FEEDING SWINE 305 



and mixed grasses, chiefly the former) , gained only 0.2 pound daily ; 

 pigs receiving one-half grain ration when on pasture gained 0.7 

 pound; and those receiving a full grain ration gained 1.2 pounds 

 daily. The pasturage saved about 15 per cent in the amount of 

 grain required for the production of 100 pounds gain. The 

 practice of feeding pastured pigs small grain rations is an econom- 

 ical method of carrying pigs over summer that are to be fattened 

 later, since such pigs make rapid gains .when put on full 

 feed, and as a slightly less cost than those fed a full ration from 

 the start. 



Alfalfa pasture alone will furnish but little more than a main- 

 tenance ration for pigs, 14 but if grain is fed, all of this can then be 

 used for production. Two pounds of corn or more per 100 pounds 

 of pigs have generally been found more profitable than a lighter 

 ration, but if grain is high and pork low, 1 per cent grain will be 

 likely to give the most economical returns. 15 When grain is fed, an 

 acre of alfalfa will furnish pasture for at least 2000 pounds of pigs 

 (15 to 20 shoats of medium weight), and will produce 500 to 800 

 pounds of pork, according to the kind of pigs fed, pasture and 

 weather conditions. 



Temporary Pastures. — Rape (Fig. 79), soybean, cowpeas, In- 

 dian corn, sorghum, etc., furnish excellent feed for growing pigs 

 and brood sows, and will enable the animals to make rapid gains 

 when supplemented with grain. Pork can be produced more 

 cheaply by feeding grain with green forage than by feeding either 

 alone. The value of rape pasture for feeding swine, especially for 

 breeding sows, is well understood (p. 138), . 15a 



Hogging down corn is a common practice of harvesting a corn 

 field in the corn-growing States. The method is especially adapted 

 to sections where labor is scarce. The corn is generally allowed to 

 nearly mature, and pigs of medium weight (80 to 120 pounds) or 

 brood sows are turned in to gather the corn. They will eat the 

 ear corn and leave a great deal of the coarser part of the plant, 

 husks, cornstalks, and cobs to be plowed under, which, with the 

 manure from the hogs, will greatly improve the humus content and 

 the fertility of the land. Incidentally the pigs get considerable 

 exercise 'and fresh air and will be less susceptible to disease than 



"Oklahoma Report, 1899; Mississippi Report, 1905; Nebraska Bul- 

 letin 99. 



"Nebraska Bulletin 95, 99, 124; Colorado Bulletin 2; N. M. Bui. 90; 

 Mo. Bui. 79; Kan. Bui. 192. 



B aN. Y. Dept. Agr. Bui. 64; N. D. Cir. 9; S. D. Bui. 160; N. C. 

 Cir. 20; Ga. Cir. 73; U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 258. 



