ALFALFA FOR SWINE 23 1 



is placed, where the hogs can feed Hke cattle or sheep. 

 The hay has been found to be. especially valuable for 

 brood sows before farrowing. Where it is fed during 

 tlie w inter only a small grain ration is necessary to keep 

 the sows in good tlesh and in healthy condition. Sows 

 tluis fed also farrow good litters of strong, healthy pigs. 



"To hogs alfalfa hay is usually fed dry. The leaves 

 are more readily eaten than the stems, as they contain 

 more of the nutritive value of the plant. For this reason 

 some farmers save the last cutting of hay for the hogs 

 because it is more relished. It is eaten up cleaner, as 

 the stems are not so woody, and more food value is 

 found in the leaves. Sometimes the hay is cut up fine, 

 wet, and mixed with other feed, and sometimes it is fed 

 ground, as there are now alfalfa mills scattered through- 

 out the alfalfa regions. But it is very doubtful whether 

 this extra expense will pay, unless it be for a ration for 

 young pigs. 



"To a\'oid the expense of chopping, dialing or grind- 

 ing, some farmers, in order to get the hay all eaten, have 

 soaked it in water and fed it. This has proved very 

 satisfactory where tried. One Oklahoma farmer carried 

 his hogs tin-ough a winter by feeding them alfalfa leaves 

 soaked in hot water for one day and the next day shorts 

 mixed with the pulp and water. He feeds much alfalfa 

 hay to his hogs and is very successful with them. He puts 

 the last cutting in shock as soon as wilted, and thus cures 

 it without ])leaching and feeds it to his hogs. Another 

 farmer carried his entire herd of hogs through the win- 

 ter by feeding them the pulp of alfalfa hay after soaking 

 it in water overnight. He also gave them water to 



