22 BULLETIN 752, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
ALFALFA PASTURE FOR SOWS AND PIGS. 
At the ScottsblufT Experiment Farm in 1914 and 1915. tests were 
made of alfalfa pasture for sows and their litters. Each lot contained 
two sows and their litters of spring pigs. Each lot had access to a 
quarter of an acre of alfalfa divided into two parts, which were pas- 
tured alternately for 60 days. The pasture period began on May 1 
in 1914 and on April 27 in 1915. One of the lots used in 1914 is illus- 
trated in figure 4. In addition to the pasture the sows and pigs were 
fed a 2 per cent ration of grain, the pigs being fed grain by them- 
selves. The results are summarized in Table XV. 
Fig. 4. — Two sows and their litters of spring pigs on alfalfa pasture at the Scottsbluff 
Experiment Farm late in May, 1914. If good alfalfa pasture is supplemented with 
as much as a 2 per cent ration of corn' or barley, an acre will support 6 to 8 sows 
and 50 to 70 suckling pigs for 60 days. During this time the pigs should gain 25 
to 30 pounds each and at the close of the period be ready to go on to alfalfa pasture 
by themselves. 
Table XV. — Results secured with sows and pigs on irrigated alfalfa pasture 
supplemented with a 2 per cent ration of grain at the Scottshluff Experiment 
Farm in 1914 o,nd 1915. 
Grain 
fed. 
Average 
initial 
weight 
(pounds). 
Gain Tposxids^. 
Aver- 
age 
carry- 
ing 
capac- 
ity per 
acre. 
Sows and pigs. 
of— 
Sows. 
Pigs. 
Sows and 
pigs. 
Gram 
fed per 
100 
Sows. 
Pigs. 
Sows. 
Pigs. 
To- 
tal. 
Per 
pig 
per 
day. 
Per 
Per acre 
acre. | per 
j day. 
pounds 
of gain. 
Lot 1 
Corn 
...do.... 
...do 
Barley.. 
2 
14 
351 
436 
234 
351 
12 
15 
8 
3 
-99 
-93 
-38 
-28 
472 
491 
423 
446 
0.56 
.54 
.47 
.44 
1.492 
1,592 
1.540 
1,672 
25 
26 
26 
2S 
Pounds. 
1.052 
1.155 
779 
969 
Pounds. 
315 
Lot 2 
Lot 3 
Lot 4 
2 
I 
15 
15 
17 
276 
228 
235 
