Connecticut western news., 1893-11-02
FEEDING WHEAT TO STOCK.

Expert Opinions on Methods of Feeding It
 to Hogs and Sheep.
 Professor Henry writes in The Breed CTS Gazette:
 Reports in the daily papers state that Ohio farmers are feeding wheat and making 20 pounds of pork from bushel that is, three pounds of feed make a pound of gain, live weight. While such gains may be had for a week or two the feeder must not expect more than a pound with lean shoats from about four pounds of wheat, or say 15 pounds of pork from bushel of wheat when fed 70 shosts that have been running on pas .ure and are not too fat nor the fatten- ing period too long continued, for the last f-w weeks of the fattening period show very marked increase in the amount of feed for pound of pork.
 Allowing 15 pounds of pork for a 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 injures its four ing qualities, but not necessarily its feed ing value.
 But should not feed the wheat by it. self. It will pay much better to dilute it with soaked corn or cornmeal and little shorts. Wheat flour in itself makes a pasty mass in the mouth of the ami nal, which can be remedied by using cornmeal and shorts or even a little bran. Two parts wheat, with two parts corn and one part shorts by weight, will 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 a coarse meal and will then not be so sticky. This feed given to thrifty shoats that have grown a 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 a 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 8 rise in the market. Personally I believe wheat will go higher, but will 1t not pay to feed poor and in some cases even good wheat
 
 time, feed and get ready money, which is quite an object just now with many? It 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 80 long as there is more money in feeding than in selling2
 Where farmer has little wheat that he does not care to sell and does not wish to take 1t to the mill for grinding it can be boiled in large kettle, and a little of this boiled wheat given to shoats or, young pigs will pay double, I 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 it can be fed to better ad- vantage If it is soaked long enough to soften the grains thoroughly. The ob- jection to feeding it without soaking is that it 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 12 hours, and 24 would not be too much. Use two bar rels, and as fast as one Is fed out fill 1t 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 1t thoroughly. It is best to begin feeding with a light ration and gradually in- crease until they are given all that they will eat up clean at each meal. With all kinds of 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. It is better, however, to feed in shallow troughs.
 Another good way of feeding wheat to hogs is to grind it coarse and then make 1t into slop with milk if it can be had, or with water if milk cannot be secured. Fattening hogs can be given all that thsy will eat of this, and if thrifty and given comfortable quarters and plenty of pure water will fatten very rapidly.