474 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



It will be noted that the cost per hundred pounds of gain of the lo:s 

 fed in different ways was as follows: 



Corn and bluegrass $3.92 



Corn and rape 3.49 



Corn and clover 3.20 



Corn and alfalfa 2.96 



Corn and skim milk 2.84 



These results therefore emphasize strongly what has already been 

 said with reference to the value of balancing the corn ration. The three 

 balancing foods used in this experiment were clover, alfalfa and skim 

 milk, and it will be noted that in every case not only cheaper gains were 

 made with these materials combined with corn, but that the hogs made 

 more rapid gains. 



In this experiment by using clover instead of bluegrass, a difference 

 of almost seventy-five cents a hundred in the cost of gain was effected. 

 When alfalfa was used instead of bluegrass, a saving in the cost of pork 

 was almost a dollar a hundred or was made almost one third cheaper. 

 When skim milk was used, more than a dollar a hundred in the cost of 

 production was saved. When we consider that clover will yield more 

 than bluegrass, it is perfectly obvious that we can make much more pork 

 per acre by providing them with clover pasture instead of requiring them 

 to run on bluegrass. Unfortunately some of our farmers require their 

 pigs to graze on timothy, which is not as good as bluegrass even. I do 

 not take the position that bluegrass is not a good pasture, even for hogs — 

 on the contrary it is the best grass for this purpose we have — but the 

 clovers are far superior to any grass for this purpose, both in poijit of 

 yield and in feeding value. 



The high feeding value of rape as compared with bluegrass is of in- 

 terest to every hog grower. It will be noted that the cost of gain where 

 rape was used was about forty-five cents per hundred less than where 

 bluegrass was used. As has already been pointed out, rape is one of 

 the most productive green forage crops we have and may be grown at 

 comparatively little expense and is practically a certain crop and must 

 in the light of these experiments prove highly profitable to the hog 

 raiser. Abundant experience shows that rape has even a higher value 

 for sheep than for hogs. 



A SUCCESSIOX OF PASTURE FOR IKKiS. 



It is not safe or even desirable to rely upon a single crop to furnish 

 pasture for our hogs throughout the entire season. It is better to arrange 

 for a succession of pastures from the beginning of the season until the 

 hogs are ready for market, making the feed richer and more concentrated 

 toward the close of the season and as we approach the finishing of fat- 

 tening period. For this purpose the following crops are recommended: 



Red clover or alfalfa. 



Rape. 



Cowpeas. 



Soy beans. 



