PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. • 3 



When the number of animals pastured is so limited that the usual 

 hay crops are made, the growth becomes so coarse and woody that 

 they do not consume as much forage as is desirable for economical 

 gains, as the hogs relish the young shoots best. When the forage 

 becomes too large to furnish desirable feed, an area near the watering 

 place is clipped with a mower. This should be large enough to 

 furnish the desired amount of pasture. In a few days the clipped 

 area produces a vigorous growth of new shoots, upon which the hogs 

 feed without materially disturbmg the rest of the meadow. If the 

 area first mowed is not sufficient to furnish the required feed, more 

 of the meadow is clipped, as necessity may demand. To prevent the 



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Fig. 1. — Hogs on alfalfa pasture without other feed. Note their thin condition and ungainly shape, espe- 

 cially the older hog on the left. 



stand of these clipped areas from becoming injured by overgrazing, 

 different portions of the meadow are used in this way from year 

 to year. 



GRAIN RATION WHILE HOGS ARE ON PASTURE. 



While the cost of producing pork may be reduced materially by 

 the use of such roughage as alfalfa hay, roots, or green-pasture for- 

 age, it is desirable to feed grain or other concentrated feed in addition. 

 Mature, dry brood sows are sometimes maintained in an apparently 

 satisfactory condition on good pasture alone. Young growing hogs, 

 on the other hand, usually become ungainly in shape, big bellied, and 

 thin in flesh or stunted when compelled to subsist on pasture alone. 

 Figure 1 illustrates the condition of hogs run on pasture without other 

 feed. 



