FEEDS FOR SWINE 675 



at this season. In 5 trials at the Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin Stations 138 

 pigs on native pasture, consisting chiefly of bluegrass, gained as rapidly 

 as others on rape pasture but required 21 Ibs. more concentrates for each 

 100 Ibs. gain. Furthermore, native pasture will not carry as many pigs 

 per acre as rape. With pigs fed corn on bluegrass, a somewhat larger 

 amount of protein-rich supplement is needed than on legume or rape 

 pasture, tho very young bluegrass is fairly rich in protein. (984) 



In the South Bermuda grass furnishes the best permanent pasture for 

 pigs. 



Winter rye provides excellent late fall and early spring pasture in the 

 northern states, rivaling bluegrass in this regard. (318) Rye which is 

 to be harvested for grain may be grazed lightly in the spring before the 

 plants begin to shoot or joint. Sometimes winter wheat is used in place of 

 rye. In the South fall-sown oats, rye, or wheat will furnish good 

 pasture from fall to spring, greatly decreasing the cost of maintaining 

 brood sows and raising fall pigs. If the swine are taken off early 

 enough in the spring, considerable grain will be produced in addition. 



Good of the Kentucky Station 139 found that green rye, wheat, and oats 

 when 5 to 8 inches high are richer than well-grown alfalfa, clover, or 

 cowpeas in protein. Hence the cereals at this stage are really nitrogenous 

 pastures, and go far toward supplementing corn. 



However, pigs fed a small amount of tankage or soy beans with corn 

 on rye pasture made larger and more economical gains than those fed 

 no supplement. During the periods when the pasture is covered by snow 

 it is especially advantageous to feed a supplement with the corn. 



994. Hogging down ripe grain. Ripe grain, usually rye, bald barley, 

 or wheat, is frequently hogged down, the pigs being turned into the field 

 when the crop is nearly ripe. This practice is especially common in the 

 grain districts of the Pacific Northwest, where the summers are dry. 

 Hunter of the United States Department of Agriculture 140 reports that 

 in eastern Washington 109 pigs hogged down 7.2 acres of standing 

 wheat, having access to an acre of pasture in addition. From hogging 

 the grain down, a net return of $15.73 per acre was realized. The net 

 return from wheat alongside, harvested and threshed, was only $8.04 

 per acre. 



In the corn belt and other humid districts hogging down rye has not 

 proved to be a profitable practice compared with feeding pigs on such 

 forages as alfalfa, clover or rape. In trials by Mumford and Weaver at 

 the Missouri Station 141 the best results were secured when a limited 

 amount of concentrates was fed to pigs hogging down rye, but even then 

 other pasture crops returned much more profit. Similar results were 

 secured in trials by Evvard and Robison. 142 In one trial Robison found 



188 Evvard, Iowa Station, Information to the authors; Morrison and Bohstedt, 

 unpublished data; Weaver, Mo. Station, information to the authors. 



138 Ky. Bui. 175. 140 U. S. D. A. Farmers' Bui. 599. 141 Mo. Bui. 110. 



" a lowa Bui. 136; Ohio, Mo. Bui. 42, and information to the authors. 



