156 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



growers insist that their pigs can be maintained from 

 May to October on alfalfa for one-half what it would 

 cost for almost any other feed. 



The Utah station found that young shoats gained one- 

 third of a pound a day on alfalfa pasture without grain. 

 But the station found also that the gain was not so great 

 in older hogs. A Wisconsin dairyman reported that he 

 kept nine sows all winter and spring on alfalfa hay and 

 skim milk, without any grain, and raised from them 75 

 pigs, all healthy and vigorous. 



The Colorado station considers that a ration of three- 

 fourths corn and one-fourth alfalfa hay is the best for 

 fattening hogs for market, but for young hogs not ready 

 for fattening the proportions should be reversed. The 

 station does not recommend grinding alfalfa hay for 

 hogs, probably on the theory that the hog's time is not 

 worth much at best. 



A VALUABLE FEEDING TEST 



The Kansas station in the fall of 1898 made a series of 

 experiments of interest to feeders everywhere. The test 

 was to determine the value of alfalfa hay fed to fattening 

 hogs that were receiving all the grain they would eat. 

 The results are related here in the language of the 

 bulletin : 



"The hogs fed in this experiment were bought of farm- 

 ers, and averaged in weight 125 pounds each. They were 

 placed in lots of ten each, in large pens, having for shelter 

 some sheds open to the south. The alfalfa hay used was 

 of the best quality, carefully cured. Blackhulled White 

 Kafir-corn was the grain used, the hogs being fed all they 



