82 FOR BETTER CROPS 



Digestive processes require muscular action, and there is need 

 to repair muscular tissue. ISTerve force is to be maintained. 

 Tiien, after all, when these animals come to the feed lot they 

 seldom have an adequate frame of lean tissue on which to build 

 the fat. Moreover, the modern trade demands lean flesh inter- 

 mixed with fat, not fat laid on in masses. And, finally, digestion 

 goes on better when there is fed a variety of foods containing 

 both fats and muscle builders. So theory backs up practice, and 

 that tells always that steers fatten more quickly, more cheaply, 

 and better, when they have all the alfalfa hay that they want in 

 connection with their corn. It is astonishing how much the 

 cost of fattening these cattle may be reduced if they are bought 

 young and fed plentifully on good alfalfa hay, and only moderately 

 with corn. And when this beef goes to the killer he finds it by 

 far the most profitable. There is no doubt of the great place 

 that alfalfa should fill in the cattle feeders' business. The 

 younger the cattle, the truer they are "babies," and the better 

 It pays to feed them alfalfa hay. 



Alfalfa for Pigs — The problem of maintaining brood sows 

 in complete health in winter time is a serious one in the corn 

 belt. They are voracious and must be fed. If fed sufficient corn 

 to satisfy them they become too fat and have weak litters of pigs, 

 or so unwieldy that they destroy their offspring through their 

 very great clumsiness. If they are deprived of sufficient corn to 

 do this and given no other food, they do not keep in health, since 

 it is nature's way to have the stomach and digestive tracts of 

 the sow distended w ith bulky food. Therefore unless this is 

 done there is set up within her an unnatural craving that ends 

 in causing her to eat her pigs at farrowing time. Now if she is 

 fed a liberal allowance of alfalfa hay she finds in it nearly all the 

 nourishment that she needs, she finds her alimentary canal dis- 

 tended comfortably, she is satisfied w ith same, and she brings 

 into the world a fine litter of pigs, and has milk for them. She 

 has use of her natural instincts and seldom destroys her pigs, 

 either by accident or intent. It is wise to allow her an ear or 

 two of corn each day in addition to what early cut alfalfa hay 

 she will consume. 



If it is summer time and she can liave the run of the alfalfa 

 field she will thrive with very little grain in addition until the 

 pigs come. After that time it will pay to feed her a little more 

 grain. The sucking pigs will soon learn to nip the tender leaves 

 and stems, and that will add greatly to their thrift and growth. 

 It pays largely, however, to feed corn in addition to alfalfa pas- 

 ture to shotes. It is not necessary to feed so much as when they 

 do not have access to alfalfa; about half the usual amount of 

 grain will cause a fine, thrifty growth. At the close of their life 

 period it is well to give whatever amount of corn they will eat 



