﻿DRY-LA-ND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 13 



BARLEY AND CORN. 



The barley and corn plats dried up before making grain, and 

 neither of these crops was grazed. No yields were obtained on the 

 check plats. 



ALFALFA. 



As the effects of overpasturing in 1917 were still in evidence, the 

 acre of alfalfa in rows was stocked on May 9 with only four fall pigs. 

 These pigs had a total weight of 318 pounds. On the same date 

 seven fall pigs weighing 530 pounds were placed on the broadcast 

 plat of alfalfa. The forage on both plats was about 6 inches high 

 at this time. Both lots made good gains during the first half of 

 the season, but drought and hot weather reduced the average, as 

 the growth of alfalfa was checked. 



The pigs were removed from both pastures on June 27. The gain 

 made on the row plat amounted to 130 pounds, or 0.66 of a pound 

 per pig for each clay of the 49-day period. On the broadcast plat 

 the pigs increased in weight 188 pounds. This was an average daily 

 gain of 0.55 of a pound. for each animal. The pigs on the row plat 

 "received 376 pounds of corn, or 2.89 pounds of corn for each pound 

 of gain. The pigs on the broadcast plat made 1 pound of gain on 

 3.21 pounds of corn, a total of 604 pounds of corn being fed. While 

 the row plat by reason of the poor stand supported a smaller number 

 of pigs and made a smaller gain per acre than the broadcast plat, 

 each pig in it made a greater daily gain on a lower ratio of corn. 



Alfalfa on the check plat was too small to be harvested, and so 

 no yield was obtained. 



BROME-GRASS. 



Six fall pigs were put on each acre of brome-grass on April 25. 

 The grass at this time was 7 inches high and was readily eaten by 

 the animals. 



The pigs on the row plat had a combined weight of 582 pounds, 

 while those on the broadcast plat totaled 579 pounds. 



Drought during the latter part of the grazing season curtailed the 

 growth of forage and reduced the gains made by the hogs. Both 

 lots were removed on June 14, after having been on the pastures 

 50 days. During this period the lot on the row plat gained 144 

 pounds, while that on the broadcast plat gained 191 pounds. The 

 former averaged 0.48 of a pound daily for each animal, while the 

 latter averaged 0.64 of a pound per day. The hogs on the row plat 

 consumed 653 pounds of corn, or 4.53 pounds of corn for each pound 

 of gain. The lot on the broadcast plat received the same weight of 

 corn and made gains at the ratio of 1 pound to each 3.42 pounds of 

 corn fed. 



Both plats were grazed off close at the end of the season, and the 

 severe drought prevented the forage making any growth after the 

 pigs were removed. During the season there appeared to be no 

 difference in drought resistance between the two plats. 



The check plat of brome-grass dried up before the crop was tall 

 enough to mow, so no yields were obtained. 



Acre plats of alfalfa, brome-grass, and sweet clover seeded in rows 

 and broadcasted were planted on April 10. These plats were intended 

 to be used to replace the present pastures the next season. The 

 young plants on these plats were completely killed by drought. 



