The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1915-09-10
new CORN FEEDING
BAD, SAYS EXPERT
McWilliams, County Farm ADJ
wiser, Suggests That Feeders
Use Caution.

BY c. NJ. McWilliams, County Agent.
A large number of farmers are feed
ing new corn to all classes of live
stock; the practice is a good one be-
cause new corn is much relished by
animals and because of it's palatability
and soft condition it is a good fatten-
ing food. In addition to the above it
is particularly necessary this season
because of the scarcity and high price
of old corn.
Some danger attends the use of new
and more or less immature corn unless
caution is used in starting the animals
on feed. This is especially true of
hogs and a few cases of trouble have
already been reported. 1t is a mis-
take to give hogs all they want or
anything like full feed at first. They
should be started very gradually. A
! good way is to cut one or two stalks
for each hog the first day and increase
the amount slowly for week or ten
days until they are receiving the de-
sired amount A little old corn added
to the ration is beneficial, especially
on the start. There is nothing poison
Gus about new corn but bad results
would follow from any feed if animals
unaccustomed to grain or least very
little of it were suddenly permitted to
eat all they cared for. This is espe-
cially true in the case of feeds as pal
atable as new corn is.
After hogs are once fairly started
they may be turned in a cOrnfield with
practically no danger of loss. Hog
ging down corn is a very successful
practice and this year it is to be rec
commended because considerable pOr
ton of the corn crop was blown down
and damaged by recent storms. A
small number of the hogs should be
turned in a large field. They often
waste too much to be economical har-
vesters. From ten to fifteen hogs per
acre is a very good number. They may
be allowed to clean up one patch and
then turned into another field. 1t is a
simple matter to divide a corn field
conveniently by stretching woven wire
through it as desired. SOws and pigs
may be used to clean up after fatten-
ing hogs.
It has often been said that hog chOl-
era was caused by feeding new corn.
1t is true that the disease often ap-
pears about that time, however, the
condition is due to the state the syS-
TENS of the animals are in rather than
to any other cause. Very frequently
the sickness is not cholera, much is
nothing more than overlooking as
stated in preceding paragraph. Chol-
era is not caused by anything except
the germs of the disease. 1t must be
remembered though that hogs tina:
have Just been started on new corn are
in no condition to withstand the dis
ease.
Because of this it is imperative that
: the hogs be closely watched and any
/ signs of trouble promptly noted and
prompt measures resorted to if the oc-
t casion warrants. Probably about as
good conditioner for hogs, and one
f that has been widely used and given
: satisfaction is what is known as the
Government Hog Remedy" 1t con,
: sists of sulphur, charcoal, salt, sodium
bicarbonate, sodium hyposulphite, anC
n black anthony. The prescription was
originally prepared by Government
It veterinarian and has been largely useC
the last few years by hog raisers. Tht
l. prescription has been published in thi!
IS paper several times. 1t may be pur
chased in small lots at drug stores fo