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7. Beans seem to have more marked effect than corn in producing softness, and should not be used for finishing bacon hogs.”

25a

Barley and skim milk make the best combination for bacon production, and may be fed in the ratio of 1 to 3 or 1 to 5. These feeds will produce large gains and a good quality of meat; other valuable feeds are peas, linseed meal, fine-ground oats and tankage. Clover, alfalfa,or rape will furnish large and satisfactory returns in summer with barley, shorts, and a small amount of skim milk. Winter feeding is also practised where roots are available

either mangels or sugar beets; they should be supplemented by skim milk and barley or wheat, with some linseed meal or tankage.

Pig Clubs.—A very important educational work has been carried on during late years by the so-called Boys' and Girls' Pig Clubs for those ten years or more of age. These clubs first became of importance in southern States, but have gradually spread to other states where hog raising is an important industry. This work will doubtless become of increasing value to the livestock industry of our country as time goes on.

QUESTIONS 1. How do pigs rank in relation to other farm animals as producers of

human food ? 2. Give the average birth weight of pigs and average weekly gains up

to weaning. 3. State the average amount of feed eaten daily by pigs of different weights

and the feed per 100 pounds gain for pigs of different live weig!ts. 4. What, if any, is the advantage of grinding, cooking and soaking feed

for swine? 5. Describe the use of Indian corn in swine feeding. 6. How can swine be fed for fat and for lean? 7. Discuss briefly the value of dairy products and of pasture for swine

feeding 8. Give briefly the method of feeding fattening swine in different parts of

the country. 9. What is the difference in feed requirements per 100 pounds gain of

swine in summer and in winter? 10. Give Dietrich's maintenance requirement of digestible protein and

energy value for breeding pigs, and outline the method of feeding

recommended by him. 11. Describe the method of feeding swine for bacon production. 12. What feeds are especially adapted for this purpose ?

References: Day, “ Productive Swine Husbandry,” Philadelphia, 1915. Farmers' Bul. 205, “ Pig Management.” 438, “ Hog Horses.” 765, “Breeds of Swine." 864, Swine Management.”

Hog Pastures for the Southern States. 599, “ Pasture and Grain Crops for Hogs in the Pacific Northwest.” 411, “ Feeding Hogs in the South.” 614, Hogging Down Crops." 379, “ Hog Cholera.”

25a See the Boys' Pig Club Work in the Yearbook of the U. S. Dept. Agr., 1915, p. 173; U. S. Dept. Agr. Bul. 345; Farmers' Bul. 566; also Ill. Ext. Cir. 32; La. Cir. 2; N. C. Cir. 26.

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951,

CHAPTER XXVI

FEEDING SHEEP AND GOATS

Feeding Standards for Sheep.- The three following tables give the established feeding standards for sheep of different types and ages :

The Wolff-Lehmann Standards for Sheep, per 1000 Pounds Live Weight Daily

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* Given separately by Wolff-Lehmann. † Doubtless too high, making N. R. too narrow.

The Armsby Standards for Sheep, Maintenance Requirements, per Day and Head Growing Mutton Sheep, Estimated Requirements (Including

Live weight, pounds

Digestible
protein,
pounds

Energy
value,
therms

Live
weight,
pounds

Digestible
protein,
pounds

Energy
value,
therms

20 40 60 80

.013 .028 .039 .050

.30 .54 .71 .87

100
120
140

.055
.061
.072

1.00
1.13
1.25

Maintenance Requirements) per Head Daily

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Types of Sheep.-Sheep are kept for two more or less distinct purposes: For production of wool and for meat production. According to the particular breed kept, emphasis is laid on one or the other of these purposes. We have representatives of both kinds of sheep in this country (Figs. 87, 88, and 89): The range sheep, which are primarily wool producers, and the general farm sheep, “which should be considered, first of all, a producer of mutton and handled so that it will yield the chief source of income through its mutton lambs.”

The range areas devoted to sheep raising, like those used for cattle raising, are gradually diminishing with the settlement of western lands by the farmer, but they still furnish our main supply of sheep. The numbers of sheep on farms or ranges in this country have diminished with each decade from 1880 to 1910, while our population increased over 80 per cent during the same period, from 50,000,000 people in 1880 to 92,000,000 in 1910. There has also been a gradual decrease in sheep kept on farms in the eastern and northern States. Sheep raising in these States and on western farms, on land adapted to the production of early lambs and fattening of mature sheep, seems likely, however, to be of increasing importance in the future, as the demand for good mutton increases and prices advance, as they are bound to do, with our rapidlyincreasing population and the decreasing ratio of farm animals to population. The primary conditions for success with sheep, as with other farm animals, lie, first, in keeping animals that are adapted for the purpose in view, preferably pure-breds, or sired by a pure-bred ram; and, second, the feeding and caring for these so as to obtain the best results possible under the special conditions surrounding each flock.

Sheep are primarily grazing animals; they serve a special purpose on the farm by being able to utilize feed that is not adapted to, or cannot be used by, other classes of farm animals; stubble fields, volunteer growth, pasturage and, especially, aftermath that is too

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FIG. 87.-Pure-bred flock of mutton sheep at the Morgan Horse Farm, Middlebury, Vermont. (U. S. Department of Agriculture.)

scant to make it worth while to pasture cattle or horses thereon, will often furnish abundant feed for sheep. Their ability to keep weeds in check on farm lands is also important. According to Craig, cattle and horses eat about 50 per cent of the numerous plants regarded as weeds, while the proportion eaten by sheep is over 90 per cent. A single sheep does not destroy a whole plant at one time,

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Fig. 89.-A good type of mutton sheep. (Pacific Rural Press.)

but, moving as they graze, each sheep nibbles a few leaves in passing, and when the flock has passed the plant is defoliated. Sheep are, therefore, economical feeders if need be, but they also respond better than the larger farm animals to intensive feeding, and will give quicker returns for the investment for stock and equipment than the larger ones. A daily gain in weight of a quarter of à pound to one-half pound is not excessive for sheep weighing 100 pounds, while a 1000 pound steer will not be likely to gain more than

Sheep Farming,” p. 7.

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