The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-08-10
FEED FOR G2oN|.lC t.GS
Exercise and Properly Proportioned
Ration important, as Well al
Sanitary Conditions.
(By F. G. King, Agricultural Expert
ment Station, University OF
Missouri.)

nize and follow certain basic princi-
pies in farming and stock raising.
These principles have been discov-
cred and demonstrated by investlga'
tors on agricultural subjects, until
they can be stated and discussed with
very certain degree Of accuracy
These facts are true especially IN
the case OF the brood SOW and her 1T
ter. The answers to list of Ques.
tions sent out to the most successful
hog raisers of the state, showed that
they recognized the principles that led
to success.
The brood SOW, as an example,
whether pregnant or sucking her
pigs, is called upon to manufacture
from common feeding stuff the bone
and muscle for her growing young.
In other words, she is a machlne
transforming one kind of material
into a substance OF the same material
but of entirely different form. IN
doing this, the machinery--her body
must be of the proper composition IN
order to furnish the finished product,
the pig. with the necessary food ele'
ments.
OF prime Importance to growing
pigs and all other growing animals, Is
the question OF bone and muscle-fcrM'
ing foods. For up TO the age OF four
months, the desire OF the raiser is TO
grow rather than to fatten the pig.
Only the food containing an abund'
ance of ASH can furnish the nutrients
required for the formation OF bone;
only foods containing an abundance
! of protein can furnish the nutrients
necessary for the formation of mus.
Gle So the growing animal mus
have a ration high in protein and
ash.
The fat and starchy feeds, and also
protein, are used for the ploiuctlon
of energy and heat and Tor laying on
fat. In other words, the ash and pro
,ein feeds are used for making ma
chinery and repairing old tissues
while the fats and starches are useI
for fuel to run the II. hinery and for
storage of energy in the form OF fat
AS the object of the breeder is to
grow rather than to fatten the pig or
pregnant SOW, the percentage OF f.:
forming feed should not be so great
as when the fattening period is
reached.
In addition to the question of food
nutrients which affect all growing an
imals, there are other factors affect
ing the food of the brood SOW, one OF
which is the laxative effect OF the
food given to the pregnant SOW. Not
only is she the provider of food. but
her body is the guardian and pro
tector of the unborn young. Any
cause that may result in disarrange-
ment of her body will probably re-
suit in death or serious injury to the
young A food that constipates
pregnant SOW will cause weak, sick
" litter. Not only must the food be
laxative, but the sow must take
enough exercise to insure the proper
passage from her body of all refuse
food material. This is such. an i'm
portant factor that it may mean the
success or failure of the litter. For
a SOW that can not have. during preg-
nancy, free passage of waste mat
ter. can not produce strong, healthy
litter.
The question of the bulk of the feed
is often of great importance, espe-
cially in the feeding of brood sows.
The appetite of an animal is not sat,
sfied until the stomach Is full. A
food that is very concentrated. such
as the grains, contains so much nutri-
tive value that feeding so as to satisfy
the hunger on such feeds results III
the brood SOW getting very fat. 1t is
not desirable to have this occur. The
only way to prevent it, and still sat
isfy the appetite of the SOW. is to feed
more bulky ration This is easil!
accomplished during the grass season
when pasture is available, but in win
ter it requires the feeding of more
than the very concentrated grains an
feeding stuffs.
The accompanying table of the com
position of the more common feeds
! on the farm represents the different
properties desired for feeding stock
I The muscle and bone forming ele
ments are represented by the protein
md ash contents, respectively, and
the energy and fat producing ele
ments by the starch and fat. The
bulk is represented by the fiber and
water content.