THE FEEDING OF SWINE 475 



rope being all the apparatus that is necessary. Tie a small loop 

 in one end of the rope, slip the loop into the animal's mouth 

 and draw the head up. With the ringer pincers, firmly insert 

 the rings into the nose, but not too deep, for if set so deep as 

 to bind or pinch the muscle inside the ring, they will always be 

 an annoyance to the animal. One or, in the case of old brood 

 sows, at most two rings are all that are needed for each animal. 



Pasture for swine. — Swine may be turned to any pasture 

 land that is available, — permanent or sown pasture. When 

 properly ringed, they are no more injurious to pastures than any 

 other farm animal. Swine thrive much better when they have 

 access to green forage plants. Since the common pasture plants 

 are not available before warm weather, it is often of advantage 

 to provide an earlier forage. Rye sown somewhat early in 

 the fall makes an excellent substitute for pasture grass, early the 

 following spring. Among the permanent pasture grasses, blue- 

 grass comes on very early and provides much succulence through- 

 out the season. Clover, alfalfa, and cowpeas are unexcelled as 

 swine pasture in the regions where they thrive. For a quick 

 growing crop, rape is probably to be accorded first place. 



Roots for swine. — Roots are valuable as a food for swine 

 during the late fall and winter months. They are mainly 

 desired because of their stored succulence and to serve as a sub- 

 stitute for pasture. In the United States, roots have not been 

 so commonly used as in Canada or the Old Country, though of 

 late years they have increased in favor, and their usefulness, 

 especially in the corn-belt, is being recognized. Sugar-beets, 

 mangels, rutabagas, turnips, and carrots are grown as food for 

 swine. Of these, many prefer mangels largely because of their 

 high yield per acre, although they will not give as good results 

 as sugar-beets. 



The Jerusalem artichoke, a tuber belonging to the sunflower 

 family, is often grown as a succulent for swine. This tuber is 

 highly esteemed for fall, winter, and spring use. It is planted 



