Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1912 — HOG PASTURE CROPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOG PASTURE CROPS

By J. C. Beavers, Department of Soilsand Crops, Purdue Experiment Station Purdue University Agricultural Extension. ,

"There is money in hogs at seven debts,” said a Hoosier farmer the other day while feeding a corn ration to his broodsows in a two acre paddock of plantain and red sorrel with a little foxtail and blue grass mixed in to complete the stand. Yes, there is money in hogs at seven cents, but the most Important thing is to grow hogs so cheaply that they may be sold at a profit on any ‘'market, not the high market only. But it can’t be done on a pasture of plantain and red sorrel. In order to produce cheap hogs they must be provided with succulent and nutritious forage fVom eafly spring until late falL The legumes, clover, alfalfa, soy beans and cowpeas, should be used for this purpose wherever possible, lor by growing these crops we may “catch ’em cornin’ and a goin’,” that is, we get a profit from feeding the crop and at the same time improve the productively of the soil Rye and rape seeded together in August win make an early growth next spring that will furnish pasturage for hogs from soon after the opening of spring until clover is large enough to turn on. Clover will make the best summer pasture and should be provided in, suffiatent quantity to

give the hogs all the clover they will eat from the time it is six or eight Inches high *until its growth is hindered by dry weather in July or August. Alfalfa will make a better pasture for hogs than clover atffi should be provided wherever It succeeds well. In order to keep the hogs .continuously supplied with green forage, a field of rape should be seeded in May to furnish pastuYage during the dry weather. Amber sorghum seeded broadcast on fertile soil the first of June is also used to good advantage. An acre oi good sorghum wifi furnish pasturage for fifteen or more nogs for one or two months. The hogs may be turned, on the sorghum when it gets twelve or fifteen inches high. For fall forage and for grain, soy beans and cowpeas are most exoellepL Of these the soy bean is the better. Soy beans planted the last of May should be ready for the hogs by the middle of September arid is the best crop grown in Indiana for supplementing com for fattening hogs. * Don’t fall to supply your hogs with a succession of forage crops for next year and .a. crop of soy beans to start main fattening period, for herein lies one ot the principal means of reducing the oust of producing pock.

On Clover. Hogs Grow While They Eat.