PASTURE AND GRAIN CROPS FOR HOGS. 



21 



WINTER FEEDS. 



Ta.ble VI. — Winter jeeds for the subhumid districts. 



Crops. 



When planted. 



Approximate dates when used. 



Alfalfa hay 



A previous year 



November 1 to April 15. 

 Do. 





A.pril and Mav 





April 



October 15 to May 1. 

 Late fall.winter, and early spring. 

 Do. 













Fall or early spring 



Do. 





Alfalfa hay.- — Alfalfa hay is probably the most satisfactory winter 

 roughage that may be provided for hogs in the subhumid wheat dis- 

 tricts. If intended for hogs, it is cut green a little before the appear- 

 ance of the first blossoms. It is also best to take it from a portion of 

 the field where the stand is thick. The hay will then be fine ; palatable 

 and rich in protein. 



Fig. 8.— Rack for feeding hay to 



Alfalfa hay is usually fed in one of two ways, whole or cut. Whole 

 hay is generally fed in racks. Figures 8 and 9 show racks used for 

 feeding hay to hogs. Hay is also fed on the surface of the ground. 

 By either of these methods there is considerable waste, especially if 

 the hay is coarse. One of the most popular and satisfactory ways 

 ,of feeding alfalfa hay to hogs is to run it through a hay cutter, chop- 

 ping it into lengths of about one-half inch. The hay is then mixed 

 with chopped or rolled wheat or barley. The mixture is moistened 

 with all of the water that it will absorb, and allowed to stand for 12 

 hours before it is fed. Some soak the hay and add the grain just 

 before feeding. During very cold weather the hay may be wet with 

 hot water and fed immediately. Where it is not necessary to hasten 

 the growth of the hogs alfalfa hay may form one-half of the ration 

 by weight. Where a rapid gain is desired a ration consisting of one- 

 fourth alfalfa hay and three-fourths grain is more satisfactory. 



Root crops. — The sugar beet, the white French sugar beet, man- 

 gels, carrots, and rutabagas are all used for fall and winter hog feed. 



