330 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



From the data just given it will be seen that the hogs re- 

 ceiving a full feed of grain while on pasture required one and 

 one-half times as much grain to produce a pound of gain as did 

 the hogs that were receiving one-half grain ration on pasture. 



The supplements to forages should depend upon the nature 

 of the forage plant. Where the forage crop is a legume, such as 

 alfalfa, clover, cowpeas or soybeans, corn will make a very satis- 

 factory supplement; but where the forage consists of corn, sorg- 

 hum or rye, better results will be obtained if the grain supplement 

 is made about four parts corn and one part oilmeal. 



In the light of the data that has already been worked out, it 

 behooves us as meat producers to alter our methods and introduce 

 more economical systems of pork production. The solution of 

 economical pork production must come through the judicious use 

 of forage crops. 



SWINE FEEDING. 



(W. S. Cotton, Smithton, Missouri.) 



I am quite sure that I shall not be able to offer a single neiv 

 idea in this matter of hog-feeding. I shall simply attempt to out- 

 line, in as concise a form as possible, my own methods, which are 

 a combination of what I have been able to gather together from 

 different sources, our own and other experiment station results, 

 my neighbors and other friends, the agricultural press, and my 

 own experience in adapting these different ideas to my own en- 

 vironment. 



The problem of successful hog-feeding begins several genera- 

 tions back of the hog in the feed lot, but as it works in a circle, 

 I will begin with my ideas of handling the sow. 



My experience is that at no time, except while weaning the 

 pigs, should the sow be confined to close quarters. If two litters 

 of pigs are to be raised each year she will lead a pretty busy life, 

 and will require a large amount of food to keep her in good thrifty 

 condition, and while she shouldn't get too fat, it is usually the 

 other trouble — too thin. 



From two to six sows I find will get along very nicely to- 

 gether when they are raising their pigs; while dry, I keep more 

 in one pasture, and feed two ears of corn each twice a day, and 

 in the winter all the alfalfa hay they want — which is quite a 

 good deal — and if I didn't have alfalfa I would try to have some 

 choice clover. 



