The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-19

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GROWING CHEAP PORK.
In practically all sections the value
of pasture for hogs in connection with
the proper grain combination. In the
economical production Of pork is adj
mitted. Harry Howard. director OF tho
Delaware experiment station, in a re-
cent address expressed the opinion that
with the right kind Of pasture 1t re-
quires from one-fifth to one-third less
grain to produce 100 pounds OF pork.
But. he said, while this is no doubt
true. care should be taken not to try
cially with young pigs. Young pigs
need more protein than older ones, be-
cause they are growing rather than
fattening. In consequence, the young
pig should receive for sometime after
being weaned a ration equivalent to
middlings. with a little digestive tank
age perhaps, aside from access to good
clover alfalfa. oats and peas. or cow
pea pasture from which he will get
considerable protein.
Unde usua conditions. however, the
heterogeneous feeds are SO high that. al
Enough their use undoubtedly would
make more rapid gains. they are OBJ
tanned at such an increased cost as to
render their use inadvisable. Pigs
should be so fed that they will gain
from one-half to one pound a day from
tho time they are three weeks old until
they arc marketed. 1t is impossible to
make anything like this gain on pas
ture alone, but on the other hand the
Montana station has found that it is
possible to feed more grain than is
necessary to make the maximum gains.
1t seems. too, that in order to get
the best results from the pasture it
is essential that the pigs he allowed
tc craze rather than to have the green
feed cut and brought to them.
Whole grain fed on pasture should
be ground or soaked with the posi-
BILE exception of corn. which may be
fed on the cob or shelled. 1t will pay,
however, to soak old corn before it is
fed. as soaking is equivalent to grind
ing and is much cheaper"
The Missouri experiment station in
bulletin No. 10. gives the results Of a
series of experiments in feeding wheat,
shorts. alfalfa. clover. rape. bluegrass
and skim milk as supplementary to
corn. In every instance the largest
gain was made at the least cost, on
been expected, corn and alfalfa proved
II next cheapest ration. In these ex-
periments the green forage was cut
and fed to he pigs in their pens There
Is little doubt that the showing in ia
vor Of the alfalfa and corn ration
would have been more favorable il the
pigs had been permitted to Craze upon
the alfalfa.
Commenting upon the results of
these experiments, Director II. J. Wa
ters says: 1T will be noted that by
using clover instead of bluegrass, a
difference OF nearly 70 cents per hum
dred in the cost Of grain was affected.
when alfalfa was used instead of
bluegrass. the saving was nearly 81 per
hundred.
forage. the cheapest and most rapid
gains were made.
When 1t is noted how much cheaper
the gains We're made on corn and Glow
or than those mad IN corn and ship
stuff. for example, the folly of feeding
such a ration in the summer time,
when a green forage might just as we'll
be available. is apparent.
When we realize, moreover, that
clover will give a larger yield OF for
age than bluegrass. and when we con
slider it's superior feeding value, it is
crease IS made in the pounds of pork
per acre Of our land or per bushel of
corn fed by providing the hogs with
clover pastures instead of requiring
them to run on bluegrass. or even not
SO good as bluegrass-a timothy pas
loIt-oi, cNCu NOISS lisdl llllS, Dy COLI
filming them in a dry lot.
1T should not be understood that
bluegrass pasture during the time
white clover has possession Of the
ground is not highly acceptable as a
hog pasture. AT this particular seaso
Of the year an ordinary bluegrass pas
ture, especially In those seasons when
white clover does we'll. can scarcely be
excelled. But before the white clover
comes on and after it has passed away
the ordinary bluegrass pasture does not
begin to compare in value with a
pasture OF red clover or alfalfa.
1T will be noted tina alfalfa showed
a superiority over red clover as a for
age for hogs in both periods Of the trial
The cost per 100 pounds OF grain was
as follows:
First period. Corn and alfalfa. IS
per hundred. Corn and red clover,
1925. Saving from use OF alfalfa, 25
cents per hundred.
This means a difference on the basis
of a 25O-pound hog and 62Es cents or
about $3f on each a load OF hogs, or
more than enough to pay the freight
even if the yield OF the two crops is to
he counted the same.
more Importance thar the supe-
riority of the feeding value itself is the
fact that h alfalfa will yield a much
larger amount of pasture than will red
clover. and that it will come on earlier
~. 1eiil.,Al steii idleI IMAM clOVer, and
will, IL kept clipped. remain green
throughout the summer and therefore
q green pasture Of succulent material
which the hogs will relish most highly
ut is believed to be possible to grow
enough alfalfa for hog pasture at least
on practically every farm in Missouri
Until, however, alfalfa is an assured
success on every farm, the farmer
ought to orange for a clover pasture
for his hogs every year without fall
Notes Of the Hoq Lot.
Reports from southwest Missouri saw
that hopc wa fotfD,,l~- -. -