Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-08-15
Pasture For Hogs


changed from one pasture lot to the
next This gives the surface Of the
ground time to dry before the forage
is large enough to be grazed.
Pasturing the Meadow.
Many successful hog raisers prefer
to use such crops as clover and alfalfa
for. both pasture and hay at the same
time. The number Of hogs turned into
crops Of hay are made. The chief ad-
vantages of this method are (1) the
presence of an abundance Of feed, (2)
the meadow is not grazed closely enough
for the stand to be injured, (3) II is
not necessary to subdiyide the pasture
into smaller areas for alternate pas
turing, and (4) the changing Of the
hogs from one inclosure to another is
obviated.
When the number of animals pas
tured is SO limited that the usual hay
crops are made, the growth becomes
so coarse and woody that they do not
consume as much forage as is desirable
for economical gains, as the hogs relish
the young shoots best. Whea the forage
becomes too large to furnish desirable
feed, an area near the watering place is
clipped with a mower. This should be
largo enough to furnish the desired
amount of pasture. In a few days the
Ielipped area produces a vigorous growth
of new shoots, upon which the hogs feed
without materially disturbing the rest
of the meadow. If the area first moved
is not sufficient to furnish the required
feed, more of the meadow is clipped,
as necessity may demand. To prevent
the stand of these clipped areas from
becoming injured by overgrazing, diff
ferent portions of the meadow are used
in this way from year to year.
Grain Ration While on Pasture.
: While the cost of producing pork may
: be reduced materially by the use OF
such roughage as alfalfa hay, roots, OF
green-pasture forage, it is desirable tc
feed grain or other concentrated feed
in addition. Mature, dry brood sow'
are sometimes maintained In an ap
parently satisfactory condition on gooC
pasture alone. Young growing hogs, or
the other hand, usually become ungain
}, lly in shape, big bellied and thin in
flesh or stunted when compelled to sub
: sist on pasture alone.
Hog growers differ quite widely re
garding the quantity of grain thai
Q should be fed while on pasture. Sons
| feed full grain ration, l. g., all
: grain the hog will consume Other,
y feed a medium ration, one that is equa
a to about 3 to per cent of the livt
J. weight of the hog. Still others prefe;
Q light grain ration, one that is equa
% pnly about l per cent of the liv,
3 weight of the hog. Occasionally mel
Q are found who run yo'mg shotes on pas
}, ture without other feed This is a mis-
9 take, for it almost invariably results il
'-la stunted hog. No fixed and fast rul
can be laid down, for the supplemental
grain ration which should be fed ii
f conjunction with green pasture depend
o upon number of factors, the more i'm
e Iportant of which are ~ the age a
e which the hogs are tn be marketed, q
k the price of grain, and (3) the plenti
d fulness and quality of the pasture.
g. Rations for Hogs of Various Condition
Is and Market Ages.
y If hogs are to be marketed when
u to 9 months old, it is necessary t
u feed them about all the grain they wi
a consume, in addition to the pasture, i
order to make them reach the weigh
"a demanded by the market, 40 to 22
pounds. Hogs that are marketed whe
Id 10 to 12 months old are usually maiI
r tanned on pasture alone during the gral
I'd ing season. If fed at all, the grain r;
e. tion is very light. This results in a slo
n, daily gain, but greater percentae
n of the growth ia made from the cheapl
id grown forage. The added cost of mai
re tanning hog until 10 to 12 months oil
I'd however, usually more than equals I'll
a saving of the grain ration.
'e, Mature breeding stock that is not e.
ne Ipeeted to make any gain in weight r
n e