Williston graphic., 1919-03-06

do not furnish grazing as early in
the spring as do the cereals previous
ly mentioned, but they grow better
during late spring and summer and
afford an abundance Of forage at a
season when few other pastures are
ready to Craze.
Value Of Permanent Pastures
Permanent pastures require a mini
mum of attention and care. They make
the cheapest forage, as it is not nec-
essary to plow and replant each year.
If not too heavily grazed they may
be carried over from one season to
the next and increase in value each
year. Only a little supplement need
be fed to obtain normal growth of
the pigs.
One of the chief advantages of the
permanent pasture is its long grow
ing season. Growth continues from
spring until fall, and the forage is
palatable and nutritious at almost
any time. Either few hogs may
Re grazed during the whole season,
or litter the pasture has made con-
siderable growth large number may
be nastured for :, short time will,
pract' cally equal results in the
amount of pork produced to the acre.
This shows that a permanent pasture
is adapted to a variety of conditions.
1t takes the place of a reserve forage
crop, being called upon to furnish,
grazing at any time of the year when
other pastures fail or are exhausted.
Feed Grains With Pasture
Although pasture reduces the
amount Of grain needed to bring pigs
to profitable weight and prepare
them for market, it does not furnish
a complete food. A sufficient guam
tity of roughage can not be consumed
and digested to supply all the nu-
trients required for rapid growth.
The forage, especially from legumin-
Gus pastures, furnishes cheap source
makinng, adds bulk to the ration,
of protein, supplies ash for bone
making, adds bulk to the ration, acts
as a mild laxative and tonic, and
keeps the hogs system in condition
to utilize profitably the concentrated
feeds. Even with the present high
prices of grain it pays better not to
cut the grain ration more than half
feeding at the rate of two pounds
daily for 100 pounds live weight to
pigs on pasture instead of the usual
four to five pounds when they are in
dry lot. Pigs that are fed grain
while on pasture will gain a pound
or more a day from weaving to q
weight of 200 to 25O pounds, while
those getting little or no grain will
gain but one-half to three-quartel
pounds a day.
This will bring pigs to market
able weight early in fall. A grain
ration, then, reduces the time OF
feeding, the risk, interest on the in.
vestment, and produces a higher con
dition with a finer and more palat'
able meat and fat. Light, steady
grain feeding on pasture gives bet
ter results than heavier feeding dur
ing shorter finishing period.
HOGS LIKE SWEET CLOVER.
Sweet clover is an excellent pas
turage crop for hogs. The animals
may be turned on the field the first
year after sowing the crop, as soor
as the plants have made six-incf
growth. From this time until late
fall an abundance of forage is pro-
duced, as pasturing induces the plants
to send out many tender, succulent
branches. Pasturing the second sea
son after planting may begin as soor
as the growth starts in the spring
If the field is not closely grazed the
second year it is advisable to clip il
occasionally, leaving an eight-incf
stubble, so as to produce a more sue
culent growth.
An acre of sweet clover pasture
ordinarily will support 20 to 81
shotes, in addition to furnishing E
light cutting of hay. For the best
growth of the hogs they should be
fed each day two pounds of grain fo,
each 100 pounds of the hogs weight
Pigs are very fond of sweet clover
roots, and for this season should be
ringed before being turned on the
, pasture. The tendency to root ma,
generally be overcome by adding
some protein to the grain ration.
Management of Pastures
Hogs do not relish grasses excep
when the leaves are young and ten
Ger. Hence it is necessary, for the
best results, to keep permanent pas
! lures we'll stocked. It is usually ad