Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-08-12
Mineral Matter for Hogs.

eAoW.ue VI sWiuo ID providing Ln(
animals with q plentiful supply OF min
erai matter. This is especially true
during the winter season when the hog,
40 not have access to green vegetation
out are fed chiefly on fat making feeds
such as corn, which are lacking in the
necessary mineral elements. Hogs ths,
are led principally on fat making feeds
during the growing period and are moi
supplied with mineral matter never
make as rapid growth nor become as big
as hogs that are otherwise fed. Be.
cause of the lack of mineral matter in
their feed their bones are small and
weak and they often get "down in the
back" on account OF the weakness
Breeding hogs that receive insufficient
mineral elements in their feed always
have weak reproductive system and
their pigs are weak and few in number.
Oats, bran, oil meal. digester tankage,
milk, etc, contain mineral matter and
when such feeds are largely fed it is not
difficult matter to keep up bone and
stamina in hogs, but I have always
found 1t good plan to keep mineral
substances In reach OF the hogs at all
times no matter what kind of feed is
used. Charcoal, ashes, salt, lime, etc.,
provide mineral matter. Charcoal alone
is q good intestinal disinfectant. Good
charcoal can be made from almost any
kind OF wood but the common willow is
perhaps best for the purpose. Corn
cobs make a fine quality of charcoal
provided they are chsrred properly. A
pit or kiln is necessary. This is easy to
make by digging hole in the ground.
the size depending on the amount of
charcoal desired. Some farmers do not
think q pit necessary, prefering to bank
the fire up with dirt. However, in my
experience with both methods I much
prefer the use of pit.
My charcoal burning pit is six feet
deep and four feet across the top. Di-
rectly over the top place heavy piece
OF sheet iron, which is covered over with
earth during the process Of cbarring to
prevent the escape of air. In charring
| start fire in the bottom and center
of the pit and on this add cobs slowly
until the fire is drawn gradually to the
top of the pile, then place on the iron
cover and layer of earth. A good iron
cover can be secured from almost any
junk dealer or good substitute can be
made by fsttening out a section OF q
worn-out boiler or pieces of metal roof
ing may be used. After the mass has
smouldered for about II hours remove
the cobs and spread them out to prevent
the possibility of after combustion and
burning to ashes.
keep the charcoal In reach of the
hogs at all times. With the charcoal
mix q little salt and air Stacked lime
and keep the mixture in shallow box
which is placed in an easily accessible
part of the hog house where it is always
kept dry. The hogs eat the mixture as
their system demands 1t and never con-
sumo too much of it. Throughout a
large portion of the country slack coal
is obtainable and is excellent in provid-
ing mineral matter. The hogs relish 1t,
which ia the best indication that 1t an
swers an important purpose. One OF
the best ways of feeding slack is simply
to construct a sort of self-feeder that
will hold 100 or 200 pounds and allow
the hogs to have access to it at will. 1t
is we'll to mix about gallon of salt with
every 100 pounds of slack that is put In
the feeder. A very good mixture can
be made by using one.third wood ashes,
one-third salt, and one-third air Stacked
lime, by weight, using about eight
pounds of each ingredient to 100 pounds
of coal slack.
have no hesitation in saying that If
the above mentioned directions are fol-
lowed In the feeding of hogs 1t will save
much loss from disease and will con-
tribute materially to more rapid gains.
not only recommend it on the ground
that have found it to be an exceedingly
good practice to feed mineral matter in
the ways above named but because the
successful swine growers of my scqusint-
ance adopt this practice with very salts
factory results.-A. o. Choate in Hosrd's 8
Dsiryman.