ALFALFA FOR SWINE 1 63 



price at which hogs were selHng at the close of the 

 experiment, this would be a credit of $11.90 per 

 acre for the rape. In a similar manner, the alfalfa is 

 credited with 201 pounds of pork, equal to $12.05, ^^^ 

 as there was only a half -acre of alfalfa, this makes a rate 

 of $24.10 per acre. 



The cost of preparing the seed bed 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 shoats on pasture enjoyed their diet and seemed 

 satisfied. Those in dry lot seemed to be hankering after 

 something green, and their appetites seemed unsatisfied 

 without some kind of roughness. They would even nib- 

 ble at straw, in a vain attempt to satisfy their cra,ving. 



"The experiment," says Prof. D. H. Otis, "emphasizes 

 the superior value of alfalfa pasture. Where alfalfa 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 

 sows from twelve to eighteen months old that were due 

 to farrow in the latter days of June, on a five-acre field of 

 alfalfa. They were given no other feed than the alfalfa 

 pasturage until they had farrowed and their pigs were a 

 week old. After that the sows had in addition to the 

 alfalfa some bran slop until about August 20, when new 

 corn was fit for feeding. He says : "The sows from the 



