4 ■ BULLETIN (38, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Hog growers differ quite \\'idely regarding the quantity of grain 

 that should be fed while on pasture. Some feed a full grain ration, 

 i. e., all the grain the hog wiU consume. Others feed a medium ration, 

 one that is equal to about 2 to 3 per cent of the live weight of the hog. 

 Still others prefer a light gram ration, one that is equal to only about 

 1 per cent of the live weight of the hog. Occasionally men are found 

 who run young shotes on pasture without other feed. This is a mis- 

 take, for it almost invariably results in a stunted hog. No fixed and 

 fast rule can be laid down, for the supplemental grain r.ation which 

 should be fed in conjunction with green pasture depends upon a 

 number of factors, the more important of which are (1) the age at 

 which the hogs are to be marketed, (2) the price of grain, and (3) 

 the plentifulness and quality of the pasture. 



RATIONS FOR HOGS OF VARIOUS CONDITIONS AND MARKET AGES. 



If hogs are to be marketed when 7 to 9 months old, it is necessary 

 to feed them about all the grain they will consume, in addition to the 

 pasture, in order to make them reach the weight demanded by the 

 market, 170 to 225 pounds. Hogs that are marketed when 10 to 12 

 months old are usually maintained on pasture alone during the graz- 

 ing season. If fed at all, the grain ration is very light. This results 

 in a slow daily gain, but a greater percentage of the growth is made 

 from the cheaply grown forage. The added cost of maintaining a hog 

 until 10 to 12 months old, however, usually more than equals the 

 savhig of the gram ration. 



Mature breeding stock that is not expected to make any gain in 

 weight requires but Httle, if any, additional feed when on good pasture. 

 Hogs that are thin in flesh and nearly grown may be expected to 

 make small daily gains without other feed when on the best of pas- 

 ture. Pigs and small shotes usually become stunted when on pas- 

 ture unless given a liberal quantity of additional feed. Young hogs 

 should be so fed that they grow rapidly instead of becommg stunted. 

 During the fattening period, hogs on pasture should be fed aU the 

 grain they will eat up clean three times a day. 



THE PRICE OF GRAIN. 



Owing to the fluctuation in the price of hogs and of grain, the sup- 

 plemental grain ration is sometimes expensive. Under such cir- 

 cumstances there is great temptation to place the hogs upon an exclu- 

 sive pasture ration. This seldom pays, for it usually takes approxi- 

 mately as much concentrated feed in the end, and much more time, 

 to fit for market hogs which have been on an exclusive pasture diet 

 as is required for hogs fed liberally while on pasture. Under extreme 

 circumstances mature breedmg stock or hogs which are nearly grown 

 may be carried on good pasture until cheaper concentrated feed can be 

 obtained. 



