Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-13
A Good Hog Pasture,


Many farmers seem never to have
learned, or to have forgotten, that the
hog is grazing animal, and that it can
be kept cheaper and in better condition
during half the year on grass and other
green crops than on any other kind OF
food. They keep their hogs in pens
though they have great desire to get
out, and feed them on corn, which re-
quires a large amount of labor to raise
when the hogs show marked prefer
ence for the grass that grows without
cultivation. A hog is as much entitled
to grass during summer as a cow is, and
will profit quite as much from it. AS a
dairyman studies how to have good
pasture for his milch COWS, so raiser of
hogs should study how to have good
pasture for his breeding and stock hogs.
Too many farmers give very little atten-
ton to the food their hogs receive till
it becomes time to commence fattening
them, when they are impatient to stuff
them with all they can deyOur. They
seem to think that it is only necessary
to give them enough to keep them alive
up to that time.
4 good hog pasture should contain an
acre of land for every five hogs. taking
them as they come. Clover will pro
duce the most food and the kind of
green food that is best relished by
swine AS it does not come forward
very early in the spring, and as it is
liable to suffer from the protracted
drought that usually occurs in the mid
summer, a hog pasture should contain a
plat Of one of the true grasses. Orchard
grass is highly priced by those who have
raised it TOR hog pasturage. 1t starts
early, grows till late in the season, bears
frequent groupings, while it is exceed
ingly tender.
In Kentucky, blue grass is the favor
tie grass for hog pasturage, as it is well
adapted to the soil and climate. Clover
does not do well in the South, owing to
the open winters and the extreme heat
in the summer.
A hog pasture should be sown so that
the grass will be cut one year before the
hogs are turned in, so as to insure toll
erably strong soil.
A good hog pasture should contain
living water In the absence Of it there
should be we'll and pump. 1t is by no
means essential that hogs have mire to
wallow in, but it is an excellent plan to
have pool of water in which they can
wade during the warm weather. If this
cannot be furnished there should be a
large trough from which the animals
can drink at any time,
A good shade is Of great importance
in raising hogs. They cannot endure
the hot sun during July and August,
without suffering from the consequent
ces. Several large, spreading trees, a
thicket of bushes, or spot occupied by
bushes which are covered by vines, will
afford an excellent retreat from the rays
of the sun. 1t is is cruelty to put hogs
in pasture in which there is no natural
or artificial shade. If there are no trees
rude sheds should be erected and cover
ed with poles and straw. In laying out
a place for hog pasture provision
should be made for shade. The sheds
may be erected for temporary purposes,
but trees should be planted for use in
the future. Cottonwoods will grow so
fast that they will afford excellent shade
in a few years. They thrive well on any
of our prairie soils, and may be easily
obtained in any portion of the West. A
grove of crab-apple trees affords most
delightful shade, while the fruit will be
of some value to the hogs. There is
nothing like good run among large for
est trees such as grow on the bottom
lands in the West, for the production of
healthy hogs. In all the reports of hog
cholera that have reached us, we have
heard of no cases occurring on farms
where the hogs had chance to run at
will through forest and enjoy tho ad.
vantages of shade and the clear water of
running streams. Hogs raised in such
situations have none Of the ills of ham
pered pigs, but are as healthy as Sioux
Indians on the banks of the Yellow
stone.- Chicago Times.