10 BULLETIN 68, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



to be used in this way I This may be determined in two ways, as 

 follows : 



(1) When the first spots in the field are nearly ripe or when the kernels have just 

 passed the stiff-dough stage, measure and fence a small trial area, enough to last the 

 herd of hogs for only a few days. From July 10 to August 15 is 36 days. If a trial 

 area of one acre lasts the herd 6 days, as many acres of wheat must be reserved as the 

 number of times 6 is contained in 36, or 6 acres. 



(2) By the second method, the yield of the crop per acre and the quantity of feed 

 that the herd of hogs will consume per day are estimated. Suppose that the yield 

 of wheat is 30 bushels, or 1.800 pounds, per acre and the herd of hogs will consume 400 

 pounds of wheat per day. If 400 pounds of wheat are consumed in one day, an acre, 

 or 1,800 pounds, will last 4.5 days. If one acre lasts 4.5 days. 8 acres will be required 

 to last 36 days, i. e., from July 10 to August 15. 



The quantity of wheat that the herd of hogs will consume per day 

 can be determined quite accurately by weighing their feed for a few 

 days just before they are turned into the field. In the case of growing 

 hogs, they will consume a little more each day as they grow older. 



THE AREA OF GRAIN TO HOG OFF AT ONE TIME. 



Crops are hogged ofl in two ways: (1) By subdividing the field with 

 a movable fence into small areas that will last the hogs from 10 to 20 

 davs and (2) by turning the hogs into the entire field in the begin- 

 ning. 



Xo data are at hand showing which of these methods is more 

 economical. While both are used in the Pacific Northwest, the latter 

 is the one generally practiced. Where crops are used hi this way 

 during the late fall and winter in the more humid portions of the 

 wheat belt and west of the Cascade Mount ains, where the autumn 

 rams are frequently heavy, the area should probably be limited so 

 that it will be cleaned up in 15 or 20 days. In the arid and semi- 

 arid districts or when used during the dry season hi the more humid 

 localities, there is probably no good reason why the area hogged off 

 should not be all that the hogs will clean up nicely during the season. 

 Much larger areas doubtless can be hogged off on sandy or gravelly 

 soils than on clay soils that become sticky when wet. 



CROPS SUITABLE FOR PASTURE AND HOGGING OFF. 



The three Pacific Northwest ern States to which this bulletin is 

 primarily applicable may be divided into three distinct agricultural 

 districts: (1) Western Oregon and western Washington — that portion 

 of these two States lying west of the Cascade Mountains, (2) the wheat 

 belt, and (3) the irrigated valleys. Because of their great variation 

 in topography, elevation, rainfall, soil, temperature, etc.. these three 

 districts present a wide range of agricultural possibilities. For this 

 reason the crops that may be used in economical hog production in 

 each area are discussed separately. 



