154 Pork Production 



of an ideal forage for hogs: "(1) adaptability to local 

 soil and climate; (2) palatability ; (3) heavy yield of 

 digestible matter which is comparatively high in protein 

 and suitable growing ash ; (4) narrow nutritive ratio ; 

 i.e. the relation of digestible protein to digestible carbo- 

 hydrate equivalent should not be wider than 1:5, and 

 better still if as narrow as 1:2; (5) succulence ; 

 (6) afford pasture for a long grazing season; (7) ability 

 to endure tramping and grazing; (8) permanency; 

 (9) reasonable cost and ease of seeding; (10) capability 

 of furnishing quick pasturage any time during the growing 

 season; (11) leguminous characteristics." 



MEDIUM RED CLOVER 



Common red clover is one of the most valuable and 

 widely used forage crops for hogs. In the corn-belt 

 especially this crop is a fixture in the rotations practiced 

 on the best farms. Being a' legume it not only improves 

 the fertility of the soil by its nitrogen-gathering property, 

 but its abundant supply of protein and lime makes it 

 particularly valuable as a forage crop for young pigs. 

 Its richness in muscle and bone-building foods insures 

 better results with straight corn feeding than can be 

 obtained, as a rule, from the non-legumes. As an ally 

 to corn in pork production in the corn-belt, clover is 

 without a peer. When carefully handled, red clover will 

 supply grazing in a favorable season from June to No- 

 vember. 



One of the disadvantages of red clover as a forage crop 

 is that it tends to become coarse and woody rather early 

 in the summer, especially in the second year and in a dry 

 season. It does not stand drought as successfully as 



