468 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



hundred pounds of gain as compared with dry lot feeding. For growing 

 hogs a still greater reduction of ciorn is advisable. The rate of gain is 

 slower but it is vastly cheaper. I have gathered a score or more of in- 

 stances of farmers testing this. I myself have had quite a number of 

 experiences proving the double value of pasture and limited feeding in 

 the economic production of pork. I may say, however, that it is prob- 

 ably wise farm practice to feed full for the last thirty days before mar- 

 keting. Pigs may be brought on to weigh one hundred and twenty-five 

 to one hundred and fifty pounds at the rate of eighteen to tweinty pounds 

 of gain from a bushel of corn. 



But we do not always have clover or alfalfa pasture for hogs. It is 

 of ihterest to inquire in how far other pastures will take the place. [ 

 call your attention to the Illinois experiment as follows: ,. , 



TABLE 5-BLUE GRASS PASTURE— TWELVE WEEKS IX TWO PERIODS-FOUR 

 TRIALS-FOUR HOG^S IN EACH LOT-LLlINOIS EXPERIMENT. 



TABLE 6— RAPE AS PASTURE, TWO SEPARATE TRIALS. 



Lots I and III fed on a ration of two parts corn and one part shorts and had run of rape- 

 patches. Lots 11 and IV fed on same rations without rape. 



Rape. 



On Full Feed. 



.r3 ft - 



. 36 acre 

 Dry lot . 

 . 6 acre . 

 Dry lot. 



76 



One part shorts, two parts corn 

 One part shorts, two parts corn 

 One part shorts, two parts corn 

 One part shorts two part's corn 



243 



376 



433 



The value of rape as a summer feed is unquestioned. Old feed lots, 

 instead of being allowed to produce luxuriant crops of jimson and bur- 

 dock can be planted to rape. I have seen many such instances verifying 

 the foregoing table. Make the calculation and you will discover that 

 the actual productive value of the rape in this case was equivalent to 

 46,4 bushels of corn to the acre. Just as good) results are had from rye 

 pasture for fall and early spring. Then might come early sown oats, 

 then sorghum, then rape, then cow peas, making a continuous succulent 

 pasture practically the year round. AVliile farm animals do better when 

 they have the run of a pasture than if the same growth of the pasture 

 is cut off and fed to them is insoiling, yet the same yield will go four 



