ALFALFA FOR SWINE 21/ 



50 cents. To pasture mature hogs without grain would 

 cost more than twice this amount. Where hogs were 

 fed a heavy ration of grain, 8 head per acre did not 

 damage the alfalfa more than 20 per cent. The same 

 number on a light grain ration would eat and destroy 

 from 50 per cent to 75 per cent of the crop. 



"The number of hogs that may be pastured profitably 

 on an acre depends very largely on the amount of grain 

 fed. Probably from six to eight hogs, under ordinary 

 conditions, would be about the right number. This would 

 allow, besides, enough alfalfa standing to make three 

 fair cuttings per year. The fields should be small, rather 

 than large, so that the alfalfa nearest the water and 

 slieds will not be grazed too close to the ground and that 

 at the further end of the field be left untouched. 



"We have not observed satisfactory results with sows 

 run on alfalfa without grain during the pregnant period, 

 although very little grain is necessary for pregnant sows 

 which are to farrow in the fall. 



"From the results of these experiments and other tests 

 it is evident that alfalfa is a great aid in pork production, 

 and that when it is available tliere is a profit in raising 

 hogs under the conditions usually existing in western 

 Nebraska. We believe that there is enough alfalfa 

 growing on the uplands and in tlie valleys in various 

 l)arts of the West to warrant the statement that there are 

 but few farms in western Nebraska on which alfalfa 

 cannot be grown with much profit for hog pasture and 

 winter feed. A\'ith sufficient good alfalfa, well stacked, 

 mature hogs can be carried through the winter in fair 



