The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-05-04

crop at the cfltlcal per1OuS must III
so be viewed in the light Of practi-
cal results. Just how such a plan
will fit in with permanent rotation
in the orchard, labor distribution.
etc: must also be considered.
The writer wishes to call attention
to the observations made by the
Hood River Experiment Station dur
ing the season of 1915 in the lower
valley on sheep pasturing. r. w. Al
len of the Umatilla Experiment Sta
tion was then in charge of the work.
1t will be well to observe that this
is class of animals which can be
maintained without the use of grain
and fattened for market solely on
grain forage. Such being the case Il,
was thought desirable to note the
gains made on the ieguminous crops
such as clover or alfalfa and to stu.
dy such other factors that indicate
the desirability or undesirability of
sheep pasturing in the orchard. It Is
important to note that owing to the
shortage of sheep within reach of the
district individuals were taken for
the test that we're considerably below
normal in standard. The ewes win.
tered poorly and the lambs were
small. On June IS, eight ewes and as
many lambs we're put on an acre Of
clover in bearing apple orchard. At
this time the ewes averaged 81
pounds each and the lambs 26 pounds
each. At the end of twelve days the
ewes showed an average of four aila
one-half pounds gain each, and the
lambs fourteen and three-quarters
pounds each. On August 9th, when
the experiment terminated the ewes
had made a gain of three pounds
each while the lambs showed an
average gain each of 63.7 pounds for
the fifty-two day period This shows
a daily gain Of IL pounds each dur
ing the entire period.
Sixteen head of animals were kept
for the first three weeks on one acre
of clover. At the end of this time
they were transferred to an area of
equal extent for one week. During
this time the clover was eaten apprO-
half off. Owing to the fact
that the fence became broken no
further data was collected and the
animals given a wide range.
The experiment indicates that during
the early season before the lambs are
feeding extensively eight ewes and as
many lambs may be kept on two acres
of clover pasture: later three acres
will be required. These are results of
work here and it Is hoped
more trials may be made this year and
further observations. Owing to the
fact that sheep can be purchased in the
spring not far from Hood River valley
it appears feasible for them to be
bought at this time, kept In the orch.
ard pasture during the summer and
sold in the fall.
Tests made with hogs were even
more favorable from an economic
standpoint. In one experiment near
Oak Grove, 13 hogs were kept on
three acre patch Of clover until such
time as an adjoining tract OF field peas
became ripe enough to be fed off. Both
crops were in an orchard near bearing
age. The l3 hogs placed in this exper-
iment weighed on an average of 1875
pounds. They were pastured on clover,
without supplementary feed, for 80
days. During this time they made an
individual average gain Of 1876 pounds
or 81 pounds per day. In the succeed
ing 80 days they were fed rolled barley
at the rate Of one half pound per hog
daily. During this period the average
gain was IA pounds per hog. Owing to
the fact that the animals made smaller
gains during this period than the for
mer period the relation of greater sue
culency during the early seasons
growth to quick and economical gains
Is obvious. This is important. In the
So succeeding days the animals ran on
clover and pastured of the peas in the
adjoining field. During this period
they made an individual gain of N
pounds per day. Thus the total gain
per animal over period Of l27 days
was 77.2 pounds, or ga pounds per day.
1t is also worthy Of note that 20 head
of very small pigs also pastured with
them during the entire time on clover.
The exact amount of feed consumed
was not determined. However, the
gains of "a pounds daily per hog was
very good considering the amount of
grain fed and indicates that there is
profit in hogs in normal season.
In closing it is to be emphasized that
If quick and economical gains are to be
made pastures must be succulent. This
means getting the animals on the mas.
ture early while this condition still OBJ
tains. This condition may be main
tanned for long period If sufficient
moisture is available and the field of
pasture is given alternate periods of
rest. This may be conveniently ar
ranged by having two or three enclos
ures. These fields are then used al
the hogs remaining in each
about week or 10 days. In the case
,f clover or alfalfa the growth is al.
Owed to become three or four inches
high before the hogs are turned in to
sat quickly. When the pasture con-
lists of such crops as rape, kale and
'etch which will not stand such close
grazing. the growth 10 permitted TO |
each height Of eight 70 ten inches |
,efore the animals are turned in.
Changing the hogs from iield to field |
Iives the pasture q period of rest, dur