OCR Text |
Show Improve Peanut Ration for Hogs Value of Tankage Studied in Series of Tests Made at Belcsville. (Prepared by the r'nitod stntejt Deportment of Asrlcullure.) Feanuts are used to a considerable extent in hog feeding in the peanut-growing peanut-growing areas of the United States, says the United States Department of Agriculture, and are usually fed alone or with mineral supplements only. The efficiency of peanuts for growing pigs is very materially increased, however, how-ever, according to the department, when tankage is included in the ration ra-tion as a protein supplement. Tests at Beltcville. This conclusion is the result of a series of feeding tests recently completed com-pleted at P.eltsville. Md.. by O. 01. Han-kins Han-kins and J. H. Zeller, of the animal husbandry division of the bureau of animal Industry, and conducted in connection con-nection with the study of peanuts in the soft-pork problem. Because many young pigs are commonly com-monly fed peanuts without protein supplements, the question arose as to whether the prevailing method of feeding was producing the best possible pos-sible results. Three experiments were undertaken in which different rations were compared. In the first experiment, experi-ment, the investigators fed two lots of pigs shelled peanuts and minerals, one lot with tankage and the other without. In the second experiment the rations were the same as in the first except that the peanuts were impelled. im-pelled. The third experiment was .Similar to the second except for a change in minerals. The results are noteworthy in showing show-ing the value of tankage as a supplement supple-ment to peanuts and minerals in the ration for young pigs, and are discussed dis-cussed in Technical Bulletin 110-T, entitled en-titled "Correcting the Inefficiency of Peanuts for Growth in Pigs," just issued is-sued by the United States Department of Agriculture. Results Summarized. As an average of all the experiments, experi-ments, say the authors in summarizing summariz-ing the results, the feed cost of 100 pounds of gain, not including minerals, was $9.'.V2 for the tankage-fed pigs and $17.80 when no tankage was fed. The cost of the minerals did not exceed ex-ceed "5 cents per 100 pounds gain for either group. The results also show that peanuts with only mineral supplements are not efficient for pigs in the early stages of growth. The addition of tankage more than doubled the daily gain of the pigs in the experiments. The amount of each nutrient consumed con-sumed per unit of gain was also much less for the tankage-fed pigs than for those not receiving tankage. A copy of the bulletin may be obtained ob-tained free as long as the supply lasts, by writing to the office of information, informa-tion, United States Department af Agriculture. Ag-riculture. Washington, D. C. |