268 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



profit per pig from 1.3 cts. on emmer to 3.9 cts. in one of the tests on corn 

 alone. 



" For fattening hogs that have access to alfalfa hay, corn at 35 cts., barley 

 24 cts., and emmer 19 cts. should give about equal profits. Under these condi- 

 tions, 4 bu. of barley are worth as much as 5 bu. of emmer. 



" Where barley or emmer is fed to hogs it is more profitable to make the 

 ration one-half corn than to feed emmer or barley alone." 



Considering financial aspects the conclusion is drawn from the tests as a 

 whole, that " conditions in western Nebraska are favorable to a large production 

 of pork. In every test, where conditions were not peculiarly unfavorable, grain 

 fed to hogs has returned much above the market price. 



"Alfalfa may be fed with profit to growing or fattening pigs in almost any 

 form so long as it does not make up too large a proportion of the ration. When 

 cut and fed as one-quarter of the ration with grovmd corn, it materially reduced 

 the cost of gains and increased the profits. . . . 



" With sufficient good alfalfa, well stacked, mature hogs can be carried 

 through the winter in fair condition, with 3 lbs. of corn per head per day, and 

 if necessary with much less grain." 



The damage done by the hogs to the alfalfa pastures is estimated by the author 

 at one-half the crop or less. 



" The number of hogs that may be pastured profitably on an acre depends 

 very largely on the amount of grain fed. Probably from G to S hogs, under ordi- 

 nary conditions, would be about the right number. This would allow enough 

 alfalfa to grow to make 3 fair crops per year. The fields should be small rather 

 than large, so that the part nearest the water and sheds will not be kept too 

 close to the ground and that at the farther end of the field be left untouched. 



" We have not observed satisfactory results with sows rim on alfalfa without 

 grain during the pregnant ^ period, although very little grain is necessary for 

 pregnant sows which are to farrow in the fall." 



Poultry experiments, 1906-7, G. M. Gowell {Maine ^ta. Bui. IJfJf, pp. IJfo- 

 186. pis. 6). — The construction and operation of the station brooder houses, 

 houses for laying and breeding hens, and trap nests are discussed, as well as 

 the station methods of feeding young chickens, cockerels, growing pullets, and 

 hens. 



In the case of pullets it is stated that the method of dry feeding described in 

 an eai'lier publication (E. S. R., 17, p. 388) has given satisfactory results. 



" The labor of feeding is far less than that required by any other method. The 

 birds do not hang around the troughs and overeat, but help themselves, a little 

 at a time, and range ofC, hunting, or playing and come back again, when so 

 inclined, to the food supply at the troughs. There is no rushing or crowding 

 about the attendant, as is usual at feeding time, where large numbers are kept 

 together." 



In the case of hens the average amount eaten per bird during the last year 

 approximated 90 lbs. grain and meal mixture, 4 lbs. oyster shells, 2.4 lbs. dry 

 cracked bone, 2 lbs. grit, 2.4 lbs. charcoal, and 10 lbs. clover. The cost of 

 these materials was about $1.45 and the average egg production 144 per hen. 



The relative value of green alfalfa and clover was studied, a peck of the 

 finely chopped material per 100 hens being fed twice a day. The hens " evi- 

 dently relished the clover better than the alfalfa, but the alfalfa has the advan- 

 tage of being ready to use before the clover has made growth enough to cut. . . . 



" Clover is the most satisfactory green food that the station has used and the 

 expense of growing it need not be great, as small areas will furnish enough for 

 liberal feeding. The supplies of it should be constant, and that there may be 

 no shortage between the first and second crops in the regular clover fields. 



