The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-05-25

number tor sale becomes smaller
producer.
A conservative policy is productive
of best results. 1t is feasible to ex
pand when conditions are on tn
mend and to contract when a breal
is in sight, but fairly even mum
Der of hogs adjusted to the condi
lions of the farm is the safer policy
The number of hogs fed on thu
farm should be governed largely b,
the feed raised, pasture available, an(
facilities for handling them. In mos
cases the feed for hogs should bt
grown on the farm where it is fed
The principal exception to this Ii
the dairy farm which produces lo
of skim milk for hog feeding.
Comparisons of Grains for Swine
The grain that is most commonly
fed to swine in the United States Ii
number two yellow corn. While Other
grades and colors of corn are useo
for this purpose, yellow corn has gen
orally been most popular. In Mon
tana, corn, barley, wheat and oats
are used for swine feeding.
Grades-Corn grown in this state
would probably average as high in
grade as number two, at least in good
seasons. Our information on the re
lation of grades of corn to the feed
ing value is rather limited.
Barley and oats vary considerably
in grade. While much of the barley
grown in Montana grades number
one and may commonly weigh over
SO pounds to the bushel, barley that
is grown in other parts of the coun-
try may weigh less than 40 pounds
per bushel. Similarly in the case OF
oats, Montana weights are often over
40 pounds per bushel while in the
corn belt the better grades do not
often weigh over 80 pounds.
There is little question of the re-
lation of feeding value to grades in
barley and oats. Therefore in any
study of their value for feeding hogs,
this factor must be taken into con-
sideration.
Barley and Corn.-In a trial con-
Quoted at this station, number one
six-row barley appeared to be slight
ly superior to number three yellow
corn when supplemented with low
grade tankage. In some trials con-
Quoted at other stations, six-row bar
ley appeared to be practically equal
to corn while in other trials the corn
was slightly more valuable when fed
with such supplement as tankage.
The grades of grain were not given
in the reports of these trials. The
tendency of the results seems to be
M he dos Nf CT r.
ley are practically equal to corn as
a feed for hogs when fed with sup
plement.
Hulless and Hull Barleys.-Among
the barleys the hulless varieties ap-
pear to be highest in feeding value
for hogs. In two trials at this sta
ton blue hulless (CuyMayle) barley
proved about nine per cent more
valuable for feeding swine than aver
age number one six-row barley. In
a third trial white Smyrna barley and
blue hulless barley gave practically
equal results. The white Smyrna
was exceptional in quality. A sup
plement was used in all cases.
When fed without supplement,
The best record which has ever been
obtained at the Montana station re-
suited from feeding blue hulless bar
ley in dry lot to pigs of an initial
weight of about so pounds and a final
weight of 205 pounds. The rate of
gain was 1853 pounds and the feed
per pound of gain was 3.76 pounds OF
blue hulless barley. Not every trial
will give such favorable results but
his one simply shows what can be
lone with thrifty pigs that take a
heavy feed right from the start. 1t
llso shows that when fed without
blue hulless barley
'anks very high among the grains.
Corn and Wheat.-Numerous trials
lave been made comparing corn and
wheat for feeding hogs. The average
If all results indicates that corn and
wheat are practically equal in feed
ng value.
Barley and Wheat. In turn, a
carefully conducted trial gave blue
lulless barley feeding value fully
equal to that of wheat when fed with |
supplement. Blue hulless barley
,ground) may therefore be rated as
equal to the best grains for feeding |
swine.
Oats.-Oats produced in the corn
)elt are not we'll adapted to feeding |
'attening hogs, apparently because of
heir bulk. Fairly good results are
by feeding mixture of two
% three parts of corn to one of oats, |
put even as small proportion as
his tends to result in an increased |
requirement of grain per pound of