ALFALFA FOR SWINE 223 



TOO pounds of gain) more grain than tlie pasture lots. 

 The lot on rape required one acre of pasture, while the 

 alfalfa lot used a trifle less than half an acre. 



The lot without pasture required 3.71 pounds of grain 

 to produce one pound of gain. .Vssigning the same value 

 to the grain fed the hogs on rape pasture, we have 877 

 pounds of pork credited to the grain and 199 pounds 

 credited to the rape. At 6 cents per pound, the price at 

 which hogs were selling at the close of the experiment, 

 this would be a credit of $1 1.90 per acre for the rape. In 

 a similar manner, the alfalfa is credited with 201 pounds 

 of pork, equal to $[2.05, and as there was only a half- 

 acre of alfalfa, this makes a rate of $24.10 per acre. 



The cost of preparing the seed l)ed and seeding the 

 rape was $1.80 per acre. It was seeded in the feed lots, 

 on soil that would otherwise have remained idle or would 

 have grown up to weeds. 



The shotes on pasture enjoyed their diet and seemed 

 satisfied. Those in the dry lot apparently hankered for 

 something green, and their appetites seemed unsatisfied 

 without some kind of roughness. They would even nibble 

 at straw, in a \ain attempt to satisfy their craving. 



"The experiment," says Prof. D. H. Otis, "empha- 

 sizes the superior value of alfalfa pasture. Where al- 

 falfa is not available, or where variety is wanted, or it is 

 desired to utilize otherwise waste land. Dwarf Essex 

 rape, seeded at the rate of six to eight pounds per acre, 

 any time from early spring to late summer, will furnish 

 an excellent diet that is greatly relished by the hogs." 



J. E. Woodford, of Coffey county, Kansas. April i, 

 1905, placed ten choice pure-bred Poland-China brood 



