27 



green hay, this experiment would show that such an acre of alfalfa, cut green and 

 fed fresh, would produce something like 3,000 pounds of pork. Of course this is 

 fed in connection with corn, and a statement that an acre of green alfalfa would 

 produce 2,000 pounds of pork would be very misleading. Figuring on the basis of 

 these two experiments, alfalfa hay, yielding four tons per acre (8,000 pounds), 

 would produce 1,600 pounds of pork, and its value at 4 cents per pound would be 

 something like $6i.00 per acre; and green alfalfa producing ten tons per acre 

 (20,000 pounds) would produce 2,000 pounds of pork, which, at 4 cents per pound, 

 would be worth $80.00 per acre." 



Wyoming Trials. — The Kansas results from feeding alfalfa are about the 

 most favorable of which the writer is aware. Very fair results were obtained at 

 the Wyoming Experiment Station, where alfalfa hay and wheat were fed against 

 wheat alone. In this experiment it required 449 pounds of wheat for 100 pounds 

 of gain where wheat was fed alone; and 319.3 pounds of wheat and 291.3 pounds 

 of alfalfa for 100 pounds of gain where wheat and alfalfa hay were fed. On this 

 basis, a ton of alfalfa hay would give scarcely 200 pounds of pork, which is only 

 one-quarter as much pork as was obtained at Kansas from a ton of alfalfa hay. It 

 is well to remember, however, that alfalfa hay varies very much in quality, ^ell- 

 cured, fine-stemmed, leafy hay would be best for hog feeding, and coarse-stemmed 

 hay that had been damaged more or less by the weather miglit have very little 

 value for this purpose. Such a discrepancy as that noted between the Kansas and 

 Wyoming results might easily be accounted for on the basis of different qualities 

 of hay, and in the meantime we may regard the Kansas results as representing the 

 maximum returns from alfalfa. It is also worthy of note that in onn Kansas ex- 

 periment the amount of pork produced by a ton of alfalfa hay was only 235 pounds, 

 an amount only slightly greater than that obtained at Wyoming, so that it would 

 be safer to regard the 800 pounds of pork from a ton of alfalfa hay as a possibility, 

 rather than as something which can be generally depended upon. 



The Wyoming Station also tried feeding young pigs, weighing from 60 to 70 

 pounds, a ration of y^ corn meal, or wheat meal, and 2-3 alfalfa hay, but the pigs 

 lost weight, and one died. On the other hand, mature sows were successfully 

 maintained on a ration of alfalfa hay and turnips without other feed, indicating 

 that alfalfa hay is best suited to pigs that are fairly well grown. 



Rape. — Rape is a crop which is higlily recommended wherever it can be 

 grown successfully. For hog pasture it is best sown in drills about 28 inches apart 

 at the rate of three pounds of seed per acre. It may also be sown broadcast. (In 

 most localities, it is safer not to sow until after the first of June. If there is 

 enough moisture in the soil to germinate the seed, it is generally ready for pasture 

 in about six weeks. 



Rape Compared with Alfalfa. — The Kansas Experiment Station com- 

 pared rape with alfalfa for pigs averaging 52 pounds at the commencement of the 

 experiment. Ten pigs were used in each lot. 'Following are daily gains per heai 

 and pounds of grain consumed per 100 pounds of gain : 



Lot 1. No pasture 

 Lot 2. Rape pasture.., 

 Lot 3. Alfalfa pasture 



Daily Gain. 



1.04 pounds 



1.09 pounds 



1.10 pounds 



Grain Consumed per 

 100 Pounds Gain. 



371 pounds 

 301 pounds 

 200 pounds 



