ALFALFA FOR SWINE 1 59 



who have used alfalfa as a soiling crop for pigs admit, 

 however, that one acre so utilized is equal to two if not 

 three used as pasture. 



It is argued by feeders that as many hogs may profit- 

 ably be allowed with cattle that are being fattened on 

 corn and alfalfa as when fed corn alone, as the feeders 

 believe in cleaning out the feed-racks every few days and 

 giving the left-over stems to the hogs. If necessary, a 

 little corn is added to the hog ration. 



A NEBRASKA TEST 



The Nebraska experiment station, from a hog-feeding 

 test made in 1903 reported the following: 



"With the alfalfa hay worth $7 per ton, the leaves, 

 containing 40 per cent more protein, would be worth 

 approximately $10 per ton. The shorts cost $12.50 per 

 ton delivered. The dairy department charged 15 cents 

 per hundred for the skim milk used. Corn was delivered 

 to the barns at 30 cents per bushel. Adding the usual 

 rate of 6 cents per hundred for grinding, the corn meal 

 cost $12 per ton. At these prices, each hundred pounds 

 of gain in the several lots cost as follows : 



Lot I, corn alone $4.48 



Lot 2, corn and skim milk 3.97 



Lot 3, corn and shorts 3.53 



Lot 4, corn and alfalfa 3.40 



''This experiment shows that at the market prices 

 quoted and the proportions used in the experiment, skim 

 milk will make corn bring four cents more per bushel, 

 wheat shorts eight cents more, and alfalfa leaves nine cents 



