Protein supplements are essential to profitable pork production whether
it be the maintenance of the breeding herd, growing the pigs, or fattening
pigs for market. Previous tests at this station have shown the advantage
and profit in feeding tankage and other protein supplements with corn or
other grains when pigs are fed in the dry lot or on pasture.
About a year ago the Department of Animal Husbandry was asked to conduct
some experimental feeding tests with mustard seed oil meal. This meal was
being produced in a Kansas seed oil extraction plant by expressing the oil
from wild mustard seed. The seed had been shipped from northern wheat growing
areas, where it had been separated from Spring wheat, which it contaminated
very badly. There was a considerable potential supply of this seed and the
meal or residue remaining from the oil extraction contained considerable protein,
so it was thought that it might have considerable value as a protein supplement
for livestock. Consequently the Department of Animal Husbandry became interested
and carried on some feeding experiments.
