The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1881-06-23
PASTURE FOR PIGS.

The cost of raising pigs is reduced n. least one
half by having pastures to run in. by this we
mean to have the brood SOW grass at all
times, when grass can be found, except about
farrowing time in the spring, when animals
hoOfs and shouts destroy too much sod. At this
time we have an artiehoke patch in connection
with the breeding pens and feed lots. The sow
can find exercise and healthful cooling food in
the artichoke patch, and will need very little
corn for two months in the spring.
We never have cross sows and securing, puny
pigs, as do those who cOnfine brood sows to dry
lots or pens, and feed no grass or roots.
After weaving, our sows 60 to the clover field
with the fall shoats, where they get no corn un-
til September, when those designed to fatten
are brought gradually to full feed of corn, cut
up, and fed stalks and all on the clover field.
On this field all our fattening is done, and we
find we fatten the hogs and the land at the same
time. Land fsttening thus costs nothing.
The weaned pigs are kept ON blue grass pas
ture, where we can push them right along with
the best of slOp and soaked corn.
Water and shade are provided for every pas
ture, and with blue grass pasture, and shelled
corn soaked twelve 10 twenty -four hours, the
best of pork can he produced in the shortest
time.
1t is a common opinion that clover is the hest
for pigs, but we do not find it so. A SOW with
Young pigs in clover field will start early in
the morning, and the young things will try to
follow. They will soon be wet and chilled with
cold dew, and worried in their efforts TO get
through the tangled clover, and by weaving time
they are a sorry looking set of pigs. If one has
small clover lot kept short by pasturing, these
objections do not hold But as we raise clover
as fertilizer and the pasturing of it is incidtn-
tai, we never turn on until the clover is about
to bloom We then are sure of the best of swine
pasture and shading and fertiliZing of our soil
The SOW and pigs will both fare better to be kept
ON short blue grass pasture and stopped and fed
regularly, the rations suited to age and condi-
ton. In this way the pigs have no back set,
and are allowed 10 make the most rapid growth
every day. The per cent of growth during suck
ling may thus he made greater than at any 9TH
er period of the pigs life.
We pity the man who is trying 10 raise fine
pigs, or fine stock of any kind, without blue
grass pastures. When has 4 small allow
arcc Of pasture, fodder will do to bridge
over the month of August, before corn in the
fields will do to cut.
When pigs have the range of a good pasture,
they can be fed very literally of soaked corn
without imparing the constitution.
Pigs farrowed in March and April can be
months. of course we are now speaking of we'll
bred, quick-maturing, Poland-China pigs. BY
this method, then, of pushing pigs on good pas
ture we can make our cheapest pork.
We cannot afford to turn pig to pasture TO
grow his frame, and then bring it into the fat
tening pen TO be filled out That takes too
much time and feed, and involves risks which
by quick developement can he avoided.
The best and cheapest pork comes with liber-
al feeding and good pastures. LIMB