The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1918-05-31

Of Minnesota)
The market prospect for the 1918
pig crop is the most promising faced
by the swine industry in years For
the first time hog prices are to bear
direct ratio to the cost of corn ON
which that hog crop has been grown
and fattened. But the market is one
thing and getting the hogs ready to
sell is another. So far as is now
known feed is the only substance cap
able OF changing pig into finished
butcher hog. The securing Of suitable
hog feeds is rapidly becoming diff
cult problem in many parts of Min
nesota. Such feeds are conveniently
considered In three groups, viz, l,
Pastures; 2, Farm feeds, and 3, Com
mercial feeds.
Fortunately hog pastures are as
cheap and as plentiful as in former
years. At present grain prices their
Intelligent use means a net saving of
two to four cents on each pound of
pork produced. The first care then
is to provide ample pasture. But how.
ever excellent the forage, concen-
trates must be used with 1t IL the pigs
are to yield satisfactory returns. The
puzzle Is to supply the concentrates.
These will be either farm grown feeds
or commercial fesdstuffs (byproducts.)
New Feed Products Perplexins Prob.
lem.
1t is a perplexing proposition that
confronts the hog farmer. Wheat
feeds, his reliance for years, are prac-
tically off the market He can pur.
chase only by-products from the mill
ing of corn. barley and rye. The avail.
able materials are new to him and
worst of all there il lite or no stand
ardization Of product. A purchase to-
day may be very different from the
same feed bought q week ago. Corn
feed meal or hominy feed, barley feed.
barley screenings and rye middlings
are available. OF these, high grade
hominy feed is most satisfactory for
hogs. This quality sells around $4,000
per ton at the mills and costs the
farmer around $4,000 In most cases
sound corn at $175 per- bushel is a
better value than hominy at $4,000 per
ton. Practically all barley feed con-
tains the ground barley hulls and
runs very high in fibre, as much as
fifteen to eighteen per cent This
bulkiness combined with the fact that
hogs relish barley much less than
corn eliminates barley feed except
possibly certain proportion mixed
with corn or hominy feed. Rye mid
dlings have feeding value about
equal to corn-on-cob meal. They are
best used with some other grains.
Oil Meal Equals Barley As Feed.
In addition there are oil meal and
tankage. Pound for pound oil meal
is about equal to barley in feeding
value, though the one Is protein
feed and the other q starchy one. But
when protein feeds are cheaper 1t is
good practice to use them as largely
as the health and gains permit Oil
meal may be settled to pigs of any
age that are intended for market,
though better results are secured
where corn or hominy feed Is useS
with It. At $4,000 per ton oil meal is
a. cheap as any concentrate available
to many farms. Tankage is solely Q
high protein feed. During the present
summer market hogs will best pay
for its use only where corn or hominy
feed is literally used. Straight milk
or buttermilk is worth sixty cents
per hundred pounds in comparison
with tankass at one hundred dollars
per ton, both feeds delivered at the
pen.
At present the available farm
feeds are practically limited to
milk, corn and oats. Succotash
cannot be ground. The wheat
must be separated and sold, ieav.
Ing the oats for feed.
Corn at $1.75 per bushel costs $e2.6o
per ton. while 80 cent eats are equiv.
alent to $56.25 per ton. For market
hogs corn is worth the difference. At
these prices corn and oats are as eco
as any satisfactory CONNER.
cial food with which we are now fam.
iliar.
Buy Commercial Feeds In Car Lets.
Where farm feeds may be had they
are preferable. The average farmer 10
at disadvantage in buying CONNER
cial feeds. Where possible individu-
ais should pool orders to cover at |
least carload and buy direct from
the mill. Beware of jebbers whose re- |
liability Is not known.
Where strong cooperative organi-
zation exists use 1t. Farmers Elevator |
can render excellent serv- |
Ice too. The safest plan Is to buy on |
sample (not less than two pounds.) |
Secure guaranteed statement OF
chemical analysis. II the feed does
not prove satisfactory this gives one
more chance Of checking up on It ~ |
having an analysis made. |