The Breeding Herd 405 



divided into two parts and the pigs alternated from one 

 to the other. 



Clover will carry a somewhat larger number, because of its 

 deeper rooting system and longer growing period. If the 

 pasture is fairly large so that the area likely to be tramped 

 excessively is a smaller proportion of the pasture, twelve 

 to fifteen shotes or five or six mature dry sows may be 

 run to an acre. 



Many experiments have been carried on to determine 

 the amount of pork which can be produced from an acre of 

 pastures, both with and without grain rations. It is 

 obvious that no one test would be very wide in its ap- 

 plication, nor would an average of these tests mean any 

 more, especially when most of the gain is made from the 

 grain rather than the pasture. It is safe to say, however, 

 that reports of pastures paying $40.00 to $100.00 an acre 

 when used for pigs are misleading, even when technically 

 correct. The judicious use of pasture nearly always lowers 

 the cost of gains as compared with any other system of 

 feeding, but the saving is not usually very much in excess 

 of a fair rental of the land. 



In selecting pasture, the points suggested by Evard in 

 Iowa Bulletin 136 should be kept in mind. "An ideal 

 forage for hogs should show : 1 . Adaptability to local 

 soil and climate; 2. palatability ; 3. a heavy yield of 

 digestible nutrients, being high in protein and mineral 

 matter, especially calcium and phosphorus, and low in 

 crude fiber; 4. succulence; 5. long pasturing season; 

 6. ability to endure grazing ; 7. permanency ; 8. reason- 

 able cost and ease of seeding; 9. capability of furnish- 

 ing good pasture at any time during the growing season. 

 These essentials are not found in any single forage, but 

 alfalfa, the clovers, and rape have most of them." 



