112 



A STUDY OF FARM ANIMALS 



Rape is a plant that belongs to the same family as the 

 turnip and radish, and is grown for its succulent leaves. It 

 is used exclusively for pasturage for sheep and hogs and is 

 well suited to the cooler sections of the country or to cool 

 seasons. In Canada and the northern United States rape'is 

 an extremely popular pasture plant among sheep breeders. 

 Three or four pounds of seed per acre will do for a seeding, 

 and stock may be turned on the field after the leaves have 

 become large and succulent. Rape will stand considerable 

 frost without damage. At the Michigan station, 15 acres of 



Figure 26. Pigs in a field of rape. Photograph from Purdue Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. 



rape pastured 128 lambs for 7J/2 weeks, during which time 

 they gained 2,890 pounds. From this trial it was established 

 that 1 acre of rape pastured 9 lambs 7 weeks, producing 203 

 pounds of increase. For sheep and hogs, rape furnishes a 

 most valuable late summer and fall pasture. It may also 

 be sown in early spring, so that we may secure the pasture 

 during the entire growing season. Green rape contains 

 about 2% per cent of digestible protein, and compares very 

 favorably in feeding value with most green clovers. 



