Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1892 — LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY. [ARTICLE]

LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY.

The Best Hog Ration. The cheapest hog food we can produoe is clover, but the best single food'is corn. In the combination of these two foods lie the best results. Some say this necessitates exclusive summer feeding. Not necessarily; clover hay and clover ensilage form part of a ration for hogs in many portions of the State in winter, and give the best .of satisfaction, especially where fed ito mature stock kept for breeding purposes. Some parties report that they have kept brood sows on good clover hay, with two pounds of corn meal per day in addition, the latter fed without preparation of any kind. While this style of feeding is practiced Quite extensively in the eastern pant.of the State and by the best farmers, I cannot speak of it from experience, but consider it worthy of trial.

But I can speak from experience in feeding grain on clover pasture, and I prefer corn aod can honestly say it is one of the best, if not the very best, way to produce pork at a low cost, and it is somewhat strange so few farmers avail themselves of its advantages. At present prices pork connot be profitably produced on an all-grain ration, and yet it is equally true it cannot be produced on an all-grass ration. But the person who has never tried feeding a limited amount of grain to thrifty hogs on a good clover pasture would be surprised at the results. The practice of many feeders of feeding milk to hogs on grass in the absence ot grain ration, is not to be recommended. While young pigs do not derive much benefit frmn pastures except through the exercise and contact with the soil, when the weather is suitable it is the safest place to keep them, as old pens with their unhealthy surroundings and bad atmosphere are particularly injurious. Winter feeding should be avoided as much as possible, especially the practice of keeping what are termed store bogs, when not kept for breeding pur-

pose 9 — l Thomas Convey, in Farm and Home.