The Arizona sentinel., 1888-02-18
FOODS FOR HOGS.
Results of An Experiment Made at the
 Illinois College of Agriculture.

Illinois College of Agriculture.
 Bulletin No. 4 of the College of Az
 riculture of th, University of Illinois,
 IS record of experiments conducted
 by Thomas F. Hunt. Experiment No.
 l was to determine the value of skim milk-as compared with corn meal, and
 the value of shcllcd corn as compared
 with corn meal. After detailing the
 experiment Mr Hunt says: It appears
 that under favorable conditions, it re-
 quireS 10 10 15 pounds of skim-milk to
 prt drce one pound of increase; that
 from 24to.53 pounds of sllin'-miIk are
 equivalent 10 one Oand of corn meal;
 that the best results are obtained
 whc'e the amounts of milk and corn
 meal used arc about in the ratio of ? 10 1; and that when the price of corn is 30 cents or less per busheL skim nik can not be economically fed to fattening hogs. except where it is a waste product which can no. be util- ized in feeding young animals.
 Comparing the lots fed corn meal with those fed shcllcd corn. it was found that about 1O1 pounds of in- crease were produced by bushcl of corn; about 10 pounds by bushel of corn meal. The greater cost of food per 100 pounds of increase from corn meal prac:ically 2S cents) was main. ly due 10 the cost of grinding. The hog raiser considers a difference of 2S cents per 100 pounds an important matter in. selling. a bunch of hogs. The sametliflerence in the cost of produc- ton is more easily within hisicontroI. Looked at from all sides these trials indicate that when fed dry whole corn produces better results thanE corn meal. These gains were made during1 the very variable and sometimes severe weather of January and Feb, ruary, and the food consumed-cOrn only, be it rrmcmbered-cost on an average ofS2 45 per 100 pounds of in- crcaso5ands the hogs sold at Che close of the trial for s per cwt, leaving handsome margin of profit besides the increased value of the hogs per pound during the feeding.
 Inc oft-repcated statement that corn
 alone is not the best food, or even fit fool upon which to fatten hogs, led to trial of oats in connecticut with corn, these being generally the p ost :Sai'1bie foods 10 hog-raiscrs during the winter. Hngs fed corn meal and ground oats mixed in equal parts produced 100 pounds gain at cost of s 20. This compared with corn meitl atTS2 5S per 100 pounds of increase, makes the mixed food cost $1.32 more fer inc same amount. When corn is worth .2S cents per bushe! ,Eodt S sfedEin9 this way to fatten- ing hogs are worth but 10 cents per bushe. A bushcl of corn produced nearly as much pork as three bushels of oa's.
 Eur small pigs averaging 15l pounds in weight and four to six weeks old, I were given as a preliminary 1sation as much corn -meaf and milk as they would consume without waste for two weeks They were then separated into two lots of two each tor two weeks. Ohe lot weighed fl pounds and were fed-all the skim-milk they would drink, which was , pounds per day. They made no gain. The other lot were fed all the corn meal and skim-milk they cared for. They consumed 42 pounds of skim-milk 6 pounds per day) and 37 pounds of corn meal gain ing 13! pounds. They were again placed together and fed the same food for eight weeks. During this period they altogether consume 344 pounds of corn meal and 336 pounds of skim milk, the milk be- ing discontinued the last two weeks. Those which had previously been on skim milk diet for two weeks gained | 39 pounds, while those which had been fed corn meal with milk all the time, | gain,d d Fl pounds, or 32 pounds in favor of inc latter This simple ex- perimc mt shows that little cause may produce serious results, and that con- ,inuous good feeding is necessary 10 keep the growing animal in condi- ion to make the most of foods which nay be given it in the future. Prairfe Farmer.