Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-08-02
WHEAT N HOGS.
A Few Good Ideas With Reference
to Feeding Wheat.

Mr. Editor: Insomuch as there is
considerable discussion going on at
y~resent with regard to feeding wheat
to hogs, I am inclined to think the re-
suit of the experiments made at
Brookings, under the supervision of
experts, would be of interest to the
many readers of your valuable paper:
Hogs, averaSings 10olb in weight,
can be purchased near September at
$50 per hundred live weight, feed
three months on nothing but wheat,
water, ashes and salt, and an occas-
ional handful of hay or corr fodder,
81. so per hundred dressed: and will
wheat consumed, without allowing
ANYTHING for manure, or labor in car
ing for hogs.
at present prices wheat can be
profitable fed rs an entire ration, but
it would undoubtedly pay better to
| mix it with some other food, particu-
lar during the early stage of fattening.
Hogs fed on ground wheat made Il
more rapid and uniform gain, and pro-
duced pork of rather nicer gu; lit,;
but they also consumed more food
than those fed upon whole wheat.
Those fed ground wheat require 4.s1
pounds OF wheat to produce one pound
of gain, while those fed whole wheat
require 4.9l pounds to make the same
gain. Ground wheat brought $3.50
cents per bushel, while that fed whole
brought $3.50 cents per bushel, a diff
ference OF only 2.56 cents per bushel.
! This would hardly pay for grinding,
but considering the better quality OF
the pork aud greater weight, it would
probably pay to grind, il it could be
done without much extra cost.
Ground wheat brought So. 80 cents,
whole wheat $3.50 cents, peas $3.50
cents, and corn 60 cents per bushel, on
an average, for all the grain consumed
during the entire experiment, continu-
ing for 80 days. Hogs fed on peas did
much better, in proportion, during the
first part OF the experiment than they
did during the latter part, which would
indicate that peas are not as good for
a complete ration for a long period as
wheat OF cOrn
The quality of the pork made from
corn and gronud wheat was about
equal, and was superior to that made
from whole wheat, peas or mixed food.
That made from mixed food was the
fattest.
The average daily gain Of hogs fed
on peas was 1.21 pounds, on whole
wheat 1.12 pounds, on ground corn
lao pounds, on ground wheat 1.3l
pounds; and on mixed food 1.6l
pounds.
This question was not settled, but
was very plainly demonstrated that Il
considerable larger return per bushel
for food consumed would have been
realized II the hogs had been sold at
tine end Of the second period October
2S,. This was particularly true OF Lot
1, fed on peas. The decrease in rate
OF grain in proportion to food con.
sumption for those fed cornmeal aud
wheat was no greater than could be
accounted for by the natural result oil
increased weight and age.
Better results would undoubtedly
have been obtained il the change fol-
mixed food AMI plenty OF exercise to
close confinement and a single article
OF food, to which they were not accus
toned, had been made gradually; as
the number OF pounds Of food required
for a pound OF gain was greater dur
ing the first period than during the
second, whereas, it should have beer
less.