FORAGE CROPS FOR HOGS IN KANSAS AND OKLAHOMA. 35 
and with hogs at 54 cents a pound, note the cost of producing pork 
on this farm: 
Value of 240-pound hog, at 54 cents_____________ Lae 43 SEE $13. 20 
Value of pig at weaning, 50 pounds, at 54 cents_____________________ 7a (i) 
Gain trom pasture angeecra line see eee em 10. 45 
Cost of 15 bushels of corn, at 35 cents__ aga h Shes SLM oh ay a ea Ws Oe iy AD) 
Malievorupasture:persheadipas ture wears ha ial ee irae eee 5. 20 
The pasture specified here will not support more than half as many 
head per acre on this farm by feeding corn all the time. The value 
of this pasture is only $5.20 per head, against $7.07 per head for al- 
falfa pasture on the other farm. 
The experiences of these men are sufficient to show the value of 
alfalfa pasture alone, and its greater value when grain is fed in 
connection, and that it is an important factor in economic pork pro- 
duction. A little later in this bulletin will be given the feeding sys- 
tems of some farmers which will still further show the excellence of 
this forage crop and others and the cost of producing pork under 
such systems. 
ALFALFA HAY. 
While alfalfa pasture has been found to be very valuable for hogs, 
the hay as a part ration for winter is scarcely less important. 
Throughout the region referred to the farmers are feeding the hay 
to hogs in winter. Many feed the hay by throwing it on the ground 
in forkfuls; others have made low racks in which the hay is placed, 
where the hogs can feed like cattle or sheep. The hay has been found 
to be especially valuable for brood sows before farrowing. Where 
it is fed during the winter only a small grain ration is necessary to 
keep the sows in good flesh and in healthy condition. Sows thus fed 
also farrow good litters of strong, healthy pigs. 
The hay is usually fed dry. The leaves are more readily eaten by 
the hogs than the stems, as they contain more of the nutritive value 
of the plant. For this reason some farmers save the last cutting of 
hay for the hogs because it is more relished. It is eaten up cleaner, 
as the stems are not so woody, and more food value is found in the 
leaves. Sometimes the hay is cut up fine, wet, and mixed with other 
feed, and sometimes it is fed ground, as there are now alfalfa mills 
scattered throughout the alfalfa regions. But it is very doubtful 
whether this extra expense will pay, unless it be for a ration for 
young pigs. 
