The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-13
Pasture For Hogs


son the pasture, if under irrigation, is
irrigated just after the hogs are
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
the field s 10 limited that the usual
crops Of hay are made. The chief ad-
vantages of this method are ~ the
presence of an abundance of feed, (2)
the meadow is not grased closely enough
for the stand to be injured, (3) it is
not necessary to snbdiyide the pasture
into smaller areas for alternate pas
turing and az the changing Of the
hogs from one inclosure to another is
0bviated.
| 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 When the forage
becomes too large to furnish desirable
feed, an area near the watering place is
Ielipped with a mower. This should be
large enough to furnish the desired
amount of pasture. In few days the
Iclipped area produces a vigorous growth
of new shoots, upon which the hogs feed
without materially disturbing the rest
Iof 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, or
green pasture forage, it is desirable to
feed grain or other concentrated feed
in addition. Mature, dry brood sows
are sometimes maintained in ..an ap-
parently satisfactory condition on good
pasture alone. Young growing hogs, on
the other hand, usually become ungain-
|ly 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 that
should be fed while on pasture. Some
feed full grain ration, i. e., all c
: grain the hog will consume. Others
+ feed medium ration, one that is equal
Ito about 2 to 3 per cent of the live
= weight of the hog. Still others prefer
a light grain ration, one that is equal
70 only about per cent Of the live
S weight of the hog. Occasionally men
are found who run yo,mg shotes on pas
, ture without other feed This is a mis-
take, for it almost invariably results in
la stunted hog. No fixed and fast rule
can be laid down, for the supplemental
grain ration which should be fed in
f conjunction with green pasture depends
O upon number eff factors, the more i'm
e portant of which are (D the age at
9 which the hogs are to be marketed, (2)
K the price of grain, and (3) the plenti
fulness and quality of the pasture.
= Rations for Hogs of Various Condition,
5 and Market Ages.
!. If hogs are to be marketed when
D to 9 months old, it is necessary t.
d feed them about all the grain they will
consume, in addition to the pasture, il
. order to make them reach the weigh
d demanded by the market, 170 to %!
pounds. Hogs that are marketed whel
d 10 to II months old are usually main
r tanned on pasture alone during the graz
d ing season. If fed at all, the grain ra
3 tion is very light This results in SLOW
n, daily gain, but greater percentag
L of the growth is made from the cheapl,
d grown forage. The added cost of main
,e tanning a hog until 10 to 12 months old
ID however, usually more than equals tn
a saving of the grain ration.
e, Mature breeding stock that is not ez