12 
BULLETIN 488, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
from the others. In 1914 the average yield from the harvested plats 
was 6.53 tons and in 1915 only 4.47 tons per acre. The hogs used in 
the experiments during 1915 were of very much better quality than 
those used in 1914. This may explain why the returns in 1915, not- 
withstanding the damage done to the alfalfa, were equal to those of 
1914. 
The first period extended from April 26 to June 30, or a total of 
60 days. The shotes used were farrowed during the fall and late 
summer of the previous year and weighed an average of 108 pounds 
when the experiment began. The pigs used during the second 
period, which began June 30, were pure-bred Duroc- Jerseys. They 
were reared on the experiment farm, where they were farrowed dur- 
ing April and the early part of May. They weighed an average of 
33 pounds when the experiment began. Though small, they were in 
good, thrifty condition. When the cool weather of autumn came on, 
the alfalfa made less growth, which made it necessary to take out 
hogs at different times. The experiment closed September 27. 
Notwithstanding the fact that the summer of 1915 was very back- 
ward and cool, the returns from alfalfa pastures were practically 
the same as in 1914. The hogs used in 1915 were smaller and a very 
much better class of stock than those used in 1914, when returns 
from the first period were reduced by cholera. Better stock and 
freedom from sickness in 1915 apparently offset the low yield of 
alfalfa in that year. The second period in 1915 gave higher returns 
for both grain and pasture, and also cheaper gains than were se- 
cured in the first period. It is generally true that the smaller the 
hogs, other things being equal, the more economical the gains. 
A summary of the results of the two periods of 1915 is given in 
Table IY, in which the data have been calculated to an acre basis. 
Table IY. — Results obtained by feeding six lots of hogs on alfalfa pasture, 
supplemented with varying quantities of grain, at the Scottsbluff Experiment 
Farm during two periods in 1915. 
Items of comparison. 
Lot 1, no 
grain. 
Lot 2, 1 
per cent 
corn. 
Lot 3, 2 
per cent 
corn. 
Lot 3a, 2 
per cent 
corn. 
Lot 4, 2 
per cent 
barley. 
Lot 5, 3 
per cent 
corn. 
Total gain per acre pounds . . 
Average daily gain per acre do 
Grain fed do 
612 
4.0 
None. 
1,456 
9.5 
2,752 
1.89 
53.0 
2,976 
19.3 
7,048 
2.53 
39.5 
2,760 
17.9 
6,796 
2.46 
40.7 
2,772 
18.0 
6,728 
2.43 
41.1 
4.292 
27.9 
12,168 
2.83 
Gain per 100 pounds of grain do 
35.3 
Financial statement: 
Net returns per acre of pasture 
Daily net returns per acre of pasture. . . 
Net returns for 100 pounds of grain 
$42. 84 
.28 
$72. 48 
.47 
2.14 
3.06 
16.21 
$132. 91 
.86 
2.20 
3.04 
29.54 
$120. 49 
.78 
2.21 
3.17 
26.95 
$126. 76 
.82 
2.23 
2.97 
28.13 
$170. 24 
1.10 
2.11 
Cost per 100 pounds of gain (pasture at 
2.45 
9.58 
3.38 
Equivalent paid for hay, per ton 
3S.07 
