ALFALFA FOR SWINE l6l 



alfalfa alone they may be prepared for the market by 

 feeding for a few weeks upon corn. It is still better, 

 however, to feed a third to a half of a ration of corn or 

 other grain during the time of pasturing/' 



The great mistake made by too many who attempt to 

 pasture swine on alfalfa is in overstocking. There is a 

 tendency to keep within a small pasture more stock than 

 it can comfortably support, with the result that the stand 

 is gnawed, trampled and rooted out, while the animals 

 fail to prosper as they would under more rational treat- 

 ment. 



One of the most extensive and successful swine raisers 

 in Kansas tells the author this: "Twenty-five years of 

 pasturing hogs of all ages on alfalfa has proven conclu- 

 sively to me that with a fourth to a half grain ration, 

 while they are on such pasture, will produce in them a 

 greater growth per day than when in dry lots on full 

 feeds of corn. Hogs will maintain a reasonable growth, 

 but not fatten much, on alfalfa pasture alone; I believe 

 it profitable to feed them some grain while running 

 on green alfalfa. If it is desired to full-feed hogs, 

 they will make a rapid fattening growth by increasing 

 the grain ration while on the pasture, and with the 

 full grain ration the meat will be nearly as firm as 

 those of the dry lot, where grain alone has been fed. I 

 find no distinction on the market between alfalfa-fed 

 swine and those purely grain-fed, and they sell price and 

 price alike. The general health of the alfalfa-fed hogs is 

 equal to that of those maintained on any other feed, and 

 they are as prolific." 



