Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1917 — PASTURE IS BOON TO HOG BREEDER [ARTICLE]

PASTURE IS BOON TO HOG BREEDER

Increases Growth at Much Less Expense Than Grain, But Value Is Not Generally Known. I By G. I. Gristle, Supt. of Agricultural Extension, Purdue University. Pastures have proved profitable in the production of pork. Demonstrations shdw that gains on hogs made with pasture crops are made at 20 to 30 per cent less cost than gains produced largely with grain alone. The increased exercise, the succulent feed and the supply of protein, the and muscle producer, offered by good pastures are all conducive to the good health and rapid growth of young pigs.

“Yet the proper appreciation of pasture has not been readlzed by hog feeders,” says C. G. Starr, of the Purdue animal husbandry department. “This lack can often be explained by men following one or all of the following thUee bad practices: (1) Overpasturing, (2) pastures not used for a long enough time during the year, and (3) not feeding proper grain rations for the pigs and for Hie pastures in use. It is rather common upon small farms or those that have a large proportion of their total in cash crops, such as con., wheat and oats, to see the horses, cows and 'hog,s aill running in a small, pasture lot, sandpapered by overgrazing. In many other pastures there are more weeds than grass. “Under such conditions it is foolish to expect much return '”om a pasture. Again the hogs are often too many for the acreage of pasture. For a short time pastures such as clover, alfalfa and rape will afford cheap feed for a large number of hogs per acre, but at the expense of future uggfulness. No pasture should ‘be so grazed that it has no chance to keep ahead of the hogs.” Red clover is the crop to be principally depended upon for hog pasture in Indiana. This is time not only because of its importance for completing the rotation of mops, but also because of its high vaule as a forage. So universal is the use of clover that when there is a great shortage of this crop the hog raiser is often at a very serious loss to know what to do forpasture. Very often the hogs are sold or kept on inadequate -msbure. Neither course is necessary. Tt is both possible and economical to sow .some quick growing crop or a series of crops in the spring and summer that will furnish an abundance of hog pasture of almost the same feeding value as clover and at very little extra cost in time and labor.

Rape is one of the most satisfactory crops for early hog pasture when clover is not available. It closely resembles cabbage in appearance and manner of growth, except that it does not produce a head. It has large, coarse, succulent leaves and ordinarily grows from twenty to thirty inches tall. It is a cool weather plant and can be sown early in the spring, as soon as there is no further danger of severe frost The Dwarf Essex and Dwarf Victoria are the varieties commonly grown. .... The oowpea is a legume producing much forage and co..siderable grain. It requires about ninety days from the time it is planted until it is developed sufficiently for pasturing. However, varieties differ in this respect, and late plantings develop more quickly than early paintings. It is ready to pasture when the first pods show signs of ripening. The Whippoorwill and New Era varieties are widely grown in Indiana. The Early Blackeye and Michigan Favorite are also grown to some extent. The last two are somewhat earlier than the others and are mostly used in the northern part of the state. The New Era usually produces more seed than the other three. While the cowpea has given good returns in all parts of the state, it is more certain in the southern half.

The soy bean is another legume. Some varieties grow tall, slender and weak, and show a tendency to vine, but most varieties have an upright, bushy growth. The soy bean is both a grain and a forage producer. There is a wide variation in the time of development of different varieties, but those 'best adapted to Indiana will be ready to pasture on about eighty to ninety days from planting. Midsummer sowingswill develop more quickly than the early sowings. The Ito San, Early Brown, Kikado, Black Beauty and Hollybrook are wellknown varieties. The Ito San and Early Brown are adapted to any part of the state, the others to all parts except the northern counties. Oats will furnish a good pasture during the spring and early summer. For pastures the seeding should be heavy, about three bushels or more o seed per acre. It is sown on either plowed or stubble ground. When sown on plowed land it is usually driller, while on the stubble ground it is frequently sown with a broadcast seeder and covered by disking am harrowing. When sown for hog pas- ' ture alone it is better to sow in con- ’ nection with rape or Canadian fiek peas, because both .he quantity and quality of pasture is improved.