WILL MORE FORAGE PAY? 21 



A specific indication of the quality of native market lambs that may 

 be produced on pasture alone is provided by another feeding test ( 14). 

 Out of 128 lambs finished for market on pasture only, when the lambs 

 suckled ewes grazing the same pasture, 121 graded Choice on the 

 rail. 6 were Good and only 1 was Commercial. 



Even though high-quality native market lambs may be raised with- 

 out the use of grain for the lambs, the ewe flock and lamb system of 

 sheep management does require some concentrate feeds. Grain is 

 fed to the ewes over a period of about 8 weeks centering around the 

 date of lambing. The ratio of roughage feeds to grains is neverthe- 

 less high for this system (20). Only one system of sheep feeding and 

 management followed in the Northern States may be handled solely on 

 forages. This involves the finishing of Texas yearling and California 

 spring lambs on pasture alone over an approximate 4-month period 

 beginning in May or June. Occasionally if pasture fails to continue 

 green and succulent in late summer before the lambs carry the desired 

 finish for market, some grain may need to be fed lambs finished by this 

 system. 



HOGS 



Forage crops, although not satisfactory as the sole ration of hogs 

 for extended periods of time, make valuable contributions to hog feed- 

 ing and management systems. Brood sows make good use of high- 

 quality pasture and legume hay, as they do not require fattening 

 rations. Their need is for feeds that maintain thrift, normal foetal 

 development before farrowing, good m ilk flow following farrowing, 

 and limited gains in weight. Very satisfactory rations for brood 

 sows in dry lot contain 15 percent alfalfa hay. When on good legume 

 pasture, bred sow-s require very little protein supplement and only 

 50 to 60 percent of the concentrate feeds necessary under dry-lot con- 

 ditions (41. pp. 09-103). 



A farmer in the western Corn Belt reports that he carried gilts bred 

 for fall farrowing in 1947 on high-quality red clover and timothy 

 pasture and a small amount of mineral as the only ration during 7 

 weeks early in the gestation period. Following this period oats and 

 protein were fed. Pigs farrowed were vigorous and healthy, but 

 carried little "baby*' fat. Litters were average in size for the farm. 

 This incident, although an isolated one. illustrates heavy use of for- 

 ages by bred gilts. The experienced hog grower was satisfied with the 

 results. 



Growing pigs fed in dry lot for fattening need legume hay meal in 

 their rations. Alfalfa meal, soybean hay meal, and other ground 

 high-quality legume hays provide some of the essential food elements 

 likely to be inadequately supplied by the principal concentrate feeds 

 eaten. A series of experiments at the Agricultural Research Center 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture indicated that gains 

 were somewhat more rapid when dry-lot fattening pigs were fed 

 rations containing 5 and 10 percent hay meals than when they were 

 fed rations containing no hay meal or rations carrying as much as 

 15 and 20 percent hay meal (41). 



Feeding trials at the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station 

 indicated that 15 percent alfalfa meal of good quality in the rations 

 of growing pigs fattening in dry lot produced slightly more rapid 



