The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1922-02-01
Alfalfa Hay Fed
Hogs Profitable
Experiments at Government Farm
Show that Pigs Pay More Than
Market Price for Alfalfa
TIME TO GROW OTHER CROPS
ON PROJECT SAYS OFFICIAL
Swine Can Be Raised ON Pasturage
and Made to Give Profitable Re-
turns II Right Methods Used
(By F. B. Headleyl

During the first 15 years of its
existence the Newlands Project has
been primarily an alfalfa producing
section. The value ofall other crops
combined are equal to only about
one-third of the annual value of the
alfalfa crop. This has naturally
been the case because alfalfa is the
best of all crops to grow on raw
land, for it builds up the soil faster
and as rule has been more profit
able than other crops. 1t grows like
weed, requiring no attention ex-
cept irrigation and harvesting after
1t is once established and this leaves
the farmer more time to bring the
unleveled portion os the farm under
cultivation. AS first crop for the
homesteader, alfalfa has been ideal.
But now that most of the farms
have been brought under cultiva-
tion and the cost of production is
rising without any proportfonate
rise in the value of the alfalfa. 1t
becomes necessary to look for more
profitable crops to grow. or for
some method of marketing that will
bring better price for that we'll
tried and standard crop than is af-
forded by selling it as a cash crop.
Every one knows that good dairy
cows pay several times the market
value for alfalfa hay but it Is not
so well known that hogs can be
raised on alfalfa pasture and make
very profitable returns per acre pro
yiding the right methods OF caring
for the pasture and feeding the hogs
are used.
The pasturing Of hogs on alfalfa
at the local experiment farm has
given very encouraging results. In
eacn experiment the pasture was di-
vided into two parts in which the
pigs were pastured alternate weeks.
In addition to the alfalfa they re-
ceived two per cent ration of bar
ley, that is two pounds of barley
were given daily for each 100
pounds in weight of hogs. In these
experiments the pigs were weighed
weekly and the ration corrected at
each weighing, but In actual prac-
tice it will only be necessary to
make an estimate of the weight of
the pigs twice a month and correct
the ration according to the estimat-
ed weights.
1t will not do to attempt to raise
pigs on alfalfa and water alone for
they will not make satisfactory
growth, and on the other hand, IL
they are fed too heavy a ra-
tion of grain they will eat less al
falfa and the profits will be pro-
portionately decreased. Two pounds
of grain per hundredweight per day
is about right.
The labor involved in caring for
pigs on alfalfa is less than that of
harvesting an alfalfa crop, especial
ly if running water can be provided.
The grain is fed but once a day,
preferably in the evening by scat
tering it over tight feeding floor
and this is the only regular labor
requirement On the first day of
each week they are turned into the
other half of the pasture where
they find fresh unsoiled growth of
alfalfa that is more palatable than
that on continually tramped field
The alfalfa too, does better for its
occasional rest and makes a more
vigorous growth than when eontin-
ually pastured. II there are not
enough hogs to keep the alfalfa
down it should be clipped once or
twice during the season with the
mower.
At the end of the experiments the
gains in weight were credited at 7
cents a pound and the pigs were
charged one and one-half cents a
pound for the barley consumed. In
the tables of results it Will be seen
that the net profit per acre from
the alfalfa was s44.'04 for Lot /.
$9616 an acre for Lot II, and
$63.10 for Lot g.
Lot Lot 2 Lot