The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1899-04-28
SORGHUM for Swine.


Mary Best of Medicine Lodge, Bar
Der county, Kansas. who for years has
realized very satisfactory results from
rearing swine on sorghum, both as pas
turage and grain, has written some OF
her experience to Secretary Coburn OF
the State Board of Agriculture. from
which the following is taken:
Our experience in rearing hogs on
sorghum has been very satisfactory,
and has proved for this district the
best way of handling them. We have
a hos lot of about four acres, including
good orchard, and keep about an
average Of 100 hogs on hand the year
around, selling bunch, say, every
two months, the little ones that come
replacing those sold. The lot is Stu
ated on the bluffs of the river. The
high part is perfectly drained and is
never muddy, while the bluffs and
trees afford excellent shelter in both
summer and winter. In addition to
this natural protection we also have
warm, dry houses for the hogs in win
ter.
"A general outline Of our method Ia
as follows: About April Is we plowed
the lot and drilled it with Folger's
Early Sorghum, using bushel or more
of seed per acre. This variety grows
very rapidly, and within three weeks
the hogs were eating the young plants.
They rooted some up, of course, but not
much, and the growth was such that it
kept ahead all summer and afforded
excellent feed. If convenient it would
be we'll to keep the hogs out until the
cane is few inches high, at least. In
september we fenced off half the lot,
where the orchard is, plowed it and
drilled in rye. When a few inches high
we let the hogs Craze on the green rye.
ana 1t made good pasture until May.
IN the winter we fed fifty cows in the
LOU outside of the orchard, on sorghum
with all it's seed on. This was Col
mans, and had been listed in, six
pounds to"the acre. 1t was very sweet
and tender, and yielded at least thirty
bushels OF seed per acre. Hogs and
cattle alike ate it with great relish.
up to April l we fed this, two-thirds
sorghum forsge to one-third good corn
fodder, with considerable of the corn
le1t In it. Nothing was wasted except
cornstalks, and the animals gained all
the time. Then, as soon as the cows
were moved from the two acres used
as feed lot, it was plowed up, and
after heavy rain was drilled very
thlckly with Folger's Early Sorghum
again. BY the middle of May the hogs
had deserted the rye patch almost en-
tlrely for the new cane. We have grain
constantly accessible to all, in a self
feeder, and it is surprising how little
is used from it so long as the rye and
sorghum afford good pasture. Our self
FEEDER is generally supplied with corn.
sorghum or Kaf1r corn seed, or chop
IN fact, the least expensive mixture
available. Salt and ashes also are
kept in troughs near by.
In our herd of hogs we let our sows
and shotes run together, and probably
the sows get rather fatter than de-
sirable, but they do well and rear exc
cellent pigs; and then again, leaving
them all accessible to feed saves so
much labor that we do not think It
pays to bother with more painstaking
! methods. Nothing we have ever tried
gives as large profits as hogs raised
thus. Our sorghum crop is certain and
heavy, and we use 1t every day In the
year. In cutting we always begin
early. when the cane is Juicy and the
seed in the dough, and do not in any
case let It get too ripe for fodder.
Sorghum is our main reliance, but this
year we intend adding artichokes and
| pumpkins as an experiment. Have
never had q case Of hog cholera; never
lost any hogs from sickness, EXCEPT
some that had eaten the carcasses Of
| animals that had died Of blackleg. The
water for the hogs is pumped from 4
well In the orchard by q windmill. ana
they have the river to wallow I'M
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