1919] 



ANIMAL I'KOIH'CTION. 



371 



treated like lot 2. It made greater gains than the silage fed lot, but with 

 alfalfa at $18 per ton it was less profitable. 



In this year also another lot of eighl steers was fed exactly like lot 2 but 

 In a concrete instead of a dirt yard. Results show Blight differences in favor 

 of the concrete yard. 



[Pasturing 1 alfalfa and harvesting corn on irrigated fields with hogs and 

 sheep], B. Aunk \U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., Work Belle 1'ourche 

 Wept, I'd mi. 1917, pp. Uf-21, fig. 1). — In two six-year rotations, a three-year 

 stand of Alfalfa is pastured each year with hogs which receive in addition 2 lbs. 

 corn daily per 100 lbs. live weight. The hogs are later turned into the corn 

 plats of the same rotation. A progress report is presented of five years' results 

 with one rotation and three years' with the other. In the case of the former, the 

 average gain per acre, made by bogs while on alfalfa with corn supplement, was 

 1,725 lbs. for 117 days. The grain fed per acre averaged 4,795 lbs., and the 

 grain per pound of gain was 2.9 lbs. While the hogs were on corn, the average 

 gain per acre was 538 lbs. for 21 days. Based on the estimated yield, this repre- 

 ents an average consumption of 4.7 lbs. of corn per pound of gain. 



A summary is given in the subjoined table of the first year's results of a 

 cooperative investigation with the Bureau of Animal Industry of this Depart- 

 ment concerning the pasturing of pigs from May 28 to September 25 on alfalfa 

 supplemented with various grains to the extent of 2 per cent of the live weight 

 daily. After 44 days the original pigs in those lots receiving supplements were 

 replaced by much lighter spring pigs. 



Pasturing pigs un alfalfa supplemented by grain. 



Supplemental ration. 



None. 

 Barlev 

 Shorts 

 Corn.. 



Time on 

 pasture. 



Days. 

 115 

 119 

 119 

 119 



Carrying 

 capacity 

 per acre. 



Pounds. 

 1,305 

 1,961 

 1,987 

 1,945 



Total 



gain 



per acre. 



rounds. 



117 

 1,786 

 1,903 



1,741 



Grain 



fed 



per acre. 



Pounds. 



4,552 



4.5. r .2 

 4,504 



Grain 

 poun 



. Mi 



dof 



K»ln. 



Pounds . 



3.65 

 2.39 

 2.39 



It would appear that there is little difference in the results that could be 

 attributed to particular supplements. Which should be chosen at any particular 

 time depends on market prices. 



In another six-year rotation, the alfalfa after three years' growth is pastured 

 with ewes and their lambs, which later are used to harvest the corn and con- 

 Fume beet tops from the beet crop In the same rotation. In 1 1> 1 T the lambs 

 made fully as good gains as the hogs, and in addition they Beemed to clean up 

 the field of corn more thoroughly. 



Because of the supposed danger from bloat, sheep have not been commonly 

 pastured on alfalfa. Tests of this pasture have been conducted for three 

 years at the Belle Fourche Farm with no Indication of bloat or other ill effects. 

 Tests show that a well irrigated alfalfa field divided into two parts for alter- 

 nate pasturing has a carrying capacity with sheep of 1,300 to 1,400 lbs. per acre. 



[Importance of mineral nutrients in swine feeding] (Kansas Sta. Ri>t. 

 1917, pp. 13-15). — Ninety Duroc-Jersey pigs were divided into 15 lots and fed 

 corn meal with various unspecified ash and protein supplements. Bone ash 

 was a valuable addition to all rations tried, except those containing tank: 

 where it proved detrimental. A ration of corn meal and alfalfa pasture did 

 not supply all the mineral required for young fattening pigs. 



111401°— 19 6 



