The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-06-04
GOOD CROPS FOR
PRODUCING PORK
Industry in irrigation Country
Subject to Periods OF Expan-
sion and Depression.
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE NOTED
Department Of Agriculture Has Been
Making Observations in its West.
ern Projects on Utilization
of Field Crops.

I NHTepaTed Dy the united states Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
Gum shoe" farming for ham and
bacon production does not presuppose
web-footed hogs. 1t merely means
that irrigation as practiced by some
western farmers involves conservative
use OF moisture for production Of for
age crops which may be harvested d.
rectly in the fields by the porkers. The
swine industry in the rubber-boot coun-
try has been subject to periods of ex-
pansion and depression. One cause is
lack Of knowledge as to the possibility
of using certain irrigated field crops, |
and as to the value Of these crops when
measured in terms Of pOSk production.
If full advantage is taken Of the wide /,
range Of feeds available to swine grow !
ers on irrigated lands, pork production
can be conducted more extensively, and
with more assurance of success.
Irrigation farmers interested in pork
production have had to rely on results
obtained in nonrrigated sections, and
applied to localities where web-footed
crops grow. This lack of definite in
formation was especially noteworthy
in the case of field crops. which III
other sections of the country are pas
tured by hogs or hogged off. Hence.
since 1912 the department has, been
making observations in its western ir-
rigation projects on the utilization of
irrigated field crops as hog pasture
These Investigations include pasture
tests with l49 lots consisting Of 3795
hogs pasturcd on alfalfa. sweet clover
field peas, and milo.
Alfalfa Needs Supplementary Ration.
PosturinG alfalfa with hogs has been
demonstrated satisfactory method Of
utilizing the forage and one Of the
cheapest ways to produce pork. How
ever, to obtain satisfactory results.
the alfalfa pasture must be supple
mented with some carhonaCeouS feed,
such as per cent ration of corn,
barley. milo. wheat, or shorts. Under
such conditions one good acre Of good
alfalfa pasture will produce. with rea-
sonable surety. about $500 pounds Of
pork season. Exceptional gains as
high az 1892 pounds an acre, were
reported In the case of one lot of hogs
pastured on alfalfa, and given a per
cent supplementary ration of corn.
.
on the size and quantity and quality
! OF the supplementary feed 1t Is poor
! policy to try TO make pork on alfalfa
pasturage alone without supplementary
feed. =
HOGS on alfalfa pasture. supplement.
ca with about 2 per cent ration OF
corn. barley, wheat shorts, or milo, will
consume from 250 to $50 pounds of
grain for each hundredweight of gain.
Ia general the grain requirement in
cTeases as the hogs get larger. The
feeding values OF corn. barley, shorts,
and milo as supplements to alfalfa pas
, turage are 80 nearly identical that the
choice among these side dishes shouM
depend on prices. cultural adaptabilIty.
and general economic conditions.
Where the grain Is to be grown by
the swine raiser, preference usually
Is given to corn. barley, and the grain
sorghums, depending upon the adapt.
ability OF these crops to local condi-
lions An acre Of good alfalfa pasture
supplemented with 2 per cent ration
of grain will support $500 pounds Of
hogs during the entire growing season.
The carrying capacity OF alfalfa pas
lures increases rapidly with greater
grain allowance, and it varies some
what during the growing season with
the rate of crop growth.
According TO specialists OF the Unit /
ed States department Of agriculture an
acre OF good alfalfa pasture. If sup
plemented with 2 per cent ration of /
corn, or barley, Will support six to ,
eight sows and so to 70 sucking spring
pigs for about 60 days In early summer,
during which the pigs should gain from
25 to 80 pounds apiece.
Sweet Glover often Valuable.
few tests have been conducted to .
try out the value OF sweet clover as
hog pasture, and the results have
proved that this crop cannot be regard. /
ed as rival OF alfalfa. However, on
soils which are too wet or too salty ,
for alfalfa, the irrigation farmers f1nd .
sweet clover valuable forage crop.
Rubber.boot farmers are coming to ap. |
precfate hOggeddown corn and field |
peas as desirable combination FOR !
pork production, In that It saves labor, |
produces satisfactory gains In fhe hogs,
and adds manure to the soil. Exten- !
slve tests Of 'hogging corn" reported /
In the bulletin show gains OF from 1873 .
to fO48 pounds an acre of corn when .
no supplementary feed was provided, |
and from 335 to 1877 pounds an acre !
ma 40