contains as much as !, $3.50 pounds
OF the former and only twenty. eight
pounds of the three latter. A ton of oats
contains 260 pounds of water and 61O
pounds of nitro enous, albuminous, and
fatty matter, while ton of mangel-
wurtzels contaies ITO pounds of the
former and only 80 pounds of the latter.
1t is evident, then, that we cannot prof
itably feed pumpkins or mangel- wurtzels
alone, but their chief value is as COM
| plement to grain food. In other words,
we cannot make fat and muscle as cheaply
with pumpkins 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 to-
washy, science and common sense both
tell US to feed enough of each if we would
have complete ration. 1t is from such
a course of feeding that the best results
come, whether for health OF profitable
growth. Pumpkins may be planted il
the cornfield as late as the first of June
and the yellow or COW pumpkin is thu
best for hogs. Baltimore San.