The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-21

amount OIL grain, especially curing tne
first part of the period of pregnancy.
The hay used should be Of good quail
ity and especially fine in texture. Small
racks similar to those used for feeding
cattle are sometimes used, but many
farmers feed the hay in troughs or on
the floor and do not require the hogs
to clean up the coarse stems, but take
them out and use for bedding or feed for
other stock.
Where many horses are kept the best
possible plan is~to feed the hogs the
fine stems and heads with accumulate
in the bottoms of the hangers. This is
much better than the hay direct from
the stack. Common red clover will do
just as well in every way as alfalfa
when cured under similar conditions,
many claiming it is better.
Grinding alfalfa for hogs is not u.s.
ually good practice, and costs more
than is gained. Alfalfa is especially
good for brood sows, as it has plenty of
bulk and above all, because it contains
the protein and mineral matter neces-
sary for the proper development of the
litter without too great a tendency to
fatten.
| On ration of barley, which is some
times fed, the sow must have enough to
make her fat, sometimes too fat, in or
der to get enough portein and mineral
matter to properly develop the pigs.
Skim milk is another good feed for sows,
and should be fed about as literally as
the supply will admit.
Foods Are Compared.
In estimating the amounts required
for maintaining sows about l-2 to 3
pounds of milk or alfalfa will take the
place of one pound of grain. One quart
of milk weighs about two pounds, one
quart of wheat nearly two pounds, of
oats one pound, Of barley one and half
pounds.
While the estimate of one per cent of
the live weight per day is about as ac-
curate an average maintenance as can
be given, similar results will not be OBJ
tained in all cases, especially where hay
or milk of variable quality is substitut-
ed for the grain, and the ration will
therefore often need to be varied ac-
cording to the condition Of the sow.
Some people have great fear of ex-
cessive fat on brood SOW. This is a
mistake, for while sows may be injured
by excessive fat, great many more are
Injured by excessive leanness, and where
the sows are excessively fat the damage
more often comes through having been
fattened on feed with too much Of q
fattening tendency, and not enough
protein and mineral matter.
i The feeds which are unusually well
supplied with these elements are alfalfa
clover, vetch, peas, skim milk, shorts
tankage and kale. Of the grains, wheat
and oats have fair amount, while bar
ley is somewhat deficient Roots Of all
kinds, while having good influence
upon the digestive system and being in
many ways especially good for brood
sows, are not as good for building bone
and muscle as the other feeds mentioned
and when fed should be supplemented
with feed having an abundance OF pro
tein and mineral matter
Care should be taken that the sow il
not constipated. If there is tendency
in this direction give more laxative
food. Roots, kale, alfalfa and brar
have laxative tendency. Do not wait
! until the sow is about ready to farrov
J before seeing to her physical condition