Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1927-12-16
FARM
S''S.,1I|7'!Q!CK
49, nGrrD4
ss.5 dI1lEIIiiI111 W..
HOG RATION MUST
BE APPLY MADE

The hog is the most rapid gain
ing of all farm animals and be-
cause of this his ration must not
contain much coarse material to
be worked over, w. e. Carroll,
chief of swine huSbandry at the
college of agriculture, University
Of Illinois, points out. Even the
best forage must be considered
merely as a side dish to the main
ration, but a very excellent and
appetizing side dish at that.
''In states around Illinois, at
least, corn is the staff of the pork
er's life. Nothing has been found
which comes SO near meeting most
of the requirements of fattening
hogs as corn. On the other hand,
it is equally true that the hog can
not live by the staff of life alone.
Fortunately, however, the short
cOmingS of corn us a hog feed can
be corrected ratlor easily. 1t has
been found that corn lacks both
in the amount and quality of its
prOteins and mineral matter, and
that it does not carry some of the
vitamines needed by growing and
fattening hogs. If, however, sup
plements are added to take care of
these three deficiencies, there is no
other ration which is so nearly per-
feet for hogs.
"The deficiencies of corn for fat
tening hogs can be corrected in
fine shape, and yet still leave the
feeder a very simple ration which
takes a minimum Of purchased
feed and very little extra labor.
Corn can be fed on the ear until
the pigs weigh 100 or $50 pounds.
When they get heavier than that
it usually pays to feed them shelled
corn.
AS for pasture, there is no single
crop or combination of crops that
is better for hog pasture than al
falfa where soil and climatic con-
ditiOns are suited to its growth.
1t is a legume that provides long
grazing season, it supplies large
amounts of very palatable forage,
it can be grazed throughout the
season and it withstands drought
well. The man who has alfalfa
for his hogs is giving them the
highest advantage possible in pas
ture feeding. In many sections Of
the corn belt late fall grazing of
alfalfa hurts the stand. 1t is adj
visable, therefore, wherever pcs
sible to use an area for fall pas
ture that is to be broken up.
Next in value to alfalfa come
the clovers. Red clover has the
advantage also of always being a
part of the rotation on many farms.
Sweet clover is less palatable than
the others, but it will grow under
a wide variety of soil conditions
and also has the advantage that
it can be pastured in the fall fol-
lowing a spring seeding. It pro-
vides large amount of forage. In
fact, it is an exceedingly rank
growing plant. 1t will have to be
watched the second year or else
it is likely to get too woody for
hogs. If it shows signs of getting
ahead of the animals it should be
clipped with a very high stubble
to induce new and tender growth.
However, if this is postponed too
long the crop will not recover.
OF the nOnlegumes rape is the
outstanding forage for hogs. It is
practically equal to alfalfa while
it lasts, although its grazing sea-
son is much shorter. The grasses
and cereals are not as good as the
legumes, although they frequently
are available when legumes are not.
If the grasses are kept down so
the hogs always have a tender,
young growth, these crops are
much better than they otherwise
would be, as their crude fiber in
creases rapidly with age.