550 



Feeds and Feeding. 



either wheat bran, wheat shorts, or alfalfa hay as shown in the fol- 

 lowing table: 



Measuring the value of alfalfa hay. 



The table shows the great value for swine fattening of alfalfa 

 hay when rightly combined with corn. When the ration consisted 

 of one-fourth alfalfa hay, that amount of hay was worth its weight 

 of corn meal and was superior to the same weight of wheat bran. 

 When alfalfa hay formed half the ration the returns were less satis- 

 factory, showing that too much roughage was being fed. Ground 

 alfalfa hay showed no superiority over cut hay. The farmer de- 

 sirous of reducing the cost of producing pork should carefully 

 study this experiment. 



In a trial at the same Station 1 Snyder found that, when forming 

 one-fourth of the ration, 100 Ibs. of alfalfa hay, cut and mixed 

 with corn meal and fed wet in troughs, saved 20 per ct. and the 

 same amount of uncut alfalfa hay 7 per ct. of the grain required 

 for 100 Ibs. gain when no hay was fed. In view of the cost of 

 grinding corn and cutting hay Snyder concludes that it is usually 

 best to feed third-crop alfalfa hay uncut in racks, with shelled or 

 ear corn additional. 



Hoard 2 states that for years his brood sows have been wintered 

 on third cutting alfalfa hay with a little skim milk and no grain 

 until about 2 weeks before farrowing. Sows so maintained keep in 

 good flesh, bear fine litters of strong, healthy pigs, and give an abun- 

 dance of milk. (245) 



Bui. 99. 



2 Ept. Wis. Dairymen 's Ass 'n, 1905. 



