Methods of Feeding on Forage 219 



invested in the pigs is made available sooner, and expense 

 for labor and winter equipment is spared. 2. The 

 length of the dry lot feeding period is reduced to a mini- 

 mum when full grain rations are fed during the summer. 

 Pigs farrowed in February and March may be marketed 

 direct from the forage field. 3. Less total concentrates 

 are required in the production of a 225-pound market 

 pig when full or three-fourths full rations are fed on 

 forage than with more limited rations. Between three- 

 fourths rations on forage and full rations there seems to 

 be no consistent difference. When the forage supply 

 throughout the summer is excellent, slightly less total 

 concentrates will probably be required with three-fourths 

 than with full ration. 4. Although old corn is more 

 expensive than new, under normal conditions in the corn- 

 belt the actual money cost of growing and fattening a 

 225-pound market pig is less with full or three-fourths 

 rations than when more limited grain rations are fed. 

 5. An important advantage for the method of full feeding 

 during the summer arises from the better price usually 

 received for the earlier marketed pigs. 



Considering the grain cost of production, the time 

 required by the pigs to attain market weight, and the 

 selling price as affected by early or late marketing, the 

 advantages seem to lie with the system of feeding which 

 supplies either full or three-fourths grain rations while 

 the pigs are on forage. The only justification for the 

 practice of feeding less than three-fourths rations during 

 the summer to pigs intended for direct marketing would 

 seem to be, therefore, the scarcity or abnormally high 

 price of com and suitable com substitutes. 



This conclusion, it should be understood, applies only 

 to farm conditions in which the pigs are produced mainly 



