Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-09

on grazing crops. The progressive
farmer long since found out that this
was the cheapest and most satisfac-
tory way In which 10 produce pork.
he realizes fully the desirability of
laying OF an area OF his farm and ie-
voting IL TO a succession OF crops
which would enable him 70 provicc
fresh. green food for his animals dur
Ing the greater part Of the year. A
majority OF farmers who are using
grazing crops. however. have not real
lied as fully as they should the i'm
portance OF feeding q small amount 70
animals which are maintained by this
method While green crops prove most
wholesome for hogs. and there is a
lessening OF sickness where animals
are maintained in the open and have to
exert themselves TO gather their liv-
ing. grazing crops do not as a rule
contain nutrients in a form sufficient
~ concentrated to supply the food re-
quired for the maintenance OF an ami
NAL and TO produce as rapid gains in
weight and in size as TO prove the
most economical Then. some grazing
crops are not well balanced. even
though they are in a rather mature
condition when the hogs are turned IN
them For this reason IL is essential
that more attention and consideration
be given TO those combinations OF
foods which can best be fed to hogs
maintained in the open field during the
summer season
The average farmer viii at once
conclude that corn is the most desir-
able amendment which he can add to
the ration. and. OF course. il is good.
On the other hand. when used by
itself. IL Is objectionable as il contains
too much OF the carbohydrates or fa--
tening elements. and not enough OF the
muscle and BODYBUILDING elements.
Young hogs which are being carried
through the summer on green crops
need to be especially well supplied
with foods rich in these two constitu-
ents; hence corn by itself is not the
best food TO use. In some instances, IL
vii be found more profitable from the
standpoint OF economy to substitute
bran and shorts. ship stuff and ,other
mill foods for corn. The farmer who
Is alive TO the situation viii compare
the food value and the cost OF these
materials and choose the cheapest ole
as the basis Of his ration.
The question then arises as to how
ne may supply the needed amount OF
protein in the most desirable form.
This can be done through the use cf
cotton seed meal The meal should in
no instance constitute more than one
nth OF the entire weight OF the grain
ration. and the farmer cannot AFFORD TO
guess at the amount OF meal or corn
20 mix He must weigh them care
rully and combine them with aeon
racy- The reason for this Is the fact
mat when cotton seed meal is proper
~ fed il is a most desirable adjunct
% the ration. but IL fed in excessive
amounts for prolonged periods OF time
20 hogs or young calves. may cause
death This is due to the fact that
the meal at times contains the salt
OF pyro-phosphoric acid which exerts
a poisonous influence on young animals
II ii is fed in too large amounts. Now
that the principle which proves de-
structive is known and hundreds OF
experiments have been made which
demonstrates the proper amount OF
meal to feed and the conditions under
which il should be associated with
other concentrates, the farmer neei
not hesitate to use this invaluable by
product. because IL supplies him with
cheaper protein than he can obtain
elsewhere and is one OF the indirect
oy-prOducts OF the farm
The advantages OF making a part of
the ration cotton seed meal are as fol-
lows: First OF all. IL supplies de-
hciencies which otherwise exist in an
exclusive ration Of corn II adds va
riety and palatability; IL will insure
more rapid and uniform growth and
development on the part Of the hogs and
the character Of the flesh viii be i'm
proved: that is. there viii be a better
blending OF the fat and iean-a most
important point. as all know who have
had experience in slaughtering hogs and
curing the meat theTefrom- When meal
Is added 20 the ration. the proportions
- = =
hered 10. The meal and the other
concentrates with which IL is NAKED
should then be made in 10 a rather thin
sl0p and allowed 70 ferment in sum
mer for about "a hours. and in winter
from as 10 ~ hours. 1t has been found
that feeding concentrates in the form OF
siop often results in larger gains. and
the fermenting process seems to Offset
in some way any injurious influences
which the meal might otherwise pro-
duce.
The ideal conditions under which TO
feed the meal would be in troughs
place din the grazing lots. These
should be kept clean and the surfeiting
OF the animals should be avoided. To
al the trOughs up, say once a day. and
leave the contents 10 ferment in the sun
and become contaminated by the pigs
getting into them. Is TO invite disease
and trouble. No doubt cotton seed meal
fed 10 hogs under unsanitary conditions
has often been blamed with results for
which IL was not responsible. Ordinar-
ily. hogs will be finished in from 90
70 10 days. One-fifth OF the ration OF
hogs on grazing crops may consist of
fermented cotton seed meal. 1t is best,
as a rule, not 10 feed the meal. however.
for more than 50 TO 90 days. II is now
q well established fact. however, that
where meal IS fed to animals on graz
ing crops. the tendency to injury is
less than under any other known condi-
tions. 1t IS believed by those who have
studied the question that the grazing
crops are somewhat laxative in char
acter. and that the vigorous exercise
which the animals OF necessity must
take keeps the system well toned up
and in a healthy condition.
Where cotton seed meal constitutes a
part OF the ration Of animals fed under
confinement. its use as a rule should
not be continued for more than sixty
days II is best not TO feed cotton seed
meal at all 70 very young pigs. say COM
mencing when the animals weigh about