THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
17
MINERALS FOR DEVELOPING BREEDING GILTS ON
PASTURES
BY JOHN M. EVVARD, C. C. CULBERTSON, AND W. E. HAMMOND
Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station
To develop the prospective breeding gilts in the most economical and effective fashion is a consummation fervently wished
by the progressive swine breeder and farmer. His aim is to
keep down the feed costs, to lessen the feed required for 100
pounds of gain, to promote maximum and well-balanced growth,
to develop good substantial bone, and to conserve the health.
In truth, the outstanding ideals that the idealist holds steadfastly in mind when selecting and developing the prospective
breeding herd of gilts are to encourage the normal, vigorous,
and dependable unfolding of the breeding potentialities.
The relative values of different pastures, commonly pressed
into the swine-growing service for the grazing of the young
gilt pigs of spring farrow in their first summer, is of immediate
importance. This test covers a comparison of the forages bluegrass, alfalfa, red clover, alsike, hubam or annual sweet clover,
and dwarf essex rape, in two comparable series, the one with
a fairly complete mineral mixture, and the other without added
minerals.
The feeds used were the same throughout and t h e manner
and method of feeding were identical in all lots. The basal
ration allowed was shelled corn, mixed, dry, limited to a 3 per
cent allowance, hand-fed morning feed, plus three-tenths pound
daily per pig of dry meat-meal tankage of the "60 per cent prorein and 15 per cent minerals" grade, hand-fed dry at the evening
feed, plus whole oats, dry, self-fed. All odd-numbered lots received this ration, nothing else excepting their respective pastures and water. The even-numbered lots received not only the
above ration but also one-third of an ounce of the so-called fairly
complete mineral mixture, hand-fed, evening feed, with the
meat-meal tankage; in addition, the same mixture was allowed
in a self-feeder.
The reason for self-feeding the mineral mixture was to
18
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
insure that the appetite of the pigs for minerals was satisfied.
If the hand-fed allowance was not enough we presumed the
possibility of the pigs satisfying their f u r t h e r wants at said
self-feeder. Developments later showed that all the lots, but
more especially the one on bluegrass, went to the mineral feeders
to obtain more minerals. Why?
There are 12 lots in all, 6 on pastures without minerals,
and 6 on the corresponding pastures with minerals. Six pastures of different kinds were represented, with 2 lots grazed
on each kind.
In order to get a line on the growth of the bodies of these
experimental pigs, they were measured at the beginning of the
trial and again at the end of the forage season after 168 days of
feeding, the measurements taken being three: Length of body
(ears to tail root) ; height at shoulder; and circumference of the
fore shin.
To make the allotment and rations fed clearer, the following
boiled down but detailed summary is to the point : u
Rations and Mineral Mixtures Fed
Lot I.--1 N-Bluegrass.---Shelled corn limited to a three per
cent ration hand-fed morning feed plus 0.3 pound meat-meal
tankage per pig daily, handed dry evening feed plus whole oats
self-fed.
Lot II.--1 S-Bluegrass.---Same as Lot I with the exception
that a mineral mixture* was hand-fed evening feed with the
meat-meal tankage at the rate of one-third ounce per gilt daily.
Same mineral mixture was self-fed in addition, beginning
eleventh day.
Lot III.--Z N-Alfalfa.mSame as Lot 1 with the exception
that the forage was alfalfa.
Lot IV.---2 S-Alfalfa.mSame as Lot II with the exception
that the forage was alfalfa.
Lot V.--$ N-Red clover.---Same as Lot I with the exception
that the forage was red clover.
* The fairly complete mineral
spent bone-black 25 pounds, w o o d
tated chalk) 10 pounds, Glauber's
p o t a s s i u m iodid 0.3 pounds ; total
mixture w a s the s a m e in all lots, namely, salt 30 pounds,
a s h e s 12 pounds, sulphur 10 pounds, limestone (precipisalt 5.7 pounds, Epsom salt 5 pounds, copperas 2 pounds,
100 pounds.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
19
Lot V I . - - 4 S-Red d o v e r . - - S a m e as Lot II with the exception that the forage was red clover.
Lot V I I . - - 5 N-Alsike clover.--Same as Lot I with the exception that the forage was alsike clover.
Lot V I I I . w 5 S-Alsike clover.--Same as Lot II with the exception that the forage was alsike clover.
Lot IX.---6 N-Annual sweet clover.--Same as Lot I with the
exception that the forage was annual sweet clover.
Lot X . - - 6 S-AnnuM sweet clover.--Same as Lot II with the
exception that the forage was annual sweet clover.
Lot XI.--IO N-Rape.--Same as Lot I with the exception
that the forage was rape.
Lot X I I . - - / 0 S-Rape.--Same as Lot II with the exception
that the forage was rape.
Results of the Feeding
In Table I is given the weights, gains, feed consumed, and
feed requirement, showing some practical suggestive results for
the breeder for developing breeding gilts receiving meat-meal
tankage, corn, and oats on different p a s t u r e s . . T h e gilts were
fed on pasture June 21 to December 6, 1921--168 days, 5 gilts in
a lot--averaging about 53 pounds at start.
T x ~
Lot
No.
I . - - R e ~ l t s of feeding gilts on variou~ pastures.
fed basal ration w i t h and wi~hou~ minerals.
Particular
feed
designation
I BI uegra~ .....
Average
final
Average
weight
per pig
gain
~per pig
daily
P~und~
Pound.~
198
,86
Feeds
and
minerals u s e d
Shelled ~ u r n . . . . .
Whole oats . . . . . .
Tankage .........
Total .......
II Bluegrass with
minerals . . . . .
203
.90
Shelled corn . . . . .
Whole oats . . . . . .
Tankage . . . . . . . . .
Minerals H . F . . . . .
Mineral8 S. F . . . . .
Total .......
III Alfalfa . . . . . . . .
213
,96
Shelled corn . . . . .
Whole oats . . . . . .
Tankage . . . . . . . . .
Total .......
All lots
Average F e e d r e d a i l y f e e d q u i r e d for
eaten per 1 0 0 p o u n d s
"
pig
gain
Pounds Pou,tde
1.50
2.83
30
174
329
35
4.63
538
1.50
2,84
30
020
012
167
316
33
2.2
4.67
520
1.50
2.73
30
157
285
31
4.53
473
1.3
20
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
Average
Feed redaily
quired for
e a t e n p e r 100 . p o u n d s
pig
gam
Average
final
weight
per pig
Average
daily
gain
per pig
Pounds
Pounds
207
.92
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage ..........
Minerals H. F .....
M i n e r a l s S. F . . . . .
V Red clover ....
211
.94
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage .........
Total .......
VI Red clover with
minerals .....
213
.96
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage .........
M i n e r a l s H. F . . . . .
M i n e r a l s S. F . . . . .
VII Alsike clover...
214
,96
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage .........
Alsike clover
with minerals.
216
.98
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage .........
Minerals H.F..
M i n e r a l s S. F . . . . .
S w e e t clover...
202
.88
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage ........
Total ........
204
.89
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage .........
Minerals H. F .....
M i n e r a l s S. F . . . . .
Rape .........
215
.96
Shelled corn .....
Whole oats ......
Tankage .........
Total .......
Rape with
nnnerals .....
199
.86
Shelled corn .....
1.50
Whole oats ......
2.48
Tankage .........
30
Minerals H. F . . . .
020
M i n e r a l s S. F . . . . .
005
Lot
No.
Particular
feed
designation
IV Alfalfa with
minerals .....
Feeds and
minerals used
Pounds
Total .......
Total .......
Total .......
VIII
Total .......
IX
Pounds
1.50
2.58
30
020
008
163
281
33
2.2
0.9
4.41
480
1.50
2.73
30
159
290
32
4.53
481
1.50
2.68
30
020
002
157
280
31
2.1
0.2
4.50
470
I . ,50
2.66
3"}
156
277
31
4.46
464
1.50
2.71
30
.020
004
154
278
31
2.1
0.4
4.53
466
1.50
2.55
, . 30
170
288
34
4.35
492
1.50
2.51
30
020
007
168
282
34
2.3
0.8
4.34
487
1.50
2.41
30
155
249
31
4.21
435
X Sweet clover
with minerals.
Total .......
XI
XII
Total .......
4.31
175
289
35
2.3
0.6
502
Table II shows the average gains made in height, length,
and circumference, shin.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
21
TABLE II.--Growth of the gilts, average gain in 168 days.
Lot
No.
Pasture
I Bluegrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I I B l u e g r a ~ with m i n e r a l s . . . . . . . .
I I I Alfalfa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I V Alfalfa with minerals . . . . . . . . . . .
V R e d clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VI Red d o v e r with minerals . . . . . . .
V I I Aisike clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
V I I I Alsike clover w i t h m i n e r a l s . . . . . .
I X H u b a m clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X H u b a m clover w i t h minerals . . . .
X I R a p e , Essex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X I I R ape, Essex, w i t h minerals . . . . . .
Body
length
Inch~s
15.9
17.5
18.1
16.7
16.7
16.2
17.6
16.9
17.1
15.3
18.2
14.2
Shoulder
height
Inchea
9.4
9.5
9.8
9.7
9.3
10.5
9.9
9.7
8.8
9.7
8.9
8.9
Shin, fore
circumference
lnches
1.94
1.98
1.96
2.00
2.02
2.00
2.14
2.11
1.93
1.96
2.06
1.70
Conclusions
It is rather difficult to interpret the measurement figures
in Table II, inasmuch as they are very close. On the whole it
appears that the gilts on alfalfa, red clover, and alsike clover
have made the most consistent growth and a little more growth
than those on rape, bluegrass, and Hubam.
It must be borne in mind that the grain and supplemental
ration received by the gilts would have caused them to make a
pretty good showing even had they been fed on a dry-lot range.
Meat-meal tankage is relatively rich in good proteins, high-class
minerals, vitamins, and accessory feed substances that, in
general, are necessary in the balancing of the corn grain, which
supplied the bulk of the ration.
On the other hand, the whole oats was instrumental in adding alimentary stretch to the pigs, and also furnished some
good growing materials. Had corn and oats alone been fed on
the different pastures, the story would most likely have been
a very different one since the leguminous pastures, along with
the rape, would have advantages not found in bluegrass and
sweet-clover grazing.
When no tankage, or only a very limited amount, is fed, and
other supplements incorporated in the ration, then the likelihood
of a suitable, indicated mineral mixture making a good showing
is alfalfa, red clover, or alsike clbver, the mineral needs are much
less than in dry lot, or on dry, hard, bluegrass, or on wiry, coarse
stringy sorghum cane.
The feed requirement for 100 pounds o f gain shows somewhat in favor of alsike clover, with the alfalfa and red clover
22
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION
running neck and neck alongside. The rape lot without minerals
made an excellent showing, in truth the best of all in the matter
of the efficient use of the concentrates, taking only 435 pounds
of feed for 100 pounds gain, as contrasted with the 464 pounds
of the next best lot, the one on alsike. These were closely followed by the other alsike clover lot with 466 pounds, then red
clover with 470 pounds, alfalfa with 473 pounds, alfalfa again
with 480 pounds, and then red clover with 481. The prizes,
therefore, go to the legumes, excluding the sweet clover and
rape.
Previous experience in the feeding of suitable minerals to
swine has shown that even though the bones do no~ grow larger
in external measurements, they may grow heavier and stronger
in that the lumen of the bone i~ likely to become smaller, being
more thoroughly filled, and the matrix of the bone itself may become more dense, solid, and unyielding. It is well to bear in
mind also that the size of the bone is determined in the first place
by inheritance, and secondarily by feeding and management.
On the whole it appears that when about a third of a pound
of meat-meal tankage (which is an especially good and efficient
carrier of the various minerals that are likely to be deficient in
the corn and oats grains) is fed per gilt pig daily in Conjunction
with corn and oats on pasture, it seems that the minerals are
pretty well taken care of, their addition to growing gilts under
such conditions being more in the line of safety and insurance.
DEFINITIONS OF F E E D I N G STUFFS.
It is generally agreed that there is need for a comprehensive
study of terms or definitions pertaining to feeding stuffs. There
is the f u r t h e r need for such terms to be generally adopted so
that the present confusion may be removed. As a means of
helping solve this question a coramittee has been appointed to
study the problem and after reporting their recommendations
at the next annual meeting, work out a plan for having them
generally adopted. If you have studied the question or have any
suggestions, communicate with the committee and give them
your help.