070 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



on alfalfa pasture with proper proportions of corn and tankage in 

 addition, and another lot has been similarly fed on rape pasture. The 

 pigs averaged 49 Ibs. in weight at the start and were fed for an average 

 of 130 days: 



Alfalfa vs. rape pasture for pigs 



Concentrates for 

 Daily 100 Ibs. gain 



Average ration gain Corn Tankage 



Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



Lot I, alfalfa pasture* 



Corn, 4.5 Ibs. 



Tankage, 0.26 Ib. Alfalfa 1.24 362 21 



Lot II, rape pasture* 



Corn, 4.4 Ibs. 



Tankage, 0.27 Ib. Rape 1 . 20 359 22 



*Average of 5 trials by Morrison and Bohstedt, Wis. Station (Unpublished data); and 3 by Evvard 

 (Iowa Bui. 136, Cir. 53, and Am. Soc. Anim. Production, Proceedings, 1913). 



The table shows that there was little difference in the results on 

 alfalfa and rape pasture. The pigs on alfalfa pasture made a trifle more 

 rapid gains than those on rape, but there was practically no difference 

 in the amount of feed required for 100 Ibs. gain. Furthermore, the 

 average number of pigs carried per acre of pasture in these trials was 

 nearly the same, being 19.9 pigs per acre for rape and 19.6 for alfalfa. 

 Except where alfalfa thrives unusually well, rape will usually carry 3 

 to 4 more pigs per acre than can be grazed safely on alfalfa. In these 

 trials the chief advantages in favor of alfalfa were that on the average 

 2,516 Ibs. of hay was cut from the pasture plots, while none, of course, 

 was secured from the rape plots. Futhermore, rape is not a legume, and 

 does not add nitrogen to the soil. Also, it is an annual, and the cost of 

 growing it is therefore somewhat higher than the cost of alfalfa pasture 

 in sections where a seeding of alfalfa will last for 3 years or more. 



As alfalfa is quite rich in protein and is high in calcium, pigs fed only 

 corn on alfalfa pasture will make quite good gains, but it is ordinarily 

 more economical to balance the ration by supplying a small amount of 

 some protein-rich feed, such as dairy by-products, tankage, linseed meal, 

 etc. (984) 



986. Clover pasture. In the northern and central states red clover is 

 one of the most valuable pasture crops for pigs, being surpassed only by 

 alfalfa and sometimes by rape. (348) Since early pasturing may kill 

 clover, pigs should not be turned on until it has made a good growth. 

 Clover does not furnish as constant a supply of succulent feed as does 

 alfalfa, tending to become woody late in the summer, but clipping will 

 greatly aid by inducing a new growth. 



The following table summarizes the results of 5 trials at the Iowa and 

 Wisconsin Stations in which clover and alfalfa pasture have been directly 

 compared. In these trials spring pigs, averaging 51 Ibs. in weight, were 

 fed to market weights on either clover or alfalfa pasture with suitable 

 proportions of corn and tankage in addition : 



