The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-02-13
lamb easily succumbs to cold.-Cor.
Epitomist.
FEEDING SLOP TO HOGS.
Practical Suggestions in Resps1se
to q Writer'S Queries On
the Subject.

A writer in an exchange wishes
that someone would invent a cheap
way to mix slop. He speaks of having
ITS hogs on his farm to care for this
winter, when feed is high. Now if he
puts slop for these in a barrel or
tank, mixing it in that way before he
gives it to them, I do not wonder that
he wishes for cheap mixer. He also
finds V trough a wasteful one. The
use of this trough have in the main
discarded on account of the waste
from it.
I find after many years experience
in handling slop that the pig is the
best and cheapest mixer. But tho
mixing by the pig can not be done in
a V-shaped trough without too much
waste.
The right kind of a trough for this
is one with fat bottom. Ten inch.
es wide is about right, with the
sides four inches above the bottom of
the trough, making them any desired
length. 1 have them from three to
twelve feet long; six to eight is long
enough, as they are easier to handle.
For ease and convenience in doing
the work, the pigs or hogs should be
fastened out of the lot while the feed
is being prepared in the troughs.
The troughs should be as nearly level
as possible before the feed is put in.
Put in the amount of dry feed re,
uired and the pour over it about an
"a lit
and dairy wastes. Then open the
gates and let the pigs to the troughs.
If hearty and properly fed they will
make no quarrel with their owner
because he has not mixed more Ia
Dor with the slop. They do the mix
ing in an earnest and rapid manner
and waste little if any feed. With
the feed in V trough very much Of
it will be worked over the sides of
the trough and lost. I do not know
any way that the labor of preparing
slop can be reduced below this, nor
do know any way to prepare it that
will make it more acceptable to them.
If the troughs are placed on clean
place-a floor or clean straw or corn
stalks under them-and with the feed
lots well covered with straw and
stalks there is no need or reason who
the slop troughs should become
filthy. During winter or doubtful
weather the trough should be turned
upside down after feeding, then they
will not have to be emptied of waite:
or snow.
Taken all together, it is safe esti-
mate to make that no protection
against the changing weather adds
25 per cent. to the cost of feed. Pro-
lection cuts down the cost of feed.
How to keep up growth and shorten
the feed expense should be the lead
ing point this winter. At the same
| time it is well to remember that
just sustaining the animal without
gain is a throwing away Of the feed
given. Sometimes hogs will not come
| to their feed promptly because tho
feeding grounds are exposed to driv-
ing winds. 1t is well to remember
that pig is very sensitive to the
| changes of the weather, and avoids
VI "1hAo as MUM as SuIA NC,
| hence it is the part of a careful
| farmer or herdsman to prepare wind
breaks as a profitable protection
against the weather. If there is no
draft between their sleeping quar-
ters and feeding grounds they will
| come to feed much more promptly
and not squeal with cold while eat
| ing. The lot the writer will use this
| winter is protected on the west side
by a long shed, on the north and
east by fodder ricks. Their small
houses will be placed in this lot
few steps from where they will be
stopped and fed.
| By this arrangements there will
seldom be day that they will be
slow about coming out of their
houses because they feel hard blasts
of wind. There is, besides the econ
omy in this, the satisfaction in
knowing that have tried to make
the animals comfortable, and added
much to my own comfort in doing it.
Cor. Stockman and Farmer.