8 FOEAGE CROPS FOR HOGS IN KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA. 



alfalfa without any grain. They sold on the market for 5^ cents a 

 pound. This made the cash value of the alfalfa pasture about $38.35 

 per acre. As will be seen, this is light pasturing, as there were only 

 about 4 pigs per acre besides the brood sows. 



As already stated, it is much better economy to furnish a grain 

 ration with the pasture, as it results in better gains and a better prod- 

 uct. One man estimates that it takes from one-half to one-third less 

 corn on alfalfa pasture than on a straight grain ration to make a hog 

 read}' for market. Many let the hogs run on alfalfa until about five to 

 six months old, by which time they reach a weight of 75 to 125 pounds, 

 feeding just a little grain ; then they feed heavily for about two months 

 and sell the hogs at eight months old weighing 200 to 225 pounds. 

 One farmer, Avho raises about a thousand hogs a year and who in one 

 year sold $11,200 worth of hogs, makes a practice of growing his hogs 

 on alfalfa pasture until about eight months old, feeding one ear of 

 corn per head daily. He then feeds heavily on corn for a month or two 

 and sells at an average weight of 200 to 225 pounds. Another man 

 feeds all the corn and slop the pigs will clean up, all the while run- 

 ning them on alfalfa pasture, and sells at six to eight months old at 

 weights of 250 to 300 pounds. Another, who raises about a thousand 

 head a year, feeds all the corn the pigs Avill eat, beginning shortly 

 after weaning and continuing until the hogs are sold at ten to eleven 

 months old, averaging about 275 pounds. 



Still another farmer, from weaning time (two months old) until 

 eight months old, feeds the pigs nothing but dry corn on alfalfa pas- 

 lure, averaging about one-half gallon, of corn (3J pounds) a day per 

 head. At the end of eight months he sells at an average weight of 

 250 pounds. Feeding the above quantity of corn a day makes the 

 amount fed about 11| bushels per head. Figuring this at the average 

 price of corn in this locality, 35 cents, and the price received for pork, 

 5|- cents, the following results will show the cost of growing pork on 

 this farm and the value of alfalfa pasture: 



Value of 250-pound bog. at 5J cents $13. 75 



Value of pig at weaning, 50 pounds, at 5i cents 2. 75 



Gain from pasture and grain 11.00 



Cost of Hi bushels of corn, at 35 cents 3. 93 



Value of pasture per bead pastured 7.07 



Xow, compare these results with those of a man who had to depend 

 on other pasture crops than alfalfa. He estimates that it will take 

 15 bushels of corn on wheat, oats, and r3^e pasture to raise and fatten 

 a hog so it will weigh 240 pounds at nine months old, besides the 

 j)asture and slop. At the price of corn mentioned, 35 cents a bushel, 



111— IV 



