The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-05-29

one OF the most important factors OF
swine breeding is to carry the hogs
through tie summer at a minimum cost
and yet get maximum growth. Also
the summer is the time when most of
the insects and diseases bothering hogs
are at their worst
Repeated experiments by the differ
ent experiment stations, and by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture, have determined that it is best
to allow the pigs to gather most of
their own feed. Then if they are to
be killed, they may be fed for two or
three weeks, just before butchering, on
some kind of concentrated feed. This
will give as much and as good meat as
il the hog had been fed entirely on con-
centrates. In this manner the high
cost of the concentrates will be saved
This is best done by planting series
of crops for pasturage, so that one will
follow the other and there will be at
least one ready for use all the time.
One of the best early pastures upon
which to Craze hogs is mixture Of
bermuda grass and white clover. This
will last for several years and can be
easily grown anywhere in Louisiana
The hogs may be put on this pasture
In early spring and kept on it practi-
cally all the summer, being turned in
on the other crops for time when they
are ready for use.
Sweet sorghums make good early
feed crops, but their chief value is that
they give quick returns and come in at
time when pasturage crops are very
scarce. They will give good grazing
from about the middle of May until the
first Of July. Cowpeas are usually the
next crop the hogs may be turned upon
turage crops which can be grown in
the South. Besides being good feed,
they also improve the soil, thus being
doubly valuable. AS they are usually
grown with corn, both may be used
and balanced ration obtained The
price Of corn in most cases, however,
Is 80 high that it will not pay to let the
hogs get it, but there will usually be
enough wasted In gathering it to sup
ply all the carbohydrates the hogs will
need.
Soy beans are becoming fairly pop
ular as substitute for cow peas for
hog pasturing, but the Louisiana Ex-
pertinent Station has found by series
Of experiments that COW peas give the
best results. In the hilly section of
Louisiana, however, very good results
may be obtained from them if the hogs
are turned in after the seed are har-
vested.
Peanuts make good forage crop for
hogs, as they are very high in protein.
They will be ready for use about the
first of August, making good feed
between the COW pea and sweet potato
crops. A small amount of corn should
be fed the hogs along with the peanuts
to balance the ration. Sweet potatoes
follow the peanuts WELL and the hogs
may be kept on them until nearly
butchering time. Bran Cor tankage)
may be fed to supply the necessary
balanced ration. When the hogs are
taken off the potatoes, If they are to
be butchered they should be put in a
pen and fed for a week or two on con-
csntrated feeds; If not, they should be
put on winter pastures.
A good method of pasturing hogs
worked out by the Louisiana Station
il as follows:
Hogs which have been on a winter
pasture of clover, wheat or oats are
transferred in May to pasture Of ber-
muda grass and white clover. They