The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-10-26
FEEDING WHEAT TO STOCK.
Expert Opinions on Methods Of Feeding II
to Hogs and Sheep.


Expert Opinions on Methods Of Feeding II
to Hogs and Sheep.
Professor Henry writes in The Breed
er's Gazette:
Reports in the daily papers state that
Ohio farmers are feeding wheat ard
making 20 pounds Of pork from bushel
that Is, three pounds OF feed make .
pound OF gain, live weight. While such
gains may be had for week OF. two the
feeder must not expect more than
pound with lean shoats from about four
pounds Of wheat, or say Is pounds Of
pork from bushel Of wheat when fed
to shoats that have been running on pas
ture and are not too fat nor the fatten-
ing period too long continued, for the
last few weeks Of the fattening period
show very marked increase in the
amount of feed for pound Of pork.
Allowing 10 pounds Of pork for
bushel Of wheat it will be seen that at
present prices farmers can well afford to
feed even merchantable wheat. This
true, there is evidently more profit still In
feeding wheat that is rejected because Of
some slight fault which Injuries It's four
ing qualities, but not necessarily Its feed.
ing value.
But should not feed the wheat by it.
self. 1t will pay much better 10 dilute
1t with soaked corn or cornmeal and a
little shorts. Wheat -four in itself makes
a pasty mass in the mouth Of the ami
NAL, which can be remedied by using
cornmeal and shorts or even q little
bran. Two parts wheat, with two parts
corn and one part shorts by weight, viii
prove the very best feed for young pigs
and shoats. For fattening hogs, use half
cornmeal and half wheat. The wheat
may be ground into coarse meal and
will then not be so sticky. This feed
given TO thrifty shoats that have grown
good frame on pasture, with a large,
healthy, digestive tract, should give
splendid hogs, carrying the best of pork.
Doubtless just at this time there are
good many farmers who are waiting for
the corn crop to ripen in order to fatten
their hogs. Some Of these same farmers
may have wheat in bins which Is not Of
the best quality, waiting for rise in
the market, Personally believe wheat
will go higher. but will it not pay to feed
poor and in some cases even good wheat
to hogs in order TO hurry them off, save
time. feed and get ready money, which
Is quite an object just now with many?
Il may seem little strange to feed
wheat to hogs. but there has been more
wheat offered the last few years than
the markets of the world would buy,
and why take second thought on that
side 30 long as there is more money in
feeding than in selling?
Where farmer has little wheat that
he does not care to sell and does not
wish to take it to the mill for grinding
1t can be boiled in large kettle, and
little Of this boiled wheat given to shoats
or young pigs will pay double, 1 believe.
what the miller will give for the wheat,
in the way If helping the animals on in
growth or flesh.
A correspondent of the st. Louis Re-
public says of feeding wheat to hogs and
sheep:
Wheat is very low in price now, and
there is no question but that in many
cases it can be fed with good results.
This is especially the case when feeding
hogs or sheep to fatten. Under present
conditions higher price can be realized
by feeding the wheat to vigorous, thrifty
hogs or sheep and then selling in this
way than by selling the grains.
With hogs II can be fed TO better ad-
vantage IL it is soaked long enough to
soften the grains thoroughly. The OBJ
lection to feeding 1t without soaking Ia
that 1t is naturally hard grain, and
being small more or less of it will be
swallowed without being properly mas
ticated, and the consequence is that
more or less of it will not be digested,
and of course this is waste.
Wheat. before it is fed to hogs, should
be soaked at least 10 or 10 hours. and "a
would not be too much. Use two bar.
rels, and as fast as one Is fed out fill IL
up and put to soak while the other Is be-
ing fed.
In putting to soak use plenty of wa
ter. The grain swells very much, and
plenty of water is needed to soften il
thoroughly. 1t is best to begin feeding
with light ration and gradually in
crease until they are given all that they
will eat up clean at each meal With
all kinds IF stock it is comparatively
easy to overfeed at the start, and 1t will
require some time entirely to recover
from the effect. The better plan is to
bring them to full feed gradually, and
then, once on full rations, to crowd as
much as possible. With sheep there is
no special advantage in soaking the
wheat. 1t is better, however, to feed in
shallow troughs.
Another good way of feeding wheat to
hogs is to grind 1t coarse and then make
it into q slop with milk If it can be Lad.
or with water II milk cannot be secured.
Fattening hogs can " yiyen ell thcss
they will eat of this, and IL thrifty aud
given comfortable quarters. and plenty
Of pure water will fatten very rapidly.