46 Pork Production 



The system of feeding followed in these tests insured 

 large gains and the gilts were in rather heavy flesh at 

 farrowing time. The results were satisfactory both from 

 the standpoint of economy and the number and quality 

 of the pigs. Rather large litters of healthy pigs were 

 produced and no trouble occurred at farrowing time. 



The figures showing the cost of wintering the gilts are 

 high for these experiments because of the rather large 

 rations fed. If the gilts had been credited with as much 

 of the gain in weight as remained after they had farrowed 

 and weaned their pigs, at the market price of pork, the 

 cost would have been considerably reduced. On the 

 other hand, the prices of the feeds should be increased 

 to bring the results more nearly in harmony with present 

 conditions. 



Methods of feeding alfalfa hay. 



The question of the best method of feeding alfalfa hay 

 to bred sows in the winter was also studied by W. P. 

 Snyder of the North Platte, Nebraska, sub-station. 

 Table V gives a summary of four years' work with special 

 reference to the cost of maintenance. 



Lot I was fed shelled corn in a trough or on clean 

 ground and alfalfa in a rack. The sows in this lot were 

 given all the hay they would eat. Lot II was fed ground 

 corn mixed with an equal weight of chopped or cut alfalfa. 

 This mixture was moistened with water at feeding time. 

 Both lots had access to a small field of fall-sown rye. 



In each of the four years the cost of wintering the sows 

 was lower in the lots fed the alfalfa in racks than when it 

 was chopped and the sows compelled to eat as much hay as 

 they were given grain. The average annual saving in the 

 cost of keep was $1.63 for each sow. The effect on the 



