* 



FEEDS FOR SWINE 683 



Adding alfalfa hay to corn and tankage for pigs 



Daily Feed for 100 Ibs. gain 



Corn Tankage Alfe 

 Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



Average ration gain Corn Tankage Alfalfa 



Lot I, no hay 



Tankage, 0.51 Ib. Corn, 5.8 Ibs 1.33 433 39 



Lot II, fed alfalfa 



Alfalfa hay, 0.22 Ib. 



Tankage, 0.54 Ib. Corn, 5.8 Ibs 1.44 402 38 16 



The pigs fed alfalfa hay in addition to the well-balanced ration of corn 

 and tankage gained 0.11 Ib. more per head daily on the average. This in- 

 crease in gain occurred in each of the trials, except one, and in that the 

 gains for the two lots were the same. On the average, the pigs fed alfalfa 

 hay required 16 Ibs. less total feed for 100 Ibs. gain than those receiv- 

 ing only corn and tankage. In these trials 100 Ibs. alfalfa hay actually 

 saved on the average 189 Ibs. corn plus 8 Ibs. tankage a remarkable show- 

 ing. These results were due to the fact that, for some reason or other, 

 adding a little alfalfa hay makes a ration of corn and tankage more 

 efficient for pigs in dry lot, provided too much hay is not included in the 

 ration. Just what this favorable effect is due to is still a problem. 

 Possibly the combination of proteins is made more efficient for growth, 

 or the effect may be due to increasing the amount of fat-soluble vitamine 

 in the ration. 



When swine eat sufficient uncut alfalfa hay from suitable racks, there 

 is little or no advantage in chopping it or grinding it to a meal. 170 How- 

 ever, it is often difficult to get swine, especially pigs, to eat enough 

 hay to be of any material advantage unless it is thus prepared or unless 

 the leaves and chaff are fed. Hay chopped by running it thru a feed cut- 

 ter, equipped with an alfalfa screen, is entirely satisfactory for swine, 

 and this is an inexpensive method of preparation, compared with grind- 

 ing to a meal. 



1011. Clover hay ; hay from other legumes. Red clover hay is not nearly 

 as palatable to swine as alfalfa hay, and furthermore is not as rich in 

 protein or in lime. Therefore it falls materially below alfalfa in feeding 

 value for this class of stock. On soils not adapted to alfalfa, clover is, 

 however, a helpful substitute. 171 By mixing chopped clover hay or clover 

 chaff with ground concentrates the sows or pigs will readily eat enough 

 to aid in keeping them thrifty. Sometimes brood sows may eat sufficient 

 uncut clover hay, fed in a rack, if it is leafy and of choice quality. 



As yet there is little definite information concerning the relative 

 values of hay from other legumes for swine. When alfalfa is not avail- 

 able, hay from soybean^ cowpeas, lespedeza, and sweet clover should be 

 helpful substitutes. 



"Snyder, Nebr. Bui. 124. 

 m Linfield, Mont. Bui. 57. 



