The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-27
Small Crabs and Alfalfa for Hogs

duction of pork are industries that to-
day are claiming increasing attention
throughout the Northwest. Expert
ments with grains which may take the
place Of corn for feeding purposes are
of the greatest interest to farmers in
this region, because the small grains
are often grown in abundance and
form the basis of all rations. A great
amount Of wheat, barley, and rye is
fed in the form of mill products, anG
is Of course ground. In common prac-
tice, also, these grains are ground
more generally than corn, as they are
usually much harder The greater
liability Of these small grains to pass
through the animal undigested shows
the correctness of such pactice.
Best Results with Wheat.
Chief among the small grains Is
wheat, and it appears to be the food
best adapted for long-continued hog
feeding. The advisability of feeding
wheat or any other grain, however
depends upon market prices and econ
omic conditions. 1t could hardly be
regarded as economical to use wheat
as stock feed at the high prices now
prevailing. A bushel Of wheat prop
erly fed to reasonably well-bred hogs
should produce approximately 13
pounds Of gain in weight. The re-
suits Of number Of feeding tests
show that there is Comparatively lit
tie difference in feeding value between
wheat and corn for swine.
In comparing various rations in
which corn, wheat, and rye We're fed
alone or in combination with each
other, it was found that dry, ground
wheat gave the greatest returns and
required the least amount of grain to
make 100 pounds of gain. Wheat
should be ground and mixed with
some supplement, such as tankage,
peas, or soy-bean meal. The results
obtained from number of tests have
proved this to be good practice.
Barley Produces Best Pork.
In Great Britain and northern Eu-
rope barley takes the place of corn for
pork production, leading all grains
in producing pork OF fine quality,
both as to hardness and flavor. Con-
siderable study in the United States
has been made Of the value Of barley
as pig feed, and the results have
shown that it compares Very favor
ably with corn, but has a feeding val
ue somewhat below that of wheat.
What this grain may lack in feeding
value, however, it more than supplies
in it's effect on the carcass. AS a high,
grade pig feed it far surpasses any
other grain, and this fact makes pos
sible the production of pork Of the
first quality in regions where barley
Is produced abundantly. Ground or
rolled barley is best fed in combina-
tion with wheat middlings, skim milk,
roots, alfalfa, etc.
Value of Rye.
Rye meal ranks a little below corn
and about equal to barley meal as a
feed for swine. Rye produces salts
factory pork. especially when it is fed
with other grains. 1t is an extremely
heavy. concentrated feed and will usu-
ally give best results when fed not to
exceed one-third of a ration. In many
sections rye is much esteemed as pas
ture. especially where the soils are
rather light, and in such instances
hogging off, proves profitable.
Alfalfa Pasture and Hay.
Since economical pork production
depends largely upon the consumption
Of great deal Of cheaply grown feed.
the pasture should be managed SO
that the forage produced will be clean,
tender, and palatable. Many success
full hog raisers prefer to use such crops
rs alfalfa and clover for both pas
ture and hay at the same time. The
number Of hogs generally turned into
field is SO limited that the usual
crops of hay are made.
The newer irrigated sections have
thousands Of acres in alfalfa which
may be utilized to great advantage
by pasturing with hogs. Alfalfa.
while adapted to the same territory as
clover, has a much wider range OF
usefulness, for it succeeds with less
rainfall and on lighter soils than
clover. Where the land is to be usel
continuously for hog pasture for a
numbers of years, alfalfa easily stands
ilrst. An acre Of alfalfa will keep
from Is to 20 pigs during the summer
and with grain in addition will make