JULY I957 Swim’ Jm/estlyations in Qx/as E |sss49s1 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION R. D. LEWIS, DIRECTOR, COLLEGE STATION. TEXAS CONTENTS '7 Introduction . . . 1 . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Fertilization “All or None" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Not All Eggs Develop Background . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 overfat Gilts Have Small Litters . _ _ _ _ i _ H Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . g gflgrjsdclerls Sfgfidélgurlilrgdltsfglrmd - - - - - - - For Fattening Pigs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 _ ~ 1L": - - - " " " '- Percentage of Ration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 354d Servlees r°r Older B°dr - ~ r - - - - ~ -- Wa t Feed It . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. s Servwe 11pm 6-8 Years Oi Age ss-s- Y ° - H d r B u s In an All-vegetable Protein Supplement . . . . . . 3 d“ ‘md m9 e er - - - - ~ ~ ~ - - - - - - - ~ - - - ~ - Mix with Meat Scraps in Self-feeder . . . . . . . .. 3 Brmg Sdw t° Bddr -~-~~--~---------- Don't Feed Raw Cottonseed - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - - ~ 3 Performance and Progeny Testing . . . . . . . . . L} For Breeding Hogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Test for Type of Carcass _ _ _ _ _ _ _ I _ _ _ A _ _ _ . _ AddMinerals....._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 MeataypeHogHawH_>__"___b__‘__'__a Essential Amino Acid Content Known . . . . . . . . 4 Baconaype Hog _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a _ a _ _ _ _ a _ _ _ _ _ _ a _ Farm Grains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 fiedHYPe rregAclidlrans getter - ~ - - ' - ' ‘ " e ' t,‘ ' Comparison Sorghum Grain and Corn . . . . . . . 4 ‘elat-Evpeshln h Tree_ S - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ - ~ ' - f Don't Grind Sorghum Grain for Hogs . . . . . . . . 4 a? ection ti rgilig _ elsting s s s s s - - - - - - ~ - - .1 Reversal of Early Recommendations . . . . . . . . . 2 Theedrérsrgng Teseiirgrr%roéerét~rh~ - - - - - - ' - ~ - - "1 ' ' ' Oh S . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 321:1: iaisigau; aid??? ttttttttttttt t 4 Feed in a Trough . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Use er Bdekrdr Measurement ~ e ~ ~ e ~ - - - ' ' - ~ Don't Grind Sorghum Grain for Pigs . . . . . . . . 4 Bdckrdr srdnddrds - - - - ~ - - - - ~ ~ - e - ~ - - - - - - - - Grind Wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 kerrgrg er d Slaughter rreg - - - ~ - - - - - ~ ' ~ ~ - ; l ' . _ . _ ' . I . _ _ . I _ _ 4 ‘ I ‘ _ _ _ _ ‘ I _ U 5 Oln CcrilirriparicsbriyBrewers Rice and Sorghum Irieigsggrggbdrrseclrégm Eye ‘ " ' ' " ~ - - ' ' " - - " ' ' - ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Gfiiit; syssssésgnd Winter ttttttttttttt . 1 5 gvelueeien Cue s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s Benefit of a Concrete Hog Wallow . . . . . . . . . . . 5 er cerrrage er Chrned Carcass ' ' ' ' " - " - ' " '- Rice Bran as a Hog Feed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Value r°r Four Lean curs ' ' ' " " - ' - ' - - - '- 1 ComparisonRicePolishandCom . . . . . . . . . .. 5 swineHealth_a_____H_QH._______’_,____'~ Way to Feed Peanuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Major Health Hazards _ _ _ _ _ _ a _ _ _ a _ _ a Pastures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 gheleifr Less Protein Supplement with Sudan . . 1 . . . . . 5 Rfilclrlrzlifiorgserr 1s ' " " " " " " - " * " " " " " - Comparison Oats and Sudan Pastures . . . . . .. 5 ""'""""""'-" Influenza................. . Sorghum GrainBy-products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Pneumonia Way to Use Sorghum Gluten Meal . . . . . . . . . . 5 Baby Pig Diarrhea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~~Way to Use Sorghum Gluten Feed . . . . . . . . . . . B Sarcoptic Mange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .._.? Vitamins ' ' ' A ' H ' I _ ' ' I ' _ ' I ‘ _ . H _ ' ' . _ I _ ' _ ' _ _ _ _ _ ‘ 6 Lice _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malformation from Vitamin A Deficiency . . . . . 6 Operations on A&M Swine Farm . . . . . . . . . .. Brood Sow Needs Adequate Vitamin A . . . . . . 6 Costs in Producing ZOO-pound Hog . . . . . .. How to Supply Vitamin A to Brood Sows . . . . . 6 To Sell or Feed the Grain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Same Findings in Other States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Faster Gains in the Summer . . . . . . . . . . . . f PigsGainFasteronVitaminBm . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7 Feed Needs............................; A rb, t, 7 Feed Mixture for Bro-od Sows . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 IELIIOICS 'I'M"I ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' " 7 Good Mineral Mixture P ?’.‘1’l‘PY°° m Yce m ea ~ " ~ ~ ~ - - ~ - ' " " " " " " 7 Good Protein Supplement . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Bzrgrflfaérlrn " " " " " 1, " " " " " " ' " ' ' " " ' ' ' ' ‘ " " ' " " ' ' ' " ' ' 7 Value o_f Green Pastures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arsénilic " ' " ' ' " " ' ' ' " " ' 1 ‘ ' ' ' 1 1- ' ' ' " " ' ' ' ' ' 7 Pig Weights at Different Ages . . . . . . . . . . . Aureomycin ' " ' " ' ' " ' ' " ‘ ' " ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' " ' ' ' 1 7 yVhen to Put Gilts in the Breeding Herd . . " " " " " " " " ' ' ' " " ' ' " ‘ ' ' " ' ' ' " " ' " " " 1‘ mportanceofWater...............j....i R d t. P d 7 Moving Sows and Litters to Pasture . . . . . . . ‘ e€r°l u; ‘gen e ermance " " " ' " " ' " ' ' ' ' ' " ‘ " " " 1 1 7 Separating Sows and Litters on Pastures arr uer". ' ' ' ' ' ‘ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ‘ ' ' ' ' " '1 GarbageasHogFeed..................." Dont Breed at First Heat Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 when to Se“ Mdrket H s Factors Influencing Age at Puberty . . . . . . . . . . 7 - - 0g ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Reaching Puberty under Farm Conditions 8 Protein Supplement “nth Home-grown gr Size and A e when Bred " 1 1 1 8 Keeping Sow off New-born Pigs . . . . . . . . .. Breed Aflergrloon Second " " ' " " ' ' " " ' ' ' ' ' ' " " 8 Mixing Three or More Feeds . . . . . . . . . greeg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Forage Corps for swine in Texas _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Bffesffifseifii; i$¢§ 1 1 1 ; i i 1 1 i i 1 I i i I I1 11 i1 i 8 Texee Swine Beeeeeee Aeeeeieeiee ssssss Flushing Increases Eggs . . . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v TEXAS FARMER has never taken full ad- fntage of the opportunities that hogs offer p‘ increasing his farm’ income. The hog one of the best means of marketing g 1n. is produced 4,183,000 hogs in 194s, the _er produced in the State in 1 year. Pro- fin 1955 was less than 2 million hogs. j average production of corn and grain for the 10-year period, 1945-54, was 126 Jbushels. If only half of the 126 million l of Texas grain were fed to hogs, Texas ‘oduce over 4 million hogs per year, and farmers would get more money for the =5» to hogs than for the grain sold for cash. 1 Belt farmers feed about half their corn ihogs. They do so because experience has them that they can make more money by { heir corn through hogs. ‘ gross income from hog sales in Texas for as about 121 million dollars. The gross from Texas pork averaged $96,736,000 ‘i during 1945-50. a more information on the Texas hog in- Tread TAES Bulletin 749, “An Economic p: of the Texas Hog Industry.” BACKGROUND y first experiment by the Texas Agricul- Xberiment Station on swine was a compar- the value of ear corn (in the shuck) with r ground ear corn (corn, cob and shuck ) as a feed for hogs. Unground ear corn ouch better results. (TAES Ann. Report _~ tically all of the experiments from 1888 1 1950 were on feeding, methods of feed- ‘ the effect of feeds on the quality of the a or on reproduction in swine. Texas feeds 1 feeds, pasture crops, minerals, vitamins ibiotics were studied. pew studieswere made on cholera and in- 3 worms inswine. Later studies relating ion and reproduction are being expanded {present swine research program of the i‘ tationlfi ively, professor and assistant professor, Depart- 51 Animal Husbandry, Texas Agricultural Experi- ,1. tion, and veterinarian Texas Agricultural Ex- ;,Service; i145 lm/esfiyafizws in Zea/as, 7888- l 957 FRIED HAlE, A. M. SORIENSEN IR” and C. M. PATTERSON* Results of these studies are summarized in this bulletin. ’ COTTONSEED MEAL Can cottonseed meal be fed to fattening pigs? Cottonseedmeal is a good feed for fattening pigs when the ration does not contain more than 9 percent cottonseed meal. Can the ration ever contain more than 9 percent cottonseed meal when fed to fattenings pigs? When the gossypol content of cottonseed meal is known to be less than 0.04 percent, one can feed more cottonseed meal, but it would be better to feed some meat scraps or soybean meal rather than to raise the amount of cottonseed meal above 9 percent of the ration. What is a good way to use cottonseed meal in a protein supplement for swine? A protein supplement containing 40 pounds of meat scraps, 40 pounds of high-quality cotton- seed meal and 20 pounds of dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal will contain about 40 percent crude pro- tein, and will give good results as a protein sup- plement. Can cottonseed meal be used in an all-vegetable protein supplement mixture? A mixture of 37 pounds of high-quality cot- tonseed’ meal, 37 pounds of soybean oil meal, 19 pounds of dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal, 4 pounds of ground limestone, 1 pound of salt and 2 pounds of aurofac will give good results when used as a protein supplement for growing-fattening pigs. Is it a good practice to feed cottonseed meal alone in self-feeders free choice as a protein supple- ment? - No. But a mixture of half cottonseed meal and half meat scraps, by weight, can be fed free choice in self-feeders to fattening hogs with good results. Can raw cottonseed be fed to hogs with good re- sults? Raw cottonseed should‘ not be fed to hogs. Is cottonseed meal a good protein feed for breed- ing hogs? Cottonseed meal may be fed to breeding hogs with good results when the ration does not con- tain more than 9 percent cottonseed‘ meal. (TAES Bul. 410 and unpublished data.) Does it pay to add minerals to a cottonseed meal ration for pigs? In a test where cottonseed meal was the only protein used in the- ration for fattening pigs, it was found that by adding 1.5 percent ground lime- stone and 0.5 percent salt to the ration, a lot of 10 pigs gained 124 pounds more in a 100-day test than did the check lot. (TAES Ann. Report, 1926.) Is the essential amino acid content of cottonseed meal known? Yes. The following table gives the content of 10 different amino acids in 19 samples of cotton- seed meal. The type of commercial processing appeared to have little or no effect on the amino acid composition of the cottonseed meal. (TAES Bul. 692.) COTTONSEED MEAL—39.61 percent crude protein AMINO ACID % IN SAMPLE % IN CRUDE PROTEIN Arginine 4.38 11.02 Histidine 1.07 2.70 Isoleucine 1.59 4.01 Leucine 2.46 6.20 Lysine 1.67 4.20 Methionine 0.59 1.49 Phenylalanine 2.09 5.25 Threonine 1.38 3.47 Tryptophane 0.63 1.59 Valine 1.98 4.98 FARM GRAINS How does sorghum grain compare in value with corn as a feed for fattening hogs? At the Texas Station, sorghum grain chops and‘ ttankage proved slightly superior to corn chops and tankage. (TAES Bul. 305.) Tests at the Ne- braska Station showed whole sorghum grain has about 90 percent of the value of shelled corn. In palatability and in rate of gain the two grains were about equal. (Neb. Bul. 323.) Tests at the Kansas Station show that Wheatland and Colby sorghum grain-fed pigs made more rapid daily gains than did the corn-fed pigs. (Kan. Circ. 41- H-2.) Does it pay to grind whole sorghum grain before feeding to fattening hogs? Tests by the Texas ‘Station show that when sorghum grain is fed free choice in a self-feeder with a protein supplement in a separate compart- ment of the feeder it did not pay to grind the sor- ghum grain for fattening pigs. Why do early reports state that one should grind sorghum grain before feeding to fattening hogs? The early tests were reported on pigs that were hand-fed the grain twice daily. In the Tex- as tests, it was shown that when sorghum grain is hand-fed it will pay to grind before feeding be- cause about 10 percent of the grain passes through 4 the pigs. These tests show that only 2 to 1 cent of the grain passes through the pigs. the whole grain and supplement are fed inr rate compartments of a self-feeder. Observ show that pigs in theeTexas tests made 14f to the grain compartment of the self-feeder! 5:20 a.m. to 8:20 p.m., a period of 15 hour pigs were resting, sleeping orxjust idling the pen from 8:20 p.m. to 5:20i1.m. These vations were made over a 3-day period of secutive hours. Naturally, when the pigs“- so many trips to the feeder to eat grain the more time to chew the whole grain more oughly than they do when they are h .- twice daily. This explains why the pigs 1, fast and as economically on whole sorghum- as they do on ground sorghum grain. (TA Report 1930.) I i Has any other state experiment station c0 l’ experiments on whole versus ground so grain as a feed for fattening pigs? i The Kansas Station reported in 1941; “grinding Wheatland sorghum grain did, l. crease its efficiency as a feed.” The so grain in these tests was self-fed, free _ (Kan. Circ. 41-H-2.) ' Does it pay to soak whole sorghum grain feeding to fattening pigs? i Results of feeding tests by the Texas ‘A show that pigs fed dry whole sorghum gra , self-feeder made faster daily gains and r, less feed per pound of gain than did pigs f - ed sorghum grain. More labor was require the sorghum grain was soaked before feed" the soaked sorghum grain had to be hand-f sorghum grain was soaked 24 hours befo s. ing. (TAES Ann. Report, 1930.) 1' Is it a good practice to feed fattening pigs, sorghum grain on the ground or dirt floor The Texas Station tested this practice b q ing one lot of pigs whole kafir on a d’ twice daily and a second lot of pigs th amount of whole kafir in a trough. The supplement was self-fed in both lots. l. fed whole kafir in the dirt required 65.7 1 more total feed per 100 pounds of gain .; pigs fed whole kafir in a trough. The pigs? dirt lot also gained only 85 percent as fast, the pigs in the trough-fed lot. (TAES A port, 1930.) What do tests show on whole kafir versus i kafir as a feed for fattening pigs? ’ The following results were obtained in a‘ Station test where 15 pairs. of pigs were 1- individual pens with one pig in each pair whole kafir (sorghum grain) and the 6 getting ground kafir. The pigs fed whol gained 1.75 pounds daily and required- pounds of whole kafir and 38.3 pounds of y per 100 pounds of gain. The pigs fed grou gained 1.68 pounds daily and requir pounds of ground kafir and 37.2 pounds -@ L 100 pounds of gain. The pigs average 76 j at the beginning of the 90-day tests. __.~Ann. Report, 1930.) pay to grind wheat before feeding to fat- jhogs? ;= by the Texas Station show that one will _ 8 percent of the wheat by grinding when -= is fed free choice in self-feeders. The p» whole wheat gained an average of 1.54 idaily, while the pigs fed‘ ground wheat $559) pounds daily. (TAES Ann. Reports, 3. ‘Qbarley be ground for fattening pigs? . In a test by the Texas Station with 20 . ally-fed pigs, those fed ground barley §0.21 pound more per pig per day than pigs fed whole barley. The pigs fed whole pequired 23 pounds more total feed per 100 of gain than the pigs fed ground barley. , Ann. Report, 1933.) i -: brewers rice compare with kafir as a fattening pigs? ; fed brewers rice by the Texas Station 1.81 pounds daily in a 90-day test, as com- with 1.72 pounds daily gain by pigs fed sorghum grain.) The pigs averaged 67 ' at the beginning of the test. Only 346.51 g of total feed per 100 pounds of gain were a by the pigs fed brewers rice. The pigs bir required 398 pounds of total feed per j nds of gain. The brewers rice and kafir 3 ground and were fed with a protein sup- " -free choice in a self-feeder. The pigs f.» individually. The supplement consisted 1 ture of 50 pounds of tankage, 25 pounds nsed meal, 21 pounds of alfalfa meal, 3 0f ground limestone and 1 pound of salt. unpublished data, 1932.) ‘ pigs gain in summer and winter? i ollege Station, with summer temperatures n g 83° F, pigs in a 90-day test gained 8 ‘g less, ate 16 percent less feed and required tent less feed per 100 pounds gain than did 'th winter temperature averaging 55° F. . Ann. Report, 1935.) make faster gains in the summer when ve access to a concrete hog wallow? = with access to a concrete hog wallow as much in 76 days as did pigs without the low in 90 days. The feed required per 100 l of gain was about the same for both ‘ These tests were conducted in June, d August at College Station. (TAES Ann. ‘; 1940.) i‘ bran begeil to fattening hogs with good .3 g= Station tests show that rice bran will »~» results in swine rations when forming l e than 3O percent of the ration. Soft pork ced when the ration. contains more than 25 to 30 percent rice bran, because of its high con- tent of low-melting fats. Rice bran is worth about 85 percent as much as corn when fed in these pro- portions to fattening hogs. (TAES Bul. 286.) How does rice polish compare with corn as a feed for fattening hogs? Rice polish, like rice bran, is high in fat and should not‘ form more than 30 percent of the ra- tion. Rice polish may cause scours when fed as a larger part of the ration to pigs under 75 to 80 pounds in weight. Rice polish is worth as much as corn for fattening pigs when forming not more than 30 percent of the ration. (TAES Bul. 313.) What ‘is a good way to feed peanuts to hogs with- out producing soft pork? Peanuts make a good hog feed, but when fed to fattening hogs for 40 days they produce oily pork. Such hogs can not be made firm by a subse- quent 60-day feeding period on corn and tankage. ' If the pigs are allowed to graze the peanuts un- til they weigh about 85 pounds, subsequent feed- ing on grain and supplement will produce firm pork. (TAES Bulletins 224, 305, USDA Bul. 1407.) PASTURES Does Sudangrass pasture save protein supple- ment when grazed by fattening pigs? When grazed at the rate of 18 pigs per acre, pigs require an average of 30 percent less pro- tein supplement on Sudangrass pasture than pigs fed in drylot. The results vary with climatic con- ditions. The drylot-fed pigs gain as fast as do the pasture-fed pigs when the protein supplement is of high quality. (TAES Ann. Report, 1941.) How does oats pasture compare with Sudangrass for pigs self-fed grain and protein supplement? Oats pasture averages a greater saving of pro- tein supplement than Sudangrass pasture, and the pigs will make greater daily gains on oats pasture. This greater gain is partly because the oats pasture is grazed in cool weather and the Sudanpasture is grazed" in hot weather. Results with oats pasture vary with the growth, stand and quality of pasture as with Sudangrass. An average of about 40 percent of the protein sup- plement will be saved if fattening pigs have ac- cess to good oats pasture when fed grain and pro- tein supplement free choice in self-feeders. (TAES Ann. Reports, 1936, 1937.) SORGHUM GRAIN BY-PRODUCTS Can sorghum gluten meal be used in swine ra- tions with good results? For best results, sorghum gluten meal should form not more than 25 to 30 percent of the pro- tein supplement, or not more than 4 percent of the total ration. In two feeding trials by the Texas Station, gains of pigs were reduced when sorghum gluten meal formed 40 percent of the 5 Figure l. A litter oi blind pigs resulting irom maternal vitamin A deficiency. The litter of pigs was iarrowed March 29. 1932 at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. protein supplement, as compared with a group of pigs receiving soybean meal in place of sorghum gluten meal. When the cost per 100 pounds for sorghum gluten meal is the same or less than sor- ghum grain, the sorghum gluten meal may re- place sorghum grain in the ration for swine, on a pound for pound basis, at least up to 20 percent of the grain ration. (TAES Bul. 743.) Can sorghum gluten feed be used in the protein supplement for swine? Tests by the Texas Station suggest that sor- ghum gluten feed could be used to a limited ex- tent as a source of protein for swine. Less than 3Q percent of the supplement should be sorghum Figure Z. An eyeless pig showing an extra earlike growth at base of ear. This pig was from a litter oi l0 blind pigs resulting from maternal vitamin A deficiency-Texas Ag- ricultural Experiment Station. 6 gluten feed. Because of its lack of palat for swine and its high crude fiber content, ghum gluten feed will not give as good r in swine rations as sorghum gluten meal. VITAMINS Is vitamin A deficiency related ‘zjto malfor in the offspring? l Fifty-nine pigs (six litters) were born at the Texas Station during experiments t ternal vitamin A deficiency. Other defects if were cleft palate, cleft lip, accessory ears a rested ascension of the kidneys. Genetic were made to determine whether an her factor was responsible for the eye defect. ings such as blind brother x blind siste- normal mother x blind son, produced only n pigs. These studies show that maternal defi of vitamin A will result in a variety of def the offspring which also include blindness failure of complete development of eye g The normal mothers of these blind pigs We pleted to a very low state of vitamin A breeding and were continued on the ratio a of vitamin A for the first 3O days of the g tion period (the time during which the velops in the pig embryo). (Tex. State J0 Medicine, July 1937, 33:228-232.) a How does this vitamin A deficiency relate feeding of brood sows for better productio These vitamin A studies by the Texas S show the close relationship between vita and normal development of the litter of pi ~g results suggest that the nutrients in the should be complete in both amount and r several weeks before the sow is bred. u sults also show that the first 30 days af =, sow is bred is a critical period as to the? ity of ration fed. It is during this early S E pregnancy when so many of the vital org the embryo are formed. How can vitamin A be supplied to brood w When brood sows have access to green ~» they will obtain adequate amounts of vita potency. Ten to 15 percent alfalfa meal added to the sows’ ration when green pas, not available. Fish oils also are excellent s of vitamin A for brood sows when green or alfalfa meal are not available. (Nutri, lowances for Swine, National Research C." Washington, D. C.) Have other laboratories found defects in the at birth resulting from deficient nutrition mother? a Yes. Some of the most notable repo ‘L: published in 1948 by Warkany and Nelson Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research F, tion of the University of Cincinnati. T i ported that female rats which receive insu riboflavin (one of the B vitamins) bear A proportion of young with shortening of t left palate, a thin abdominal wall and de- .eyes. (Pediatrics, 1:462-471, 1948.) require vitamin B12? S: vitamin is the old animal protein factor, found in milk, tankage, meat scraps, fish (d other animal products. It is a product rial synthesis. Itiis not present in plant ls. Rations for young pigs should con- ut 10 milligrams of vitamin B12 per ton. ' B12 supplements also can be purchased eed manufacturers. 7' test by the» Texas Station, pigs weaned eeks of age were fed a ration of yellow gybean oil meal, alfalfa leaf meal and min- A a check ration. When vitamin B12 was to this ration, the pigs made 31 percent gains and required 6 percent less feed per * of gain. (J. Animal Science, Vol. 8, No. 4, ANTIBIOTICS dis the effect 0f feeding chloromycetin my- eal on the growth 0f swine? (l: by the Texas Station showed that an all- ble ration supplemented with 0.5 percent _| ycetin mycelial meal increased the pig though not significantly. No difference tained in feed efficiency between the check , and the ration containing the chloromy- 135i! ycelial meal. (J. of Animal ‘Science, Vol. .4, Nov. 1953.) the addition of penicillin to the ration of fng pigs increase the gains and feed effi- w two experiments conducted at College Sta- l’ grams of penicillin per ton of feed increas- feed efficiency, but did not produce a sig- " t increase in gain. (J. of Animal Science, ,3, No. 4, 1954.) i, is, the effect of bacitracin on feeder pigs? small but not statistically significant im- a ent in feed efficiency was observed in the of two experiments when 10 grams of bac- Lt per ton were added to the basal rations in st. In a second test, pigs getting the bac- » made more efficient gains and the im- l_ ent in feed efficiency was statistically sig- ‘g t. (J. of Animal Science, Vol. 13, No. 4, > t‘ the addition of arsanilic acid improve feed ncy? -, en the test ration contained 1 ounce of ar- ,8 acid per ton of feed, the efficiency of feed tion was im rpved, but the rate of gain was (creased. T-geaccumulation of arsenic was st in the liver. On withdrawing arsanilic rom the ration, the arsenic was lost rapidly the liver, so that after 5 days the liver con- » insignificant amounts of arsenic. (J. Ani- ‘- ience, Vol. 13, No. 4, 1954.) Does aureomycin increase the efficiency of a fattening ration for pigs? In a test by the Texas Station with individ- ually-fed‘ pigs, a ration containing cottonseed meal, sorghum grain, alfalfa leaf meal, lime- stone and salt was improved by the addition of 0.5 percent aurofac. The aurofac contained 1.8 grams of aureomycin and 1.8 milligrams of vita- min B12 per pound. The pigs weighed 74 pounds at the beginning of the test, and were fed for 70 days. The aureomycin-fed pigs gained 12 per- cent faster and required 23 pounds less feed per 100 pounds of gain than the pigs in the check lot. (TAES unpublished data.) REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE It has been estimated that about '75 percent of the pigs raised in the U. S. are farrowed by gilts. Gilts which farrow small litters are then a liability to the swine producer. Litter size in swine is reported to be only about 15 percent heri- table. This means that a large portion of the variability in litter size is due to the effects of various environmental factors. Although present knowledge is far from complete on how to handle? all of these problems, some answers can be given. The questions and answers which follow are de- signed to indicate present knowledge concerning the effects of certain environmental factors on reproductive efficiency in gilts. What is the practical significance of having gilts reach puberty early? An almost universal recommendation is that gilts which are of sufficient size be bred at about 8 months of age to farrow at about 1 year of age. Earlier attainment of puberty would allow earlier breeding to reduce the costs of production. Why should the gilt not be bred at her first heat period? Experimental data indicate that gilts which have had two to three heat periods prior to breed- ing can be expected to produce more eggs, have a larger percentage of those eggs fertilized and have a higher embryo survival rate than gilts bred at their first heat period. These advantages of greater “sexual age” at mating time may be overcome by other environmental factors to be mentioned later. (J our. Ani. Sci. 10:479, 648, 841.) What factors have been shown to influence age at puberty in gilts? Plane 0f Nutrition. Full-fed gilts can be ex- pected to reach puberty earlier than limited-fed gilts. (Mo. Sta. Bul. 118; unpublished Texas data; Ond. Jour. of Vet. Res., 1952.) However, if full- fed gilts get fat and sluggish they may be slow in reaching puberty. Season of Birth. Gilts born in late spring (May) have been found to reach puberty earlier than gilts born in other seasons. (Jour. of Ani. Sci. 9:277 and‘ 10:648; unpublished Texas data.) 7 Source of Protein. Gilts which received an animal protein supplement (meat scraps) as a portion of their ration reached puberty 17 days earlier than those which received cprotein only from plant sources. (Jour. of Ani. Sci. 13:949.) Inheritance. It has been observed often that age at first heat seems to be a family trait, i.e., that gilts of the same litter tend to reach puberty at similar ages. One study has been reported in which 53.5 percent of the sisters became sexually mature on the same day or within a period of 5 days. (0nd. Jour. of Vet. Res., 1952.) Inbreeding. Inbred gilts average about 4 to 6 weeks older at puberty than do non-inbred gilts. (Jour. of Ani. Sci. 10:479 and 647.) At what age can the gilt be expected to reach puberty under average farm condition? Between 6 and 8 months. A few gilts will reach puberty as early as 150 days, but 210 days appears closer to the median for non-inbred gilts. (Jour. of Ani. Sci. 101647, 841; 11:790; 12:946, 954, 957; 0nd. Jour. Vet. Res., 1952; Mo. Res. Bul. 494; Anat. Record 85:357, and Texas unpub- lished data.) Some experimental gilts do not reach puberty in 250 days. (JAS 10:841.) It has been reported that 66.8 percent of one group of 202 gilts reach- ed puberty between 6 and 8 months, with the ages of individuals ranging from 161 to 346 days. (Ond. Jour. of Vet. Res., 1952.) At what age and size should the gilt be bred? She should be in her third or fourth heat pe- riod and weight 225 pounds or more. Desired sea- son of farrowing also should be considered in de- termining the time for mating. At what interval after the gilt comes in heat should she be bred? The usual recommendation is to breed the gilt on the afternoon of the second day. This pre- sumably would cause mating to occur at about the time of ovulation. However, recent data in- dicate that conception rates and litter sizes are just as good for gilts bred on the first day of heat as can be expected from matings on the sec- ond day. (Jour. of Ani. Sci. 102648 and Ond. Jour. of Vet. Res., 1952.) Is there an advantage to breeding a gilt twice during the same heat period? Yes. The second mating is likely to increase conception rate by about 20 percent, but there is no evidence that it will increase materially the number of pigs farrowed per litter. (Mo. Sta. Bul. 494.) Should the same boar be used both times? Yes. If he is not, the sire of the pigs cannot be identified. If only one service can be allowed a gilt, should it be given on the first or second day of heat? Better results probably will be obtained on the second day. (Mo. Sta. Bul. 461.) 8 Can_ the number of eggs produced be incr by flushing? - Yes. Liberal feeding about 3 weeks or’ prior to the heat period during which the i is to be bred will increase the number of ' (Jour. Ani. Sci. 10:841 and 14:573.) About what percentage of eggs released i expected to be fertilized? I 3f, . Fertilization appears to be almost an “ none” process so that when a gilt has any 5 eggs nearly all she has are fertile. Fe § tion rates consistently have been above ‘I, cent in many studies. (Jour. of Ani. Sci. 1 841, and 14:573.) .; Can all the fertilized eggs be expected to de For some reason all the fertilized eggs (T develop. A mortality of about 26 percent f by the 25th day, 33 percent by the 40th d? a slightly higher percentage by the time ‘ rowing. (TAES, unpublished data.) 41 What effect does overfatness of gilts d ” gestation have on litter size? " Litter size of overfat gilts is likely to be, because of the higher embryonic death ray them than in gilts whose feed has been " (Jour. Ani. Sci. 10:841, and 14:573.) If early weaning is done, when is the be to breed the sow back? '1 The sow will come back in heat 3 to 5 d" . ter weaning the pigs, but conception at th", is almost zero. The first heat period sh) skipped and the sow be bred at the seco, iod. 1 What is the recommended number of ser* per boar if hand-mated? A young boar, 9 to 10 months of age, 3 used for service 24 times a year and sho g be used more often than once a day. He ~ used heavier during the breeding season ' rested between seasons. A yearling or a boar may be used twice a day with a m ‘ of 50 services per year. a How many matings for boars if pasture-T Twelve for young boars and 35 to 40 f0; boars. How long will a boar give good service? With good care and management, should remain vigorousand give good se to 6 to 8 years of age. ’ Is hand-mating desired over field mating; Yes. Records may be kept of the b date in hand-matings, and the sow can bei ed near the next heat period to see if she pig. . Should the boar be taken to the sow for ,1 or the sow to the boar? The sow should be brought to the b” observed. After breeding occurs, the sow be removed. r .l l PERFORMANCE AND PROGENY TESTING piisiit necessary that we test our hogs? -- American housewife demands a meatier g pork at the meat counter. The only way we f ow which animals will produce the meat- carcass is to test them. ‘A is a meat-type hog? A meat-type hog has a large percentage of eat with sufficient fat to retain flavor and ess.» acon-type and meat-type synonymous? The bacon-type hog was developed for meat and not for the balance found in the vtype hog. does rate and economy of gain of the meat- hog compare with other types? yntrolled experiments prove that the meat- 1mg will gain more rapidly and more eco- ; lly than other types. ‘any one breed have a monopoly on ‘type? o. Meat-type hogs are found in every breed. g breeds were represented in the top 10 ani- of the 1955 National Barrow Show. I makes selection through testing so tageous? 'ne genetically are “mixed up” or heter- us. There are many combinations of the fof inheritance possible, and we can select tter animals and concentrate on the better of inheritance. The only way We can select ' testing our animals either as individuals or l h a cooperative testing program. _ is meant by “testing”? :1 esting” means evaluation through the use , ain factors that make up a standard. _In * we test for: (1) prolificacy, (2) absence erited defects, (3) weaning weight of litter, te and economy of gain and (5) net carcass l is the Swine Testing Program in Texas? is} Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 1; Agricultural Extension Service and Texas breeders are cooperating in a testing pro- , which outlines the following procedures: is program is set up so that the informa- btained from it will be in accord’ with that ted in the various breed association pro- . Each cooperator should consult his asso- 5' ’s program to fulfill the requirements con- u qualification of litter, nomination, iden- ‘< ion and Weight reports. * ect a representative pair of pigs from the > These may be two barrows, two gilts or ’ ow and a gilt. Mail the application blank t 30 days before delivery to: Texas. Swine Testing Program Department of Animal Husbandry Texas A. & M. College System, College Station, Texas All animals will start on test on the weigh- date nearest the age of 68 days. Pigs should be delivered at an approximate age of 60 days. The pigs become the property of the Texas Agricul- tural Experiment Station upon arrival. All barrows must be healed from castration before delivery. Animals must be immunized with the proper dosage of SWIVAX, MLV or ROVAC not less than 14 days prior to arrival, or of serum and virus not less than 30 days prior to shipment. All pigs will be fed under uniform conditions. Feed consumption on each group will be kept. Pigs will be penned and fed in pairs. Rations will contain 16 percent total protein for pigs under 120 pounds and 14 percent for pigs over 120 pounds. Each animal will be weighed bi-weekly. The pair of pigs must average 200 pounds at 180 days of age, with neither pig more than 185 days of age. Animals will be slaughtered as they reach 200 pounds. Live backfat measurements will be made as the pigs reach 150 pounds and again just prior to slaughter at 200 pounds. Detailed carcass analysis will be made, includ- ing length, backfat and loin eye muscle area. Each cooperator is urged to submit five sire groups from a single boar to certify the boar in accord with the breed association requirements. These five groups do not have to be brought at the same time. Consult your breed association program for details. Detailed progress of feedlot and carcass evalu- ations will be reported to the owner of each sire group. A complete report of all sire groups test- ed will be mailed to each cooperator annually. The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station has set up two awards in the form of certificates entitled, “Texas Superior Litter” and" “Texas Cer- tified Boar,” which are presented to the owner of the litter or boar meeting the following require- ments: Texas Superior Litter Each pig must weigh 200 pounds at 180 days. Each pig must have at least 49 percent lean cuts. The pigs must average 100 pounds of gain on 370 pounds of feed or less. Texas Certified Boar Same as above plus Loin eye of 3.5 square inches. Length 28.5-32.0 inches. Backfat 1.0 to 1.6 inches. é ‘F‘5Ts '.-""'3*s“i‘-F’E3 Figure 3. Three points for probing backfat. An average is taken of the depth opposite the first rib, last rib and last lumbar vertebra. Free advertising in the respective breed asso- ciation publications is given all litters and boars meeting these requirements. A certificate is pre- sented the owners of “Texas Superior Litters” and “Texas Certified Boars” at an appropriate time each year. Cooperative tests of this nature serve as guides to breeders and serve the entire swine in- dustry through the accumulation of data from which comparisons can be made. What is backfat measurement? a The depth of fat can be determined over the back of the hog by probing with a steel ruler or electric “Leanmeter”. The depth is measured in three places, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 4. The loin eye is the single large muscle in the pork chop. It is traced on transparent paper and measured with a planimeter. <10 How. can backfat measurements be used at slaughter? s Backfat thickness is an indication of the r iness of a hog. It is profitable to probe gil 150 pounds or more and cull on the basis of m fat depth. Those measuring more than 1.2 i i should be culled, and those under 1.2 shoul retained for breeding. ‘ ’ What are the backfat standards? Nine breed associations adopted the f0 ing standards: g 180-200-pound hog 1.0-1.6 inches j 201-215-pound hog 1.1-1.65 inches 216-230-pound hog 1.2-1.7 inches How long should slaughter hogs be? Standards set up by the breed associag are: i .3”- 180-200-pound hog 201-215-pound‘ hog 216-230-pound hog What is the loin eye? It is the large muscle seen in a pork chopi longissimus dorsi. j 28.5-32.0 inches 29-32.5 inches 29.5-33.0 inches How is it measured? A piece of tracing material is put on a}; tion taken at the tenth rib and the large " is traced around carefully. An instrument a planimeter is used to determine the square inches. What are the standards for loin eye muscla The following table shows the standardsfi 180-200-pound hog 3.5 square inc 201-215-pound hog 3.75 square inc? 216-230-pound hog 4 square inck What are the four lean cuts used in evaluat' a carcass? They are the ham, picnic, Boston butt: loin. A; How is the value calculated? When the carcass is cut, these four co cial cuts are weighed and figured as a perce of the chilled carcass. 2' What is a good value for the four lean cuts? Forty-nine percent of the chilled carcas been set as a goal in the-testing program. good hogs will go up to 54 to 56 percent. SWINE HEALTH What are the major health hazards of sw’ in Texas? » Hog cholera accounts for the greatest f loss, and probably roundworms account f0 greatest loss of efficiency. Other conditionsf monly causing trouble are necrotic enteriti fluenza, ‘pneumonia, diarrhea of baby pigs, coptic mange and hog lice. M _ c the best method of controlling cholera? re is no best method since different types agement have a bearing on the different g- prevention. Herds in areas with a large 'pulation and where there is a continuing n of animals, probably will find the old , of using virulent virus and anti-hog a: serum the “best” method. Where gar- in fed, this is the only method that consis- has given good results.’ eding herds with little turn-over in ani- iand where sanitary standards are high, ; d the use of a modified live virus vaccine ull doses of anti-hog cholera serum the r method. ’ ll herds in isolated" locations may use vaccines effectively. ,pective of the type of vaccine used, it is i nt that swine be protected against chol- ilthough the disease will not live long on es, the danger of the virus being intro- , in scraps from the table, or on the feet of p, is too great to take a chance of depend- , sanitation and isolation alone. _j: necrotic enteritis be controlled? j rotic enteritis is a disease usually associa- th poor sanitation. In some instances, it ' ur in the best managed herds following ition of an animal affected with, or carry- p- disease. It also has been found‘ that T receiving diets low in nicotinic acid will 3 condition that probably is the same as c enteritis. » refore, to control this infection, sanitary )ds must be kept high. Rotational graz- ‘fa good way to hold down pasture infec- f If wallows are used, they should be con- ind located Where they receive the steriliz- , ect of the sun’s rays. Mud and necrotic :1» go hand in hand. ditions to the drove should be isolated at ’ weeks. This will provide an opportunity "rvethe animals and be sure they are not e; down with a disease. This practice alone vent many outbreaks of necrotic enteritis rwise well-managed droves. 1H nutrition also is important in prevent- e disease. Swine on a well-balanced diet A receiving sufficient nicotinic acid. "lots or other pens that are used heavily _ be moved every year, or be provided with rete floor. Use of these facilities in the [pot year after year allows disease germs 0 up in the soil. Sooner or later trouble A- to occuif. ‘ n be done about the roundworm problem? same sanitary precautions that are use- preventing necrotic enteritis will help hold he number of roundworms affecting swine. 'tion, the isolation of sows on pasture just before pigs are farrowed and until the pigs are 3 weeks of age, will assist in preventing the pigs from picking up roundworms at an age that would cause severe stunting. Since a roundworm treat- ment is available that can be used safely just be- for a sow farrows, it is good management to treat the sow for roundworms 2 weeks before farrowing. Market pigs should be treated for roundworms at 6 weeks and at 3 months of age.‘ If any are to be kept as replacements, they should be treated again at 6 months. Work by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station has indicated that roundworm remedies containing piperazine are far superior to older methods. (Turk and Hale, unpublished data.) These products are safe for use in feed or water, and there is no danger of overdosing when treat- ing several pigs at a time. Piperazine is safe for use in sows in heavy pregnancy, provided nothing has been added to the piperazine that would be dangerous for use just prior to farrowing. Be sure to read the label carefully when buying a wormer for your sows heavy with pigs. Can swine influenza be prevented? Influenza in swine, with one exception, is _al- most identical with the disease in humans. Lung- worms of swine may harbor the virus of influ- enza. The larva of the lungworm is picked up in the soil by earthworms. If a pig roots up the earthworm and eats it, the larva of the lungworm inside penetrates the wall of the pig’s intestine and carries the influenza virus to its lungs. In this manner, the disease may be perpetuated on the premises from year to year. Otherwise, influenza is strictly a contagious disease resulting from contact with swine that have been introduced into the herd, or from con- tact with humans affected with influenza. The problemthen is preventing the swine from com- ing in contact with infected hogs or humans. Rooting also should be controlled. Usually pro- viding adequate animal protein in the diet will handle this problem. (TAES Bulletin 157.) What is the best method for controlling pneumonia of swine? The germs causing pneumonia are opportun- ists. Anytime the pig’s resistance to infection "is lowered, germs that are always present in his respiratory tract may gain a foothold and cause pneumonia. Therefore, the most logical means of controlling the disease is to eliminate those things which lower a hog’s resistance to infec- tion. Probably the most common cause of pneu- monia in swine is dust. Dusty hoglots and pens allow enough of this irritating material to enter the lungs so that bacteria may take advantage of the irritation produced and established an in- fection. As in all classes of animals, excessive chilling or overheating may predispose the animals to respiratory infection. l1 The mechanical injury produced by lungworms of swine frequently results in pneumonia germs gaining a foothold. Other infections, such as in- fluenza also may serve to open the gate for the pneumonia germs. Recent research findings in England and in this country indicate that a virus pneumonia of swine is becoming increasingly important. Lit- tle is known of this disease, but good sanitation and strict isolation of swine droves will help pre- vent introduction of virus’ pneumonia of swine. How best can baby pig diarrhea be prevented? Isolation of individual litters up to the age of 3 weeks, preferably on pasture, is the best con- trol for this disease. Most outbreaks of baby pig diarrhea occur where several litters are crowd- ed together in pens or lots that have been used for older swine or in farrowing houses where large numbers of pigs are present at the same time. The disease is due to several rather than a single causative agent. Therefore, vaccination for prevention is not practical and sanitation and isolation must be followed if outbreaks are to be avoided. What is the best way to eliminate sarcoptic mange in swine? The most efficient treatment for sarcoptic mange in swine is a spray containing 0.125 per- cent solution of lindane in water. Since these mites lay their eggs in burrows inside the skin where it is difficult for the‘ chemical to reach them, it usually is advisable to spray the animals a second time 10 days after the first spraying. Can hog lice be eliminated from a swine drove? Lice are the easiest parasite of swine to elimi- nate completely from the drove. These pests have but one way of spreading from animal to animal, and that is by direct contact. They have no resistant stage and cannot live off the hog for more than a short while. Therefore, if the en- tire drove and additions to the drove are treated thoroughly lice will not become a problem. A 0.5 percent solution of DDT, toxaphene or chlordane will do an excellent job of killing lice. Sows nursing young pigs should be treated very lightly, or not be treated until the pigs are wean- ed, since the insecticide she absorbs will be con- centrated in her, milk. OPERATIONS ON A&M SWINE FARM What does it cost to produce a 200-pound market hog? The sow will need about 600 pounds of a bal- anced ration for the 114-day gestation period and about 600 pounds of a good suckling ration for the 56 to 60-day suckling period. This totals 1,200 pounds of feed. If 8 pigs are weaned, this amounts to 150 pounds of feed per pig. Each pig will eat about 40 pounds of feed during the suckling or the creep-feeding period. 12 BY the time the pig is weaned, at 60 days » he is charged with 150 plus 40 pounds, or :1 of 190 pounds of feed. By the time the 3 months old, he has eaten another 100 I of feed. During the next 90 days, each p" eat about 540 pounds of feed; then he will days old and should weigh a minimum »~ pounds. The total feed, therefore, for ea raised is: ~ ITEM P For sow’s feed charged to each pig in an 8-pig litter .............................. .. Creep-feeding period (60 days) .............. .. During the third month .......................... .. l For the next 90 days .............................. .. Total feed for each pig at 180 day of age l‘ Average weight of the 180-day-old pig.... _ The cost of 830 pounds of feed repres ' percent of the total cost of the grain and = ment requirements. The other 20 per made up of overhead. To get the total ~§ terms of feed, one should add about 210 l more feed, which gives a total of 1,040 poun represents the total cost. l If it cost the value of 1,040 pounds of feed duce a 200 to 210-pound pig, what can a F get for his sorghum grain or corn by to hogs that are selling on the market for 5 per hundred pounds? ' Y About 140 oI the 1,040 pounds of to will be bought protein supplement. The f ment will cost around $5.00 per hundred] or $7.00 for the 140 pounds. a The 200-pound market hog at $18.00 r; dredweight will bring $36.00. By subtrac ; $7.00 of bought supplement from the $36. ‘g has left $29.00. Subtract 140 pounds of Q ment from the 1,040 pounds of total feed, i 900 pounds that remain represent the so, grain or corn that was charged to the p'_ dividing 900 pounds of sorghum grain or c’ the $29.00, we determine the price we A the grain which in this case is $3.22 per h J weight, or $1.80 per bushel. Therefore, when hogs are selling for per hundredweight, and protein supplem, be bought for $5.00 per hundredweightf hog producer who has good hogs and giv) proper management, can sell his farmf grain for $3.22 per hundredweight. S0 =- producers can get better results than tho = in this example.’ How can one get faster gains with fatten’ l: during hot weather? » By supplying a concrete hog wallow, i ter, by having a fogging or sprinkler sysr his hog feeding layout, one can increase th; at least 10 perce-nt when the average tem‘ is 85°F. " inuch feed per day will hogs eat when fed iy need? ylbrood sow during the gestation period needs l6 pounds of a balanced feed per day, as a ,4 rule. 1brood sow during the suckling period after l: are 10 days to 2 weeks old needs 1 pound balanced feed for each pig she is nursing, 3-2 0r 3 pounds for the sow’s maintenance. p218 pigs, a sow needs 10 to 11 pounds of feed y. Sows with larger litters need more feed. j een pasture should be provided the sow and 'O gars need green pasture plus 11/2 pounds of nced feed per 100 pounds of live weight, ,1 liumb rule. If this much feed keeps him too a a ~ 1 ZGdIlCG ll? until 13116 proper amount 1S féd. Figure 5. Hampshire sows and litters on pasture at the ‘ , , _ _ Texas AcSM College System hog farm. The house in the rear growmg and fatte11111g 111g 011 1.1111 feed W111 is boarded up so only the pigs can enter. This house is used ‘in 5 per-cent Q-f his live weight per day un- here for a creep where the little pigs can get extra teed. * Weighs abOut 110 pounds_ Pigs Weighing Pigs eat more teed when the mixture is protected from the a. 200 pounds will average eating close to 4 sun and rain‘ nt of their live weight per day. Thus, a 90- ;, pig on fun feed will eat 5 percent of 90 What value have green pastures for hogs? S, 01‘ 4-5 POIIIIdS, 0f feed, and a» 150-Pm1nd Green pastures are most valuable for the 119314 perfient 0f 150 POIIIIdS, 01‘ 6 IJOIIIIdS, breeding herd and for the sow and litter until. 7' D91‘ day 011 151111 ffied, 01‘ if fed 011 a Self- the pigs are about 2 weeks past weaning or 10 r- weeks of age. Green pastures furnish vitamins, minerals, protein and unknowns, and help to fur- nish exercise for the breeding herd. Proper ro- tation of green pastures also keeps the herd in is a good fe-ed mixture for brood sows for gestation and suckling period? g e following mixture has given good results. better health and free from internal parasites. E. other mixtures also may be used. For growing and fattening pigs, good quality MIXTURE POUNDS green pasture saves 30 to 40 percent of the pro- “und sorghum grain or corn ................ -- 48 7+ oats ................................................ -- 15 m. I eat gray Shortsuuu _______________________________ n .. been alfalfa meal .................................... -_ 10 scraps ------------------------------------------------ -- 5 ybeans or cottonseed meal .................. -- 5 neral mixture ........................................ _- 2 A Total .............................................. -- 100 t is a good simple mineral mixture for hogs? j MIXTURE POUNDS amed bone meal __________________________________ __ 40 und limestone or oyster ‘shell flour .............................................. -_ 4O i t ............................................................ -- 20 t is a good protein supplement for hogs? ‘ MIXTURE POUNDS ybean meal ............................................ -- 35 ttonseed meal ........................................ -- 20 Meat scraps ....................................... -- 20 hydrated alfalfa leaf meal ................ -- 20 und limestone ...................................... -_ 3 l, ------------------------------------------------------ -- 2 1 figure g;- f11“"‘°m1“¢ we“; 1===tg~g¢s~ H; fgfatj; tlblotlc (50 grams) """"""""""""""""" "____ gfrcildzrs ndlon; the dgirhclcriii; State-oi thaeetrosgllfnlThitsntrollllgyh can be drained for cleaning. One drinking space will take T0131 ---------------------------------------------- -- 100 care of 15 fattening pigs. l3 Figure 7. This water trough arrangement is used for small groups of hogs. An automatic float could be attached by making the trough longer. tein supplement and about 5 to 10 percent of the grain required per 100 pounds of gain. Alfalfa is one of the best pastures for hogs. What is a good Weight for pigs at different ages where the pigs are full fed? A good weight for a pig at birth is 3= pounds. With 8 pigs to the litter, the average weight at 56 days of age must be 40 pounds to meet the production registry requirements, but with 9 pigs per litter the pigs must average only 35.6 pounds. A pig at 3 months of age should weigh about 75 pounds. A good weight for a 4-month-old pig is about 110 pounds. A pig that weighs 110 pounds at 4 months old could Weigh 210 pounds at 175 days of age by gaining 1.82 pounds per "day from 4 months of age to 175 days of age, a period of 55 days. Figure 8. A drinking trough arrangement suited to little pigs during the suckling period. 14 When should gilts be separated fro-m the oi hogs and placed with the breeding herd? Separate the gilts into a lot to them when they are 4 to 41/2 months old. gilts should be fed a good growing ratio should not be bred until they are 81/2 month‘, They may be wormed before breeding, and should be in gaining conditionywith the fe creased about 10 days beforeddreeding star :1 maintained until all gilts are bred. One matic watering cup should be provided forf 10 gilts. If pasture is not available, an a rack kept full of green alfalfa hay is a good; stitute. About 4 gilts may be fed per linea of rack space. Is water important for hogs? A growing - fattening pig requires o pounds of water for each pound of gain pr Brood sows need to have water available a times to produce a lot of milk. 5 The water trough should be designed vent the pigs from turning it over or from, ing the water out and making a mud Wall Figure 6 shows an automatic water ar ment used at the Texas A. & M. garbage ff plant. I Figures 7 and 8 show a simple arran for watering hogs on a small scale. The p can be placed under a guard and can be re w‘ for cleaning. The trough is" placed on a sled form to keep the pig from getting water o. to the ground. i When should sows and litters be moved pasture? " Where 3 or 4 sows. and litters are run same pasture area, they should be moved ~ ture when the pigs are 7 to 10 days of a all the pigs should be within a week of the‘, age for best results. Figure 9 shows a A suited to a sow and litter. The panel ar ment in front of the house is used for‘ 1 week where more than one sow and litt run together. About 1 acre of pasture wi ,7 care of 4 to 6 sows and litters where the} and pigs are full fed a good ration. i Can a house be arranged so the sow and pi be separated where the sow can graze on 1- not used by the little pigs during the n period? . Yes. Figure 10 shows such an arra 1, developed at the Texas A. & M. College S The picture shows the sow returning to he, to let them nurse. The pigs can be seen t . the panel fence. The sow goes over and th a ' go under the chute. The chute is 13 inch the ground on the end where the pigs go This is raised to 15 inches when the pigs weeks old. The sow and pigs are never ,7 same. ground with? this arrangement whic mits the pigs to be raised on clean ground; p not eat the pigs’ ration and the pigs do her the sow at feeding time. gThe sow l: can be fed different rations according p needs with this set up. One of the main ges is that the system works automatic- " he individual performance of a sow can ined; if she does not measure up to a ygble record she is culled. This system seems :11 it one to wean the litter at 6 weeks in if at 8 weeks, because the sow and litter i fed better. ' age a good hog feed? bage, like nails, is of many kinds. Army, all, boarding house, hotel and hospital gar- gepresent the best. Household garbage has t value as a hog feed. Good army garbage ' used best by pigs with a starting Weight of 125 pounds. About 20 pounds of garbage uired per hog per day. The hogs should bout 1%, pounds daily on the army -or mess rbage. Sixteen pounds of army garbage produce about 1 pound of gain. as has a law requiring garbage to be cook- g ore it is fed to hogs. Jures 11 and 12 show equipment at Texas College used for feeding garbage. The i re on concrete throughout the feeding per- , he pigs are vaccinated against cholera soon ‘arrival at the garbage plant. The pens are "d clean every day and garbage is collected daily. Each pen has automatic water and : system for keeping the pigs cool during mmer. All of. the garbage fed comes from _ llege mess halls. is the best time to sell market hogs? 4 the average, market hogs sell for higher . in March, June, July, August and Sep- gr. Heavy hogs sell at higher prices in July, st and September. On the average, low . are received for hogs in November and ber. ‘is a good method for mixing a protein sup- Jnt with home-grown grain so as to have a ced ration? e has to know the protein content of the and supplement. If the protein supplement ins 35 percent crude protein and the sor- grain contains 10 percent crude protein, n proceed as follows: l 35 = crude protein content of supplement 15 == crude protein content of mixture desired 10 = crudeiiprotein content of sorghum g grainy” irstIthe difference between 15 and 10 is 5 ext-the difference between 35 and 15 is 2O ui-n-q Total = 25 Figure 9. An 8-by-8-foot individual house suited for one sow and litter. The panels in front of the house are removed after about a week when the sow and litter are accustomed to their house. The 5 represents 5 pounds of supplement. The 20 represents 20 pounds of sorghum grain. This totals 25 pounds of mixture. To make a 100-pound mixture one would need 4 times as much. Therefore, 4 >< 20 I 8O pounds of sorghum grain; and 4 >< 5 I 20 pounds of supplement. Total I 100 pound mixture. PROOF Eighty pounds of sorghum >< 10 percent I 8 pounds of crude protein; 20 pounds of supplement >< 35 percent I 7 pounds of crude protein. The 8 pounds -|— 7 pounds totals 15 pounds or 15 percent crude protein in the 100 pound mixture. Figure l0. An automatic sow and pig separator. The pigs can be seen across the fence in another pen away from the sow. This pig and sow separator was developed at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. 15 Figure 11. A view of part of the garbage feeding pens at the Texas A&M College. Each pen can take care of 60 feeder pigs. The pens are 2U by 34 feet in size. The feeding floor space is 20 by 12 feet in size. How can one help prevent the sow from lying o-n new-born pigs? About half of the losses of little pigs prior to Weaning are pigs which were laid on and crushed by their mothers. More than 5O percent of such losses occur during the first3 days after the pigs are farrowed. Figure 13 shows a farrowing pen equipped with guardrails along the side walls and a central guardrail in the center of the pen. This center guardrail, developed at the Texas A&M College, prevents the pigs from being laid on by“ the sow. This center guardrail saves lots of pigs. How can one mix three or more feeds in formu- lating a balanced ration? This is done by a modification of the Pearson square. The “square” method may be used for mixing three feeds when two requirements—a given amount of one feed and a definite amount of crude protein (C. P.)—are to be met. Figure 12. Cleaning the feeding floor of the pens used for garbage feeding at Texas A&M College. 16 ..Mix, for example, sorghum grain, ta and alfalfa meal so that the mixture will tain 15 percent crude protein and exactly 101 cent alfalfa meal. The sorghum grain contai percent, the tankage 60 percent and the a meal 16 percent crude protein. For conveni in figuring, mix 100 pounds of the mixtures First, the 10 pounds ofpalfalfa meal will nish 1.6 pounds of protein. ' This leaves pounds of protein to come from the rema‘ 90 pounds of sorghum grain and tankage. Second, since we get 13.4 pounds of p r from 90 pounds of sorghum grain and multiply the amount (percentage) of crude, tein in both sorghum grain and tankage before setting up the “square” for obtainin amounts of sorghum grain and tankage a For the “square” then, put 13.4 (proteif quired after subtracting the 1.6 pounds furn’ by 10 pounds of alfalfa meal) in ti... cent“ the square. In the upper left hand corner i 9 (90 x 10 percent C.P. in sorghum grain). lower left hand corner of the square would i 54 ( 90 x 60 percent C.P. in tankage). We ha. Sorghum grain 9 40.6 g sorghum grain 13.4 _ 4.4 tankage Mi Tankage 54 45.0 total The total of 45 pounds "is divided into 90 cause we need 90 pounds of sorghum grain. tankage to go with 10 pounds of alfalfa meal. ‘ 90 —I- 45 I 2, we multiply 40.6 >< 2 to ge amount of sorghum grain required, and mu, 4.4 >< 2 to get the amount of tankage req t; So we have: 40.6 >< 2 1"- 81.2 pounds of sorghum :9 4.4 >< 2 I 8.8 pounds of tankage Given 10.0 pounds of alfalfa Total I 100.0 pounds of mixture PROOF Sorghum grain 81.2 pounds><10% C. P.:8.12 pounds Tankage i r 8.8 pounds><60% p C. P.=-—5.25 pounds C Alfalfa meal s 10.0 pounds><16% c. P.=1.60 pounds c; c x -: Totals 100 pounds feed containing 15.00 pounds This method may be used for four fe’ the amounts of two of the feeds are give one wanted to use 15 percent oats and 10 pet alfalfa meal in the ration, and wanted a m' with 15 percent crude protein, he could d, mine the amount of corn and tankage req; FORAGE CROPS FOR SWINE IN TEXAS ‘,- 17 Approximate . ‘ . Seed . Approximate Number of Number of u o Tltme required hmghm? grazing iull-ied sows p _ 0d per acre. see “.19 ° period. market hogs with litters ‘see pounds alga?’ days to 1 acre to 1 acre Sept.-Oct. t 15-25 19-21 150-190 15-25 * 4-9 1.- i Sept-Oct. 15-20 15-19 40-90 15-20 4 over Sept-Nov. 5-7 19-21 100-190 15-25 4-9 1991594929 Man-May 20-25 9-11 90-100 15 4 11919»: Mar. or Sept. 15-20 14-15 90-100 4 15-20 4 Sept.-Oct. 25-95 12-15 90-100 15-20 4 Man-May 90-40 9-10 55-70 10-12 9 % Man-lune 90-95 9-10 55-70 10-12 9 Sept.-Nov. 10-15 9-10 100-140 15-25 4-5 Sept-Nov. 70-90 9-9 a 190-150 15-20 4 Sept.-Nov. 70-90 9-9 190-150 15-20 4 Sept.-Nov. 90-90 9-9 190-150 15 9-4 Sept-Nov. 50-90 9-9 120-190 15 9 Man-Iuly 20-90 4-5 45-90 15-20 9 '1 1 Mar.-Iune 10-15 9-7 190-150 15-20 9-5 Figure l3. A iarrowing pen equipped with a center ’ guardrail and with conventional guardrails along the side walls of the pen. by this method. In this case, the protein in the corn and tankage would be multiplied by 75 be- fore setting up the square, since 25 pounds of the mixture is furnished by the oats and alfalfa meal. TEXAS SWINE BREEDEBS ASSOCIATION A group of men met at the headquartes of Texas Farm and Ranch on the State Fair Grounds at Dallas on October 18, 1889 and organized the Texas State Swine Breeders’ Association. The l8 first spring meeting was held at the Texasg College‘ on February 25, 1890. Lawrence Sullivan Ross, former Gove l Texas and President of the A&M College o as, was listed as a member of the associati 1896. The Texas Swine Breeders’ Associatio been an important influencefin the develo of better hogs and better feéding and g ment practices throughout the State. Ital worked constantly with the Texas A&M ‘ System, with livestock shows and 4-H ,1 through the years. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The encouragement and cooperation of; Miller, dean of the School of Agriculture O. D. Butler, head of the Department of Husbandry, contributed materially to this, tin. i a ,. i Others have worked on certain aspects investigations. A. M. Sorensen, Jr., as professor, Department of Animal Hus’ contributed the information on reproductiv formance and performance and progeny C. M. Patterson, extension veterinarian, c9 uted the section on swine health. The suggestionsof John K. Riggs, pro j Department of Animal Husbandry, and t, sistance of others who contributed in an as well as all literature information inclu cited, are gratefully acknowledged. [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] ‘K State-wide Researc ‘k The Texas Agricultural Experiment St -i .. is the public agricultural research age Location oi field research units in Texas main- of the State of Texas! and is one of tained by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and cooperating agencies parts oi the Texas AoiM College Systi IN THE MAIN STATION, with headquarters at College Station, are 16 subject-matter departments, 2 i departments, 5 regulatory services and the administrative staff. Located out in the major agricultur of Texas are 21 substations and 9 field laboratories. In addition, there are 14 cooperating stations by other agencies. Cooperating agencies include the Texas Forest Service, Game and Fish Comm'j Texas, Texas Prison System, U. S. Department of Agriculture, University of Texas, Texas Technologi lege, Texas College of Arts and Industries and the King Ranch. Some experiments are conducted on": and ranches and in rural homes. i RESEARCH BY THE TEXAS STATION is organized by programs and projects. A program of resear sents a coordinated effort to solve the many problems relating to a common objective or situation? search project represents the procedures for attacking a specific problem within a program. 1 THE TEXAS STATION is conducting about 400 active research projects, grouped in 25 programs clude all phases of agriculture in Texas. Among these are: conservation and improvement of soi servation and use of water in agriculture; grasses anl legumes for pastures, ranges, hay, conserva improvement of soils; grain crops; cotton and other fber crops; vegetable crops; citrus and other s, cal fruits; fruits and nuts; oil seed crops—other than cotton; ornamental plants——including turf; b weeds; insects; plant diseases; beef cattle; dairy cattle; sheep and goats; swine; chickens and turk mal disease and parasites; fish and game on farms and ranches; farm and ranch engineering; l! ranch business; marketing agricultural products; rural. home economics; and rural agricultural cc; r f Two additional programs are maintenance and upkeep, and central services. . RESEARCH RESULTS are carried to Texas farm and ranch owners and homemakers by specialists and)? agents of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.