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UR

Washington, D. C. April 16, 1923

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS AT
HUNTLEY, MONT.

By A. E. SEaMANS, Assistant Agronomist, Office of Dry-Land Agriculture Invescigations,
Bureau of Plant Industry. }

CONTENTS.

Page | Page.
Introduction: 2... 22s ee a en eng te ae 1 | Resultsvim- 1919 fe. cos: oe rake er ce ee 12
Purpes ouiline {the experiments. ....-. 2 | FROSUMGS 110 1920 252. 3 RES ee ae 14
Result Lee Geese eee Seed neh eee Sebresmits ingots et. Fe ae et reek oe 16
RSPR SMT POL G > See ke ae ee ee oF oe OS 5 | Study of the results with different crops..... 17
Te) SOUCY Peleg (0) br Ak ee ee CAI SCORCLUSIONS 35 o) Mee ect a a Sots oe mate Seee 23
PMSIES HANIGIS | Ais. 2s Oh. Se eae cob ccu ewe 10 |

INTRODUCTION.

The transition from cattle-range conditions to grain farming has
been comparatively rapid in the Plains area of Montana.

Relatively high yields of wheat from low-priced land during the
first few years when this change was taking place were a mighty
stimulant toward the rather general adoption aE this one-crop system
of agriculture.

The experience of the older agricultural States has shown that a
combination of live stock and crop farming formed the basis of
a more permanent agriculture than where either grain or live stock
was produced singly. Diversified farming as opposed to single-crop
farming has frequently been demonstrated as a superior system of
agriculture for the semiarid as well as for the humid sections of the
country. There is ample reason to suppose that, in general, the
dry-farming districts of Montana will prove to be no exception to
this experience; and, furthermore, there have been numerous in-
stances where the grain and forage returns from dry farms have been
profitably marketed through live stock.

Live-stock production to a greater or less degree in connection
with grain farming not only affords the dry-land farmer another
direct source of income, but enables him to utilize profitably grain

1 The results reported in this bulletin are from experimerts conducted under a cooperative arrangement
between the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, the Office of Western Irrigation Agriculture
and the Office of Dry-Land Agriculture Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau of
Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture.

The following men from the Anima] Husbandry Division of the Bureau of Animal Industry have been
in charge of the animal-husbandry work at this station and have had the actual care of the hogs during
the years speci ied: C. V. Singleton, 1917-1918; R. E. Gongwer, 1919-1920; and R. E. Hutton, 1921. George
W. Morgan,who was in charge of the dry-land work at the Huntley, Mont., Experiment Farm from 1913
to 1915, outlined and conducted the experiments here reported during the season of 1915.

26063—23——1

2 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. Di PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

and forage crops which of themselves are of secondary importance
but which fit in well with approved crop rotations and agricultural
systems. For example: Experiments have shown, and practical
farmers have found, that m many parts of the dry-land sections of
the State the yields of small grains grown after corn are almost as
large as on summer fallow, and the net returns are correspondingly
greater when the corn crop can be profitably used. Corn generally
has a greater value when fed to live stock than when harvested and
sold as grain. The return of fertility to the land through the medium
of manure is recognized as a factor in establishing a system of perma-
nent agriculture. |
ere animals are produced, raised, and prepured .or market on

the farm it is generally essential that some sort of pasture be a part
of thescheme. The open range or other native-grass pasture answers
this purpose in many cases for cattle and sheep. In the more thickly
settled communities pasture will often have to be confined to culti-
vated crops. Where this is the case, hogs will more often be used —
than any of the other meat-producing animals.

With this phase of dry-land farming in mind, a series of hog-
pasturing experiments was outlined and begun at the Huntley,
Mont., Experiment Farm in 1915.

PURPOSE AND OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENTS.

The principal purpose of the experiments was not so much to
determine the value of the several crops pastured from the standpoint
of profit in pork production as to collect agronomic data bearing on
the following points:

(1) The seasons at which the different crops become available for grazing by hogs
and the length of time each crop will furnish palatable forage.

(2) The carrying capacity or number of hogs per acre these crops will support.

(3) The possibility of fitting together or matching up these crops, by means of a
rotation or otherwise, so that their respective pasture periods will form continuous
grazing over a considerable season.

(4) The agronomic effect of manure, the result of pasturing, on the yield of crops.

(5) The economic merits of pasturing these crops as contrasted with the usual
methods of harvesting them.

While these five points are of primary importance in this work,
the behavior of the animals themselves in point of gain or loss in
weight is important as an indicator of the palatability and the
quantity of forage produced. For this reason the results of pasturing
are presented in pounds of gain.

The plats used in the pasturing experiments were 1 acre in area.
They were 620 feet long and 70.3 feet wide. A 7-foot ay separated
the plats on their long sides, and a 20-foot road bounded them on the
ends. Suitable fencing, shelter, and water facilities were provided
for the animals on each plat.

Pigs of the Duroc-Jersey breed were used in this work whenever
obtainable, and the animals were placed on the pasture as soon as
the forage was ready. :

Individual hog weights were taken frequently enough during the
pasture season to compare the conditions of the animals with the
depletion of the forage and to form a basis from which to calculate
the grain supplements to be fed. These weighings usually took
place at intervals of 10 to 14 days or oftener as conditions demanded.
The initial and final weights used were generally the average of
weighings made on three consecutive days.

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 3

The annual crops used were arranged in the form of a rotation and
eae as follows: Winter rye seeded in disked pea stubble, followed
y corn on spring plowing, followed by beardless barley (Success
variety) on disked corn ground, followed by peas on fall-plowed
barley stubble. To obtain estimates of yield and for the ultimate
determination of the effect of pasturing on yield this rotation was
duplicated: The crops in the duplicate rotation were grown by the
same cultural methods but allowed to mature and were harvested
by machinery in the ordinary manner.

In this rotation pasturing began with the winter rye. Usually 10
fall pigs were used on this pasture. They were placed on the rye
in the spring at as early a date as the conditions of season and pasture
would permit. This was usually early in May when the rye was from 5
to 8 inches high. The crop was pastured until it was either exhausted,
had become unpalatable, or had to be abandoned in order that
the pigs could be turned into the acre of peas at a time when they
might receive the greatest benefit from this crop. While on the
rye plat the hogs were fed once daily a ration of corn equal to 2 per
cent of the live weight of the animals.

The plat of peas was grazed off in the same manner as the rye.
Theoretically, peas are a grain crop, and pigs should require no corn
supplement, but under conditions as actually experienced in the
field it seemed advisable for one reason or another to continue the 2
per cent corn ration. .

From the plat of peas the hogs were moved to the plat of Success
barley. This crop was usually headed out and the grain either
matured or approaching maturity. The barley is supposed to con-
stitute a straight grain ration, on which hogs should approach a
finished condition.

A small lot of spring pigs was used to harvest the standing corn -
on the fourth plat in the rotation.

The perennial crops pastured were alfalfa and brome-grass. Two
l-acre plats of each crop were grazed off in these experiments. On
one plat of each crop the forage was grown in rows 2 feet apart, while
in the second plat the forage was sown broadcast. With the excep-
tion of brome-grass in rows each of the perennial pasture plats was
duplicated by plats from which the crop was harvested as hay by
machinery.

Plats of sweet clover for pasture and harvest were seeded in 1916
and 1919, but on account of dry seasons there was no stand, and con-
sequently this crop has not been used as pasture.

The perennial pastures were seeded in 1916, and pasturing began
in 1917. The first year both fall and spring pigs were used to harvest
these crops, but since then the grazing has been done by fall pigs
only. These were placed on the fields as early in the spring as prac-
ticable and maintained there as long as the conditions of the forage —
and animals would permit. While on pasture the hogs were fed a 2
per cent supplementary ration of corn and were weighed about every
two weeks. At the end of the pasture period they were removed to
the feed lot for fattening.

RESULTS IN 1915.

Seasonal conditions affect dry-land crop yecuene so profoundly
as to materially affect both the conduct of the experiment and its

4 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

results. It therefore seems best to present the details of the experi-
ment year by year. This allows opportunity for brief discussions of
the seasons and explanation of apparent deviations or omissions from
the outlined program. .

The pasturing work in 1915 was of a preliminary character and was
confined to the rotation of annual crops. The land used was broken
from native sod the previous fall and all the crops were planted in
the spring. This being the case, White Smyrna barley, a bearded
variety, was used in place of winter rye. The season was cool, the
rainfall was abnormally heavy, and all crops made yields considerably
above the average. The hogs used were fall pigs of the Duroc-Jersey
and Poland China breeds and were borrowed from neighboring
farmers for the work.

Nine hogs, totaling 1,366 pounds, were placed on July 14 on the
plat of White Smyrna barley, where they remained until July 30, a
period of 16 days. At the time the pasturing began the barley was
in the soft-dough stage. From the actions of the animals and the
small gains made it was readily seen that the crop was unpalatable
‘because of its beards, and the hogs were removed to the plat of
Success barley. While on the White Smyrna barley a total gain of
only 40 pounds for the lot was made. The check plat of this crop
yielded 43.8 bushels of thrashed grain per acre.

Seven fall pigs having a combined weight of 986 pounds were put
on the plat of peas on July 17, when the grain was in the dough stage,
and remained on it until August 3. During this period of 17 days
the lot made a total gain of 280 pounds, or about 2.4 pounds per pig
per day. The check plat yielded 8.4 bushels of thrashed peas per
acre, but as much of the grain was lost by shelling out durmg
harvest the actual yield was somewhat higher. No supplementary
ration was fed with the peas.

The plat of Success barley was stocked on July 17 with eight pigs
weighing 1,224 pounds. On July 30 the nine pigs from the White
Smyrna barley plat were added. At this time these pigs weighed
1,406 pounds.

The total lot of 17 pigs was removed from the Success barley plat
on August 11. Thus, the crop carried eight pigs for a period of 25
days and nine pigs for a period of 12 days. - The first lot of eight pigs
made a total gain of 129 pounds, or an average daily increase of 0.65
of a pound each. The lot of nine pigs added on July 30 made a total
gain of 90 pounds, or 0.83 of a pound per pig perday. The harvested
plat yielded 33.2 bushels of grain per acre.

The plat of corn was harvested by 10 spring pigs weighing 1,115
pounds. This lot was placed on the corn on September 29 and
remained there until October 24. A total gain of 480 pounds was
made in the 25-day period. This is 1.92 pounds a day for each pig.
One of the animals suffered from rheumatism toward the last of the
season and did not gain as rapidly as the others. The plat of corn
husked out by hand yielded 33 bushels of grain per acre.

The experience of 1915 was valuable in working out the relationship
these crops have to one another in regard to cultural methods, growth,
season of pasture, and palatability. Methods of handling the hogs
and the technic in regard to taking the individual weights were also
developed.

oe a

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 5

RESULTS IN 1916.
RYE.

The first season when the pasturing work was conducted according
to the outlined program was in 1916. Some difficulty in procuring
suitable hogs was experienced. Ten Duroc-Jersey pigs having a
total weight of 1,171 pounds * were purchased locally by the Montana
Agricultural Experiment Station and placed on the plat of rye on
May 6. At this date the rye was jointing and was generally some-
what farther advanced than was considered most desirable for pas-
turage. The crop grew too fast to be held in check by the pigs, and
by May 21 they were confining their grazing to small areas where
the rye had been closely pastured and new growth was continually
appearing. ‘The unpastured rye was clipped with a mower to induce
new growth over the whole plat. Timely showers started this
growth, which was pastured until June 30, when the hogs were
transferred to the plat of peas.

A total gain of 339 pounds was made by the hogs during the 55
days on rye pasture. While on the rye pasture a ration of corn
weighing 2 pounds for each 100 pounds of hogs was fed. The total
was 1,480 pounds of corn, or 4.37 pounds of corn for every pound of
gain in weight of the animals. The average daily gain per pig was
0.62 of a pound.

The check plat of rye thrashed out 19.2 bushels of grain per acre.

The results of the rye pasturing for the season indicated that the
forage is much more palatable while young. When the crop begins to
head the pigs will not eat it but will confine their grazing to areas
that have been kept pastured closely and where a new growth of rye
is continually appearing. If sufficient moisture is available, a new
growth of forage may be induced by mowing the rye when it gets
beyond the palatable stage. There seems to be little doubt that
the pigs were held on the rye pasture too long for the best results. A
2 per cent ration of corn proved to be about right as a grain supple-
ment for the rye pasturage. :

PEAS.

From the rye pasture the pigs were moved directly to the acre of
field peas. The crop at this time was well advanced toward maturity,
the grain being in the hard-dough stage. As the crop appeared to be
insufficient to carry the hogs until the barley was ripe, the 2 per cent
ration of corn was continued. The peas with corn supplement carried
the 10 pigs for a period of 20 days, the lot being removed on July 20.
During this time a total gain of 270 pounds was made, and 636
pounds of corn were fed as a supplement. This feeding ratio is 2.36
pounds of corn for each pound of gain, while each animal made an
average daily increase of 1.35 pounds in weight. The plat was
completely bare of vegetation when the animals were removed.

‘Peas on the check plat yielded 10.9 bushels per acre of grain of
poor quality.

The experience of this year indicated that an acreage of peas
double that of rye could be used satisfactorily. This would permit

3 After the grazing was well under way it was found that one of the animals had been bred before she
was purchased. The actual weights of this animal while on rye, pes, and barley pastures have not been
used in the calculations, but a weight equal to that of the average of the other nine pigs has been substituted
for the actual weights of this animal.

6 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

leaving the rye at an earlier stage of its growth and pasturing the peas
when they were not so mature, and the increased acreage would more
completely fill the gap between rye and barley. With more forage
containing an increased total weight of grain, it is possible the corn
ration could be dispensed with. Peas appear to be very palatable,
both grain and vines being consumed.

BARLEY.

The 10 pigs were moved on July 20 from the plat of peas to the plat
of Success barley where they remained until August 7, a period of
18 days. At the beginning of the period the barley was in the hard-
dough stage, but many of the plants along the edge of the plat were
stillcomparativelygreen. Itwas observed that these green plants were
consumed by the pigs before grazing the mature barley. During the
first 10 days of the period a total gain of 42 pounds was made, but
during the last 8 days the animals lost in weight to such an extent
that the returns for the entire period on barley showed a loss of 14
pounds for the lot. Though the barley was all eaten, it was clearly
evident that much of it was not digested by the animals and therefore
not assimilated.

The crop on the acre check plat yielded 9.7 bushels of thrashed grain
per acre.

There seems to be ample evidence that the barley was too mature ~

to be of the greatest benefit to the hogs. This crop approximated a
full grain ration, and it is possible that some roughage, such as alfalfa
hay, should be fed along with the barley pasturage when the crop is
so far advanced. If hogged-off when in a greener stage, there would
probably be no need for a supplement.

The total increase in weight of the 10 pigs for the rye, peas, and
barley pastures was 595 pounds during the 92-day period, and the corn
fed totaled 2,116 pounds. At the end of the period the hogs were not
in a finished condition, but they had developed large frames and
fattened readily in the feed pens.

CORN.

A lot of four spring-farrowed pigs weighing 435 pounds was placed
on the acre of corn on September 30. At this time the corn was nearly
ripe, and the pigs consumed it readily. When the animals were
removed at the end of a 9-day period, the corn was well cleaned up,
and ue pigs had made a gain of 71 pounds, or 1.97 pounds per pig

er day.
: The Ae check plat husked out 16.5 bushels of corn of poor quality.

The ratio of corn consumed (using the yield of the check plat as the
basis for figuring the yield of the pastured ce was 13 pounds of corn
to a pound of gain. As the corn consisted of a very large percentage
of small ears, or nubbins, distributed throughout the entire plat, con-
siderable energy had to be expended to find them. There seems to be
little doubt that more satisfactory gains would have been obtained if
the animals had been removed from the corn at an earlier date rather
than left on the plat until all the corn had been found.

A small quantity of alfalfa hay was given the hogs while on the corn
pasture, but they apparentiy ate very little of it.

i eee

—. = oe ee | oe

ab patiercunde hms igeor wr

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 7

RESULTS IN 1917.
RYE.

In 1917 a scarcity of suitable hogs for this pasturing work allowed
but six Duroc-Jersey fall pigs to be used on the rye plat.* These
began the grazing period on May 11 at an initial weight of 499 pounds.
At this date the rye was about 6 to 7 inches high and well tillered.
The forage, appeared to be very palatable and was eaten readily
by the animals during the early part of the season. The small
number of pigs to the acre was not sufficient to keep the pasturage
grazed down. By June 19 a large part of it had become too coarse
to be palatable and the animals were confining their feeding to small
areas where the rye had been kept short and new growth was appear-
ing. The coarse forage was clipped, and a new growth came on
immediately. This was consumed, but the gains made from it
did not equal those made earlier in the season. The animals were
removed on July 17. A total weight of 762 pounds was recorded
on this date, showing a gain of 263 pounds for the 67-day period,
or an average of 0.65 of a pound per pig perday. The corn fed totaled
ae pounds for the period, or a ratio of 3.46 pounds of corn per pound
of gain.

The poor growth of the rye toward the end of the period would
have justified removing the hogs at least 10 days earlier.

Rye on the check plat yielded 10.4 bushels per acre.

PEAS.

The crop of peas was seriously affected by a cold wet spring, which
so reduced germination that the stand was estimated at about 30
per cent. The forage was further reduced by a hailstorm on July
4, that stripped pods and leaves from the vines and beat them into
the ground.

The pigs were held on the rye pasture longer than the forage war-
ranted in order to give the peas a chance to recover. On July 17
the plat was stocked with six pigs from the plat of rye. At this
date the few peas remaining on the vines were in the green-pea
stage and therefore younger than was the case in 1916. The per-
centage of grain to vines was very small, and the 2 per cent ration
of corn was again deemed advisable to supplement the pasturage.

The six pigs harvested the plat in 22 days and were immediately
removed to the acre of beardless barley. A total gain of 174 pounds
was made. This was at the rate of 1.32 pounds per pig each day
and was made on a corn ratio of 1 pound of gain for each 2.06 pounds
of corn fed.

The acre check plat returned 2.3 bushels of thrashed peas. An
estimate made at the time of harvest was to the effect that about
50 per cent of the peas had been beaten from the vines and could
not be gathered for thrashing.

In spite of the hailstorm and other factors the 1 acre of peas
with the corn supplement furnished continuous grazing for six pigs
for the 22 days between the rye and barley pastures.

3 One of these animals was found to be with pig after the experiment started and was removed from
the plat at the end of 61 days. A weight equal to the average of the other five hogs is used for this animal
in all caleulations made for rye. This hog was replaced by another on the pea and barley pastures. This
substitution accounts for the discrepancy of 21 pounds in the weight of the lot at the end of the rye and
the beginning of the pea pasture.

8 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

BARLEY.

The barley plats were somewhat affected by the hailstorm but
recovered more completely than did the peas.

The lot of hogs from the peas weighed 915 pounds when placed on
the barley plat on August 8. The grain was well filled at this time,
but the crop was not nearly as mature as in 1916. That it was more
palatable than during the previous year was evidenced by the way
the animals consumed the entire plants, rather than limiting them-
selves to the grain. There were not enough pigs to harvest the whole
acre while it was in this stage, so the forage was rather well matured
by the end of the season. Though the hogs were kept on the plat
until all the grain was consumed, it was apparent Mee they were
getting little benefit from the matured barley and they were removed
on August 22.

A total gain of 60 pounds was made during the 14-day pasture
period. This was an average daily gain of 0.71 of a pound per pig.

The check plat yielded 16.2 bushels of mature grain per acre.
Using this yield as an estimate of the grain consumed it appears that
12.95 pounds of barley were required for 1 pound increase in weight.

Rye, peas, and barley pastures returned a combined total of 497
pounds gain in weight for six pigs in a period of 103 days. A total
of 1,268 pounds of corn was fed as a supplement to the rye and pea
pasturage. As was the case in 1916, the animals were not in a
finished condition at the end of this season but had made a good
srowth and fattened readily in the dry lot.

CORN.

Six spring pigs, totaling 442 pounds, were placed on the acre of
corn on September 28. The corn was well ripened and was of a
better quality than in 1916, though the yield was somewhat less. It
required 17 days to hog-off the corn, and the animals were removed
on October 15. During this period the total increase in the weight
of the lot was 103 pounds, or 1.01 pounds per day for each pig.

The acre check plat yielded 9.6 bushels of corn of good quality.
Using this yield as a basis of calculation the gains were made at the
rate of 5.22 pounds of corn per pound of gain. The corn crop was
not large enough to finish the animals to a marketable size and
condition.

ALFALFA AND BROME-GRASS.

The alfalfa and brome-grass crops were seeded in 1916 in l-acre
plats. One plat of each was planted in rows 2 feet apart and one
with rows 6 inches apart. In this bulletin the first is referred to as
the row plat and the second as the broadcast plat. Good stands
were obtained, and excellent pasturage was available in the spring of
1917. A sufficient number of fall pigs was not available for grazing off
these plats efficiently, but five pee ane a total weight of 438 pounds
were given access to the 2 acres of alfalfa on May 16. On the same
date five similar pigs, totaling 427 pounds, were placed on the 2 acres
of brome-grass. A 2 per cent ration of corn was fed each lot daily.

Both lots were carried on their respective pastures for a period of
56 days, being removed on July 11. The forage on each plat having
made more growth during this period than the*small number of pigs
could consume, all plats except the brome-grass in rows were mowed.
The 2 acres of alfalfa yielded 1,632 pounds of fair quality hay.
The acre of broadcast brome-grass appeared to be more unpalatable

ie > 208

DRY-LAND PASTURE GROPS FOR HOGS. 9

than the row plat and was harvested at the same time as the alfalfa
plats. This brome-grass plat yielded 1,880 pounds of good quality
hay. The row plat of brome-grass, though much of the forage grew
tall and was not eaten, seemed to furnish a greater quantity of
acceptable grazing around the crowns of the plants, and the hogs
confined themselves to this plat almost exclusively after the first
two weeks of the season.

The gain of the fall pigs on alfalfa amounted to 232 pounds, or
0.83 of a pound per pig per day. The brome-grass pigs gained 190
pounds for the same period, or 0.68 of a pound per pig per day. The
alfalfa pigs made their increase at the rate of 2.78 pounds of corn per
pound of gain, while the brome-grass pigs required 3.2 pounds of
corn for each pound of gain. .

The comparison seemed to favor the alfalfa pasture, though
actually most of the brome-grass grazing was done on the | acre of
brome-grass in rows.

The check plat of alfalfa seeded broadcast was cut on June 29 and
yielded 1,850 pounds of hay per acre, while the broadcast plat of
brome-grass returned 2,560 pounds of hay per acre. No check plats
of these crops in rows were available.

After removing the fall pigs from the pastures on July 11 the plats
were restocked with spring pigs. Ten pigs were placed on each of the
crops. The total hog weight for the 2 acres of alfalfa was 356 pounds
and for the 2 acres of brome-grass 357 pounds.

As but little growth was made on the broadcast alfalfa plat after
it was mowed, the spring pigs confined themselves to the row plat
entirely. The dry season enabled the animals to keep the new
growth grazed off fairly close over the whole acre, but the tendency
to continually pasture certain areas was the same as that experienced
with the rye pasture. On August 8 one pig was removed from the
experiment because of sickness, and from that time until the experi-
ment closed on September 28 nine pigs were used. During the 79-day
period a total of 249 pounds of gain was made. Thisaveraged about
0.34 of a pound per day for each animal. The corn consumed was
767 pounds, or 3.09 pounds of corn for each pound of gain. For
the greatest and most economical gains the pasture season should
have closed about three weeks earlier. :

As was the case with the alfalfa, the row plat of brome-grass was
pastured by the spring pigs in preference to the broadcast plat.

The row plat of brome-grass was mowed on July 24 and yielded
944 pounds of coarse hay. The subsequent new growth was pastured
close by the 10 pigs for a period of 25 days, when they were removed.
A gain of 32 pounds was made, or an average daily gain of 0.13 of a
pound per pig. Shelled corn weighing 231 pounds was fed during
this time, or a ratio of 7.22 pounds of corn for each pound of gain.
A greater income from the pasture would have been secured if the
oe had been removed a week earlier.

he season’s observations. on alfalfa and brome-grass as hog pas-
tures indicated that both crops were very palatable. It seems reason-
able to suppose that placing a larger number of pigs on these crops.
early in the season would bring more profitable returns than the sum-
mer pasturing and also leave the pastures themselves in better shape.

The row plats of each crop furnished a more continuous growth of
palatable forage than the broadcast plats.

26063—23———2

10 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

RESULTS IN 1918.
RYE.

On May 7, 1918, 10 pure-bred Duroc-Jersey fall pigs, having a
combined weight of 964 pounds, were turned on the rye pasture.
The forage averaged about 6 inches in height on this date, and it was
in good condition for grazing. June 5 found the animals confining
their pasturing to the more closely grazed areas, while rye on the
neglected areas grew tall and coarse. This was cut with a mower as
it was beginning to head out. Though some new growth was induced
from the clipped plants, the season was such that this growth was
smaller than in former years, and the animals had little difficulty in
keeping the whole acre pastured close. The hogs were removed
from the plat on June 25. The total gain made during the 49-day
period was 227 pounds, or an average daily increase of 0.46 of a
pound per hog. The corn fed was 1,078 pounds, or 4.75 pounds of
corn for each pound of gain in hog weight.

The check plat of rye made 10.1 bushels per acre.

PHAS.

The hogs from the rye plat were moved to the plat of peas on June
25. On this date a light hailstorm did some damage to the peas by
stripping the young pods from the vines. The total weight of the
animals when the pea pasturing was started was 1,191 pounds. As
the forage was green and succulent, the corn ration was continued.
At the end of a 14-day period the peas had been entirely cleaned up,
and the hogs were placed on the acre of barley.

A gain of 229 pounds was made by the 10 pigs on peas. This is
at the rate of 1.64 pounds per day for each pig. The total corn fed
was 364 pounds, or a ratio of 1.59 pounds of corn for each pound of
gain.
~ Peas which were harvested and thrashed yielded 5.6 bushels for the
acre. It was estimated that about 50 per cent of the grain from this
plat was lost because of the hailstorm.

A greater acreage of peas could have been used to advantage in
1918, as in former years.

BARLEY.

The barley crop had begun to dry up when it was stocked by the
10 pigs from the pea plat on July 9. The lot at this time weighed
1,420 pounds. At the end of the first 14-day period it was obvious
that the pigs would not make satisfactory gains on the crop, and they
were removed. In addition to the grain being of poor quality,
the crop had become badly mixed with bearded varieties of barley
which the pigs refused to eat. ;

The maturity of the barley made it seem advisable to supply a
roughage ration with the pasturage, so alfalfa hay was fed in racks.
A total of 52 pounds of hay was consumed during the 14 days.
When the pigs were removed from the barley on July 23 they weighed
aie pounds, which was the same as their initial weight on this

at.

s The check plat of barley made 3 bushels per acre of poor-quality
grain.

~ The continuous pasture of rye, peas, and barley made a total gain
of 456 pounds. A total of 1,442 pounds of corn was fed while the
animals were on the rye and pea pastures.

-_DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. Lig |

CORN.

_ The quality of ‘corn pastured was rather poor, and the yield was
small. Six spring pigs weighing 442 pounds were placed on the
plat of corn on September 6. Twelve days were required to complete
the harvesting of the crop. The total gain made was only 54 pounds,
or 0.75 of a pound per pig per day. During this experiment the
hogs were supplied with alfalfa hay, but consumed only 8 pounds
during the 12 days.
The check plat of corn yielded 8 bushels per acre. Using this yield
as a basis for estimating the grain Pose on the pastured plat,
it required 8.3 pounds of corn to make a pound of gain.

ALFALFA.

A scarcity of fall pigs did not permit pasturing the entire acre
plats of alfalfa to the best advantage, so the plats were divided and
only half an acre was used in each case. For comparison the returns
are reduced to an acre basis.

The broadcast plat was stocked at the rate of eight pigs to the
acre and the row plat at the rate of six pigs per acre. This difference
seemed advisable, as the longer grazing period given the row plat
in 1917 resulted in the killing out or damaging of the forage to a
eee degree than was experienced on the broadcast plat. This.

amage seemed to be confined entirely to the continuously grazed
areas of the year before.

The alfalfa was about 7 inches high when the grazing began, and
10 seemed to be making a good growth. .

The initial weight of the six hogs on the row plat was at the rate
of 532 pounds per acre, and the eight hogs on the broadcast plat had
an acre weight of 702 pounds. ‘The animals remained on both plats
until the forage became unpalatable, owing to the coarseness of the
growth and the drought which hindered new growth. Both lots
were removed on July 9, after a pasture period of 63 days. The
lot on the row plat made an increase of 296 pounds per acre, or 0.78
of a pound per day per pig, while the lot on the broadcast plat gained
an acre total of 848 pounds, or an average daily gain of 0.69 of a
pound per pig. The ratio of corn fed to gain was 3.01 pounds of
corn to 1 pound of gain on the row plat, and 3.3 pounds of corn to
1 pound of gain on the broadcast plat. The row plat made a greater
daily gain per pig and did this on a lower corn ratio than the broad-
cast plat, but the latter made the greater gain per acre.

Contrary to expectations, however, the forage on the row plat
seemed to suffer more from drought than did that on the broadcast
plat. The ground between the rows of alfalfa was packed hard by
tramping, and in many places the soil was deeply cracked. This
condition was absent on the broadcast plat. ;

The unpastured halves of each plat were eut#or hay and yielded
1,224 pounds per acre for the row plat and"1,800 pounds per acre
for the broadcast plat. The acre check plat seeded broadcast made
1,254 pounds per acre.

BROME-GRASS.

Owing to the small number of hogs available for the work, the
brome-grass pastures were reduced to half an acre each, as had been
done with the alfalfa plats. Hach half acre of brome-grass was sup-
plied with four fall pigs on April 30. This was a week earlier than

12 BULLETIN 1148, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

the alfalfa pastures were stocked, but was warranted by the earlier
and more rapid spring growth made by the .brome-grass. On this

date the grass was 8 inches high. Hogs on the row plat weighed |

764 pounds per acre, while those on the broadcast plat had an acre
weight of 778 pounds. The forage carried each lot until July 9, a
period of 70 days. At this time the pasturage was so coarse and
unpalatable that satisfactory gains were not being made. The grass
on the row plat was tall and coarse, while that on the broadcast plat
was short and dry.

Pigs on the row plat returned,an acre gain of 350 pounds, or a daily
gain of 0.63 of a pound per pig. _The broadeast plat yielded 374
pounds of gain per acre, or a daily average of 0.67 of a pound per
pig. The corn consumed on each plat was 1,344 pounds. This was
a ratio of 3.84 pounds of corn per pound of gain for the row plat
and 3.59 pounds of corn per pound of gain for the broadcast plat.
The results were somewhat in favor of the broadcast brome-grass.

The unpastured halves of each plat were cut for hay on June 15.
From the row plat 1,392 pounds of hay per acre were obtained, while
the broadcast plat yielded 720 pounds of hay per acre. The check
plat of brome-grass sown broadcast yielded 664 pounds of hay.

RESULTS IN 1919.
RYE.

Conditions in 1919 were favorable for starting the pasture work
about two weeks earlier than heretofore. Ten fall pigs with a
total weigit of 1,103 pounds were placed on the acre of rye on April
25, when the crop was about 7 inches high. The animals took to
the forage readily and during the early part of the period made good
gains. The season was very dry, and the growth of rye was checked
to such an extent that the 10 pigs were able to keep the whole plat
eaten off uniformly. This was the first year the oles did not need
to be clipped to prevent the unpastured plants from maturing.

At the end of 56 days the hogs were removed and placed on the
plat of peas. The gains made amounted to 287 penises which was
an average daily increase of 0.51 of a pound for each animal. The
corn fed was 1,403 pounds, or a ratio of 4.89 pounds of grain per
pound of gain.

The check plat made 3.6 bushels per acre.

PEAS.

The crop of peas was severely damaged by drought, and but little
forage was produced. The'10 pigs were placed on the plat on June
20 when they weighed 1,390 pounds. The peas were in the green-
pea stage and were readily eaten.

The small crop cut the pasture period to seven days, the pigs
being removed 6n Jy:ne 27. A gain of 77 pounds was made by the
lot during this périod.” The average daily increase was 1.1 pounds
per day per pig and was made with the aid of 207 pounds of corn
supplementing the forage, a ratio of 1 pound of gain to 2.69 pounds
of corn.

The check plat of peas dried up before harvest, and no yield was

obtained.

A total gain of 364 pounds was made on the rye and pea plats
' during the combined periods amounting to 63 days. A total of
1,610 pounds of corn was consumed.

a de ee

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR ‘HOGS. 13
BARLEY AND CORN.

The barley and corn plats dried up before making grain, and
neither of these crops was grazed. No yields were obtained on the
check plats.

ALFALFA.

As the effects of overpasturing in 1917 were still in evidence, the
acre of alfalfa in rows was stocked on May 9 with only four fall pigs.
These pigs had a total weight of 318 pounds. On the same date
seven fall pigs weighing 530 pounds were placed on the broadcast
plat of alfalfa. The forage on both plats was about 6 inches high
at this time. Both lots made good gains during the first half of
the season, but drought and hot weather reduced the average, as
the growth of alfalfa was checked.

The pigs were removed from both pastures on June 27. The gain
made on the row plat amounted to’130 pounds, or 0.66 of a pound
per pig for each day of the 49-day period. On the broadcast plat
the pigs increased in weight 188 pounds. This was an average daily
gain of 0.55 of a pound for each animal. The pigs on the row plat
received 376 pounds of corn, or 2.89 pounds of corn for each pound
of gain. The pigs on the broadcast plat made 1 pound of gain on
3.21 pounds of corn, a total of 604 pounds of corn being fed. While
the row plat by reason of the poor stand supported a smaller number
of pigs and made a smaller gain per acre than the broadcast plat,
each pig in it made a greater daily gain on a lower ratio of corn.

Alfalfa on the check plat was too small to be harvested, and so

no yleld was obtained.
BROME-GRASS.

Six fall pigs were put on each acre of brome-grass on April 25.
The grass at this time was 7 inches high and was readily eaten by
the animals.

The pigs on the row plat had a combined weight of 582 pounds,
while those on the broadcast plat totaled 579 pounds.

Drought during the latter part of the grazing season curtailed the
srowth of forage and reduced the gains made by the hogs. Both
lots were removed on June 14, after having been on the pastures
50 days. During this period the lot on the row plat gained 144
pounds, while that on the broadcast plat gained 191 pounds. The
former averaged 0.48 of a pound daily for each animal, while the
latter averaged 0.64 of a pound per day. The hogs on the row plat
consumed 653 pounds of corn, or 4.53 pounds of corn for each pound
of gain. The lot on the broadcast plat received the same weight of
corn and made gains at the ratio of 1 pound to each 3.42 pounds of
corn fed.

Both plats were grazed off close at the end of the season, and the
severe drought prevented the forage making any growth after the
pigs were removed. During the season there appeared to be no
difference in drought resistance between the two plats.

The check plat of brome-grass dried up before the crop was tall
enough to mow, so no yields were obtained.

Acre-plats of alfalfa, brome-grass, and sweet clover seeded in rows
and broadcasted were planted on April 10. These plats were intended
to be used to replace the present pastures the next season. The
young plants on these plats were completely killed by drought.

14 BULLETIN 1148, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

RESULTS IN 1920.
RYE.

A late spring in 1920 delayed opening the pasture season on rye
until May 28. The rye at this time averaged about 12 inches in
-height and was well jointed. Because of the advanced stage of the
crop and the late season 15 fall pigs were used instead of 10. These
pigs weighed 1,627 pounds when placed on the pasture.

The forage grew too fast to be controlled by grazing, and by June 11
the hogs had confined their feeding to small closely pastured areas,
and the rest of the crop was heading. After clipping with a mower
on June 11 sufficient moisture was available to send out a new growth
of rye. Some of this grew to a height of 4 inches before the entire
plat was cleaned up. When the stock was removed on July 9 no
forage remained. |

During the 42-day period a gain of 270 pounds was made by the
pigs. The gain per animal averaged 0.43 of a pound per day. The
corn ration fed totaled 1,512 pounds, which was at the rate of 5.6
pounds of corn for each pound of gain.

Rye on the check plat was somewhat damaged by a hailstorm on
July 4, and when thrashed on August 23 it yielded but 14.1 bushels

of grain per acre.
PEAS.

When placed on the acre of peas on July 9 the 15 pigs from the
rye plat weighed 1,897 pounds.

The hailstorm which damaged the check plat of rye on July 4
reduced a very promising pea crop by at least one-half. Practically
all the peas were stripped from the vines and many of the vines
themselves killed.

Durmg the first two weeks of the pasture period a total gain of
158 pounds was made, but during the last 7 days a loss of 11 pounds
was recorded for the lot. The 21-day period, therefore, showed a
gain of only 147 pounds, or 0.47 of a pound per pig per day. Corn
weighing 800 pounds was consumed, or 5.44 pounds of corn for each
pound of gain. This was practically double the corn ratio and
about half the average daily gain recorded for the plat in previous
years and shows to some extent the value the seed in the peas may
have as a part of the pea pasture.

The acre check plat of peas yielded 2.2 bushels of grain. A large
percentage of this yield was made up from second-growth pods, the
first pods having been destroyed by hail.

BARLEY.

New barley seed of the Success variety was secured for the pastur-
ing work in 1920. The resulting crop was very satisfactory, no
bearded barley whatever appearing in the stand. c

The 15 hogs from the pea plat were moved to the plat of barley
on July 30. ‘The crop was in the soft-dough stage and just beginning
to turn. The forage appeared to be very palatable and was readily

eaten. During the first few days the animals seemed to find the

leaves and straw satisfactory grazing.

By August 10 the barley had been consumed and the pigs were
removed. A total gain of 135 pounds was made during the 11 days,
or an average daily gain of 0.82 of a pound per pig: The acre check

EE es

.
:

: DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 15

plat yielded 5.7 bushels of thrashed grain. Taking this yield as
representative of that on the pastured plat, it required 2.01 pounds
of barley to produce a pound of gain.

The yield of both barley plats was somewhat reduced by the hail-
storm of July 4. It appeared that the pastured plat was not as
severely damaged as the Ratvestad one.

The three crops added 552 pounds of gain to the initial weight of
the 15 pigs in a goes of 74 days. Corn fed during the periods on
rye and peas totaled 2,312 pounds.

CORN.

A comparatively large yield of corn was available for hogging-down
in 1920. The grain was nearly mature when six spring pigs were
given access to the plat on September 18. The pigs weighed 387
pounds on this date and were in good condition to make rapid gains.
A pasture period of 41 days was required to harvest the corn. During
this time the pigs put on a total of 248 pounds, an individual gain
of 1.01 pounds daily. As a supplement*to the corn fed, the hogs
consumed 79 pounds of alfalfa hay fed in racks.

The check plat of corn yielded 14.4 bushels of grain to the acre.
Assuming this yield to be representative of that on the pastured

lat, each pound of gain required 3.25 pounds of corn. When the
ae were removed from the plat on October 29 they were not in a
finished condition.

/

ALFALFA.

Stands on both the row and broadcast seeded alfalfa plats had been
considerably reduced by the drought and pasturing of 1919. The late
spring did not permit turning the hogs into the alfalfa fields until May
28. At this time the alfalfa on each plat was about 10 inches high.
Though somewhat higher than usual for pasturing, the alfalfa having
had plenty of moisture was very succulent and readily eaten by the pigs.

The stand on the row plat appeared to be less than on the broad-
cast plat. The row alfalfa was therefore allotted four animals while
the broadcast plat received six.

As the season advanced the areas where the alfalfa had died out
became very weedy, and the plats had to be mowed to keep the weeds
from maturing. The pigs were removed on July 9, as it was evident
that further grazing would be injurious to the pasture and produce
expensive gains in weight. |

A total gain of 105 pounds was made by the four pigs on the row
alfalfa plat during the 42-day period. This averaged a daily gain of
0.63 of a pound for each animal. The lot of six pigs on the broadcast
plat made a gain of 142 pounds, or 0.56 of a pound aday each. Corn
totaling 302 pounds was fed to the pigs on the row plat, and 450
Tes of corn were consumed by the animals on the broadcast plat.

zains were produced on the row plat at the rate of 2.88 pounds of
corn per pound of gain, while on the broadcast plat 3.17 pounds of
corn were required to produce a pound of gain.

An acre of row alfalfa seeded in 1918 and cut for hay this season
yielded 2,260 pounds. The acre check plat of broadcast alfalfa cut for
hay yielded 1,146 pounds.

BROME-GRASS.

The brome-grass pastures suffered more severely during 1919 than
did the alfalfa. An estimate of the stand of each plat made previous
to starting the grazing season indicated a stand survival of but 60 per

16 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

cent on each plat. The spring growth of grass was also considerably
behind the alfalfa, being, on May 28, only 8 inches high and very
sickly looking. »

On this date two grade Poland China pigs were placed on each
brome-grass plat. This breed was used in place of Duroc-Jersey
because of the scarcity of fall pigs of the latter breed.

The number of animals used was not sufficient to keep down the
growth of vegetation, and both plats were soon covered with a rank
srowth of weeds. Both plats were mowed to control the weeds.
The pigs were removed from both pastures on July 9.

The hogs on the row plat, starting with an initial weight of 170
pounds, gained 50 pounds during the 42 days on pasture, an average
of 0.6 of a pound each per day. They received 166 pounds of corn,
or 3.32 pounds of corn for each pound of gain.

The lot on the broadcast plat weighed 169 pounds to start with and
gained 76 pounds, or 0.9 of a pound a day for each animal. Durmg

the 42 days on pasture 169 pounds of corn were fed. This was equal.

to 2.22 pounds of corn for each pound of gain.
The check plat of broadcasted brome-grass yielded 568 pounds of

weedy hay.
RESULTS IN 1921.

RYE.

Winter rye in the pasture experiment did not come up until April 20
and was not ready for grazing until June 9. The forage was about 10
inches high and thinly scattered over the plat. The estimated stand
was 00 per cent.

Ten pigs having a weight of 1,262 pounds were placed on the plat
on June 9 and remained there until July 14, a period of 35 days.
Owing to the thin stand of rye and the droughty conditions during
the season, the 10 pigs had little difficulty in controlling the forage
over the entire acre.

A gain of 286 pounds was recorded for the lot, or a daily gain of
0.82 of a pound per pig. The corn fed totaled 984 pounds, or 3.44
pounds of corn for each pound of gain.

The yield of the check plat of rye was somewhat reduced by a
hailstorm on May 31, but it yielded 5 bushels per acre when thrashed.

PEAS.

The crop of peas was destroyed by hail on May 31, and no results
were obtained either by pasturing or by harvesting with machimery.
BARLEY.

The lateness of the rye-pasturing season and the loss of the pea
crop necessitated moving the 10 pigs directly from the rye to the
barley plat. The barley had been somewhat injured by hail on May
31, but the crop had made considerable growth before the pigs were
turned onto it on July 14. The grain was in the soft-dough stage
and because of drought was maturing rapidly.

Though the pigs consumed all the grain on the plat with apparent
relish, the light yield and poor quality resulted in only small gains.

The pigs were removed on July 28, after a pasture period of 14
days. A gain of 21 pounds was made by the lot, each pig averaging
only 0.15 of a pound per day. |

The check plat of barley yielded 6.4 bushels per acre of thrashed
grain of poor quality.

Whe salads Herbvunumd iS)

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 17

CORN.

The corn on both the pasture rotation and the harvest rotation
died of drought before making grain, and no yields were obtained.

ALFALFA.

A searcity of fall pigs and the poor condition of the alfalfa pastures
necessitated using half-acre areas. The areas having the best stand
of alfalfa were fenced off and used for grazing. Both the broadcast
and row plats were stocked on May 19 at the rate of six pigs per
acre. The lot placed on the row plat totaled 772 pounds per acre,
while that on ie broadcast plat weighed 728 pounds per acre.

The alfalfa on each plat, though somewhat thinner as to stand than
desirable, was about 6 inches high and seemed to be making a good
erowth. Though the season was dry, the crop made continuous
erazing for a period of 70 days. The pigs were removed on July 28.

The pigs on the row plat increased 436 pends per acre, or at the
rate of 1.04 pounds per day each and at the ratio of 1 pound of gain
to 3.04 pounds of corn. The pigs on the broadcast plat made a total
gain of 402 pounds per acre, which averaged 0.96 of a pound per pi
per day. This lot had a ratio of 3.38 pounds of corn fed for eac
pound of gain.

No alfalfa was obtained from the check plats because of drought

BROME-GRASS.

In order to use areas having fairly uniform stands of brome-grass
for pasturing, one-half acre of the row plat was used and one-fourth
acre of the broadcast plat. When the pigs were placed on these plats
on May 19, the brome-grass averaged 6 inches in height. The stand
on each plat was thinner than was desirable.

The row plat was stocked at the rate of six pigs per acre, with an
initial weight of 732 pounds. The lot on the bea cast plat was at
the rate of eight pigs per acre, totaling 1,012 pounds. The row plat
produced continuous grazing for a period of 70 days, but on the broad-
cast plat the hogs ian to be removed at the end of 62 days.

A gain of 0.74 of a pound per day for each animal, or 310 pounds
Per acre for the lot, was made on the row plat, while the individual

aily average of the pigs on the broadcast plat was 0.9 of a pound, or
a total of 436 pounds per acre. 3

Corn fed to the row-plat hogs totaled 1,246 pounds to the acre, or
4.02 pounds of corn for a pound of gain. The pigs on the broadcast
plat received an acre total of 1,412 pounds of corn, or 3.24 pounds of
grain for each pound of gain.

No yields were obtainable from the check plat of brome-grass
‘because of the drought.

The duplicate perennial pastures seeded in 1919 and fallowed in 1920
were reseeded in the spring of 1921.

STUDY OF THE RESULTS WITH DIFFERENT CROPS.*

The data on pasturing the four crops, rye, peas, barley, and corn,
in the 4-year rotation for the years from 1916 to 1921, inclusive, are
assembled in four tables, one for each crop. The averages at the
bottom of each table were determined for the number of years the
crops were actually pastured, exclusive of 1915.

‘ For information on the pasturing of irrigated crops with hogs and the feeding of hogs while on pasture

and in the feed lot, see the published reports of the work of the Huntley experiment farm, Bureau of Plant
Industry, for the years 1913 to 1921, inclusive, by Dan Hansen, Farm Superintendent.

18 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

Rye has been pastured every year since 1915. The detailed results
are given in Table 1. The average pasture period was from May 14
to July 4, a period of 51 days, for an average of 10.2 pigs per acre.
These pigs with an average initial weight of 1,104 pounds gained an
average of 279 pounds, or 0.58 of a pound a day for each animal.
Corn averaging 1,228 pounds was fed to supplement the pasture.
This averaged 4.42 pounds of corn for each pound of gain.

TABLE 1.—Results obtained by pasturing 1 acre of winter rye with fall pigs at Huniley,
Mont., each year from 1916 to 1921, tnclusive.

Weights of animals and feed (pounds).

Pasture period. Cc
ormecon- | x;
od | Yield of

\Num-| Hog weights.
Yeap‘) her | i. SHmee i cebeck
2s eat) l | oS plat
| Pigs. | Daily | _ Per |(bushels).
| Date on. | Date off. Days.| Initial.| Final. | Gain.) 22" | Total. pound |
| per |} f cain.
esege | }i #4 | } fp Pigs | oe
| BARES rape on) ely oe oe
1916......../ 110 | May 6/June 30/ 55/| 1,171!) 1,510); 339) Q62/ 1,480) 437! 19.2
1917. -.-|. 26} May 11 | July 17 67 499 | 762 | 263 | . 65 910, 3.46 | 10.4
GIS sec. te | 10! May 7} June 25 49 964 | 1,191 | 227 | - 46 | 1,078 4.75 10.1
1919. 22222. | 10) Apr. 25|June 20; 56/ 1,108; 1390| 287| .51| 1,403; 499) 3.6
a0202 ee 3 ee | 15] May 28; July 9 42! 1,627 | 1,897] 270 | -43 | 1,512 5.60 | 14,1
1921 | 10; June 9/| July 14; 35) 1,262; 1,548/ 286) - 82 | 984 3.44 5.0
Average, | |
Gyears.| 10.2, May 14| July 4, S51) 1,104/ 1,383 | 279 58 1, 228 4.420 10.4
j | | i

| j | } I

1 One of these pigs was pregnant during the pasture season. A weight equal to the average of the other
nine is taken for this animal in the above calculations.

2 At the end of 61 days one pig was removed because of pregnancy. A weight equal to the average of the
other five is used for the removed animal in these calculations.

The average yield of rye on the check plat was 10.4 bushels per
acre.

Peas were pastured every year since the experiments were started
except in 1921, in which year the crop was destroyed by hail. As tke
work in 1915 was of a preliminary nature and the pasture was not
continuous with the other crops in the rotation, the results for that
year are not considered in the assembled data, which are given in
Table 2.

TABLE 2.—Results obtained by pasturing 1 acre of peas with fall pigs at Huntley, Mont.,
each year from 1916 to 1920, inclusive.

Weights of animals and feed (pounds).

Pasture period.
Num-| Hog weights. Corn oan Yield of
Ver | BSE check
RS fia | Sete | bushels
j ig: = j j « H 2. °
hee Daily | Per i‘
Date on. | Date off. |Days.| Initial.) Final. | Gain.) gain | Total. | pound |
Dee | of gain
pig
} | } | + j
ics, |
A916: 25.5 110 | June 30 | July 20} 20] 1,510] 1,780] 270] 1.35 636) 2.36 | 10.9
OY eee |} 26} July 17 Aug. 8}. 22.) 741 915 | 174 1,32 358 2.06 | 2.3
qOtG Se | 10; June 25! July 9 | 14] 1,191 | 1,420} 229 1.64 364 1.89 | 5.6
Cn | ASRS BRS 2 |} 10j| June 20 | Jume 27; 7j 1,390; 1,467| 77) 110 7) 2.69 | 0
cL 7 | ae aera |. 15) July 9) July 30 21; 1,897 | 2,044] 147 | -47 800; 5.44 2.2
| —— eee t | aes .
Average, | | | |
5 years.| 10.2 July 2) July 19 17 | 1,346} 1,525 | 179 1.18 473 | 2.8)! 4.2

1 One sow was with pig. Weight for this animal was calculated as in the rye pasture (Table 1).
2 Five pigs from the rye plat and one from the brome-grass plat.

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DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 19

The average for the five years from 1916 to 1920, inclusive, was 10.2
hogs per acre on peas from July 2 to July 19, a total of 17 days. At
the beginning of this period the total weight averaged 1,346 pounds.
An average increase in weight of 179 pounds was obtained. This
was at the rate of 1.18 pounds per day for each pig. The supple-
mentary corn ration averaged 473 pounds, or 2.83 pounds of corn
for a pound of gain.

The check plat of peas yielded nothing in 1919, because of drought,
and the crop was killed out by hailin 1921. The average yield of the
pe from 1916 to 1920, including the zero yield of 1919, was 4.2

ushels per acre.

At no time did the 1 acre of peas furnish sufficient forage to carry
we 10 pigs from the period ot best grazing on the rye to that on

arley. 2

Beardless barley (Success variety) has been pastured every year
since 1916 with the exception of 1919, when the crop was killed by
drought. The results are presented in Table 3.

TABLE 3.—Results obtained by pasturing 1 acre of barley with fall pigs at Huntley, Mont.,
each year from 1916 to 1921, exclusive of 1919.

Weights of animals and feed (pounds).

Pasture period. Ben
Num- Hog weights. ae Cy-Con "| yaeld of
Year ber SEES check
vi b aie
|
one Daily Per ceashet)
Date on. | Date off. |Days.| Initial.) Final. | Gain. Der Total. peers
4s pig
NOIGH eee 2s 210 | July 20| Aug. 7 18 | 1,780; 1,766 | —14; —0.08 462 Ves ten ss 9.7
NO eS aces 6 | Aug. 8 | Aug. 22 14 915 975 | 60 71 777 | 12.95 16.2
ein ckhalerese 10 | July 9} July 23 14, 1,420] 1,420; 0 0 TAD eer ats 3.0
12021... 15 | July 30-| Aug. 10), 11.)02,044| 2,179 | 135 | 82] 2721 “201 |) 2 5.7
1921 4....... 10 | July 14| July 28; 14| 1,548! 1,569) 21 15 305 | 14.52 6.4
Average, |
5 years.| 10.2] July 22] Aug. 5| 14 1,541 | 1,582 | 40 35 392" [sete 8.2

1 Weight of grain from the check plat.

2 The weight of one of these pigs was calculated as was done for the rye pasture (Table 1).

3 The crop dried up before the pasture season, and no hogs were put on the plat.

4 Hogs were moved from therye plat directly to the barley plat because of the destruction of the pea
plat by hail.

The pasture period averaged from July 22 to August 5, a total of
14 days, for an average of 10.2 pigs. The average initial weight of
these pigs was 1,541 pounds, and the gains made averaged 40 pounds.
The daily gain per pig each year averaged 0.35 pound.

The low gains were due chiefly to low yields of grain and the un-
palatability of the forage.

Barley on the check plat averaged 8.2 bushels per acre for the five
years when a crop was prasucad.

Using the yield of barley that might have been harvested as a basis
of calculation, it required from 2.01 pounds of barley in 1920 to 14.5
pounds in 1921 to make a pound of gain. In 1916 there was a loss
in weight on the barley pasture, and in 1918 no gains were made.

No corn was produced in either 1919 or 1921. With these excep-
tions corn has been pastured each year. For reasons stated above,
the returns for 1915 have not been included in the assembled data

20 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

(Table 4). An average of 5.5 spring pigs has been used. It took
these pigs an average period of 20 days, extending from September
20 to October 10, to harvest the acre. The average total weight of
these pigs was 426 pounds at the beginning of the period, and they
ained an average of 119 pounds. The average daily gain per pig
or the four years was 1.19 pounds per day.

TABLE 4.—Results obtained by pasturing 1 acre of corn with spring pigs at Huntley, —
Mont., in 1916, 1917, 1918, and 1920.

e

Weights of animals and feed (pounds). |

| Pasture period.

i Corn con- :
Num- Hog weights. Yield of
Wear ber SEL check
“This Nl putes
pigs | Daily ag (bushels).
Date on. | Date off. |Days.; Initial.; Final. | Gain. ne Total. | pound
ly of gain.
pig.
BOIG? 2 22-58 4} Sept. 30} Oct. 9 9 435 506 71 1.97 924 | 13.00 16.5
NOME Sess 6 | Sept. 28 | Oct. 15 17 442 545 | 103 1.01 538 5. 22 9.6
Hae wee cikafaie 6 | Sept. 6 | Sept. 18 12 442 496 54 -75 448 8. 30 8.0
Sepia et (esi tra 1] A lee eRe He Ri Ree Sa Ss ARE Fe ey | Peake: ra 4] Dee “ee | UES mecha ARE Sis | Sc eee
S20 Ee Se 6 | Sept. 18 | Oct. 29 41 387 635 | 248 1.01 806 3.25 14.4
Average,
4 years.| 5.5 | Sept. 20 | Oct. 10 20 | 426 | 545 | 119 1.19 679 7.44 12.1
1 Yield of check plat. 2 Cora dried up before making grain.

The average yield of the check plat was 12.1 bushels per acre.
With this yield as a basis, the pigs averaged 1 pound of gain for each
7.44 pounds of corn eaten. An average of 57 pounds of alfalfa hay
was fed with the corn.

APR. MAY JUNE SULLY AIUG. SEPT. OCT.

——

ee ttd Wt.
mere as | i eg

oe Z
ree. eee LPL Ylllu

19/5

19716 |

|

49/7

19/8

1919

1920

ee O
ahs __ISARLEY LQ CORN

Fic. 1.—Diagram showing graphically the period in each year during which pigs were pastured on rye,
& peas, barley, and corn and the gain made while on each crop and between each weighing, arranged to
show the combined gain on rye, peas, and barley.

1921 —

Figure 1 presents graphically the data obtained from this rotation
each year. The base line of each figure represents the initial weight of
the hogs. The increase in height of the figure represents the increase
in weight of the hogs as the season progresses. In other words, the.

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 91 *

gain in height of the figure represents the gain in hog weights above
the first weight of the season. Thus, in 1917 the pigs were placed on
the rye plat on May 11 and increased steadily in weight until at the
end of the barley period, August 22, a total gain of 497 pounds had
been made. ‘The rise of peas above rye shows the gain made on peas,
and the rise of barley over peas indicates the gain made on barley.

Besides the increase in weight for each crop, the diagram shows the
period during which each crop was pastured.

TaBLe 5.—Results obtained by pasturing 1 acre of alfalfa with pigs at Huniley, Mont.,
each year from 1918 to 1921, inclusive.

| |
| | Weights of animals and feed (pounds).

es i Pasture period. 5
: um- : orn con- ee
Saute ber Hog weights. sumed. igo
and year. Fates aoe | plate
| | | Baily Per |
Date on. | Date off. |Days.| Initial.| Final. Gain, 2" | Total. | nound
| pow | of gain.
| Piss; |
Cultivated | | | |
rows: | |
1918....| 6|May 7|July 9] 63| 532| 9828] 296; 0.78| 890! 3.01 |...-....c.
1919... 4{ May 9/| June 27)|- 49} 318 448 | 180 | 66 | 376 |. = 2589
1920....| 4) May 28|July 9| 42 303 | 408 | 105| — 63 | 302 | 2.88 2,260
1921....| 6| May 19| July 28; 70] 772) 1,208) 435} 1.04] 1,326 | - 3.04 |
Average) 5) May 16| July 11) 56 481 723 | 242 78| 724] 2.96 | 753
Plats sown Sane eases :
roadcast:| | |
1918... 8| May 7| July 9/ 63) 702 | 1,050 | 348 -69 | 1,148 3.30 1,254
1919. 7| May 9/1] June 27 49 | 530 718 188 | -00 604 3.21 | 0
1920.... 6 | May 28] July 9 42 458 600 | 142 | - 06 450 algal 1,146
AQ2ZE . . 6 | May 19| July 28 | 70 728 | 1,130 | 402 94 | 1,326 3.30 0
eae 6.8 | May 16] July 11 | 56 | 605 | 875 | 270 | . 69 882 3.25 600

MMT SONNE SULLY

1G. 2.— Diagram showing graphically the period in each year during which pigs were on alfalfa in rows and
alfalfa sown broadcast and the gains made on each pasture and between weighings.

The data obtained on the alfalfa pastures are presented in Table
5 and shown graphically in Figure 2. This has been reduced to an
acre basis for each year. Some preliminary pasturing was done
with fall and spring pigs on alfalfa, but the data given in the table
and the figure are for the years from 1918 to 1921, inclusive. During
these years the average number of pigs used was 5 for the row plat
and 6.8 for the broadcast plat. Both plats had the same pasture
period, averaging 56 days from May 16 to July 11.

“22 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

On the row Pist the average daily gain per pig for each of the four
years averaged 0.78 of a pound. A supplementary ration of corn
‘ee fed. The 4-year average ratio is 2.96 pounds of corn per pound
of gain.

The lots on the broadcast plat made an average daily gain of 0.69
of a pound. This required an average of 3.25 pounds of corn for
each pound of gain.

TABLE 6.—Results obtained by pasturing 1 acre of brome-grass with pigs at Huntley,
Mont., each year from 1918 to 1921, inclusive.

Weights of animals and feed (pounds).
Pasture period. | 6
| : orn con-
Kind of [NPY | FICE Velen: | sumed. | Yield of
plats Agel | | check
AMC MEATS as tala wag racer wae gare | plat.
| pigs. I | “ |
Daily Per
Date on. | Date off. |Days.| Initial.| Final. | Gain.) 80? | Total. | pound
| | | Pp of gain.
| pig.
Cultivated | |
LOWS: | | | |
1918. . 8 | Apr. 30; July 9 70 | 764 | 1,114] 350 0.63 1,344 3: 84: saree cue
1919 6| Apr. 25 | June 14 50 | 582 726 | 144 -48 653 4.53 :|. csmeeaee
1920 2| May 28; July 9] 42) 170 220 50 - 60 | 166 S.0e || a. ceremiomin
1921 6 | May 19/| July 28} 70 732 | 1,042} 310 741 1248 OF ee
Average} 5.5 | May 11 July 8 | 58 562 776 | 214 .61 | 851 B202 cee eee
Plats sown | | |
broadcast: | |
1918....| 8 Apr. 30) July 9/ 70| 778} 1,152| 374 67 1,344) 3.59 | 664
1919. ...| 6 | Apr. 25 June 14 50 579 770 191 64 653 3.42 0
1920....| 2| May 28| July 42 169 245| 76 90 169 | 2.22 568
1921...., 8| May 19} July 19] 61} 1,012] 1,448] 43 90 | 1,412] 3.24 0
Average) 6| May 11| July 5| 55 635 904 | 269 Sid exer tat Nae 308
i | .

The brome-grass pasture results are shown in Table 6 and Figure
3. When reduced to an acre basis, the row plat has carried an average
of 5.5 pigs for a period of 58 days from May 11 to July 8. These pigs
have made an average daily gain of 0.61 of a pound. The ratio
is 1 pound of gain for each 3.92 pounds of corn.

AFR. MAY SUNE SULLY APR. MAY YSUNE SULY
FOW FLAT SROFLOCAS T LLAT

19/7

HE

Fig. 3.—Diagram showing graphically the period in each year during which pigs were on brome-grass in
rows and brome-grass sown broadcast and the gains made on each pasture and between weighings. |
Six pigs were carried on the broadcast plat for an average of 55
days. This period was from May 11 to July 5. An mR daily
gain of 0.78 of a pound per pig was made on this plat. Corn fed
amounted to an average of 3.11 pounds of grain for each pound of

gain.

Giada ee howe ee

DRY-LAND PASTURE CROPS FOR HOGS. 23%

Table 7 presents the combined returns from the several systems of
the continuous pastures.

TABLE 7.—Average returns from the several pastures or continuous pasture periods.

: Weights of animals and feed
Pasture period. (pounds).
= | Years Num-| | Grain sup-
Pasture. aver- ber of .. | plement.
aged. | pigs.|..._ | Daily

Date on. | Date off. | Days. Gain.) gain os
| | per pig.| Total. | pound
| of gain

rr | —- |

Rye, peas, and barley......... 6 | May 14] July 30 75 | 10.2| 462 0.60 |11,701 3.68
PAERIR IN TOW Sic: oc ecnscccce es 4) May 16] July 11} (57) 5 ~} -2427| 10 | 2724 2.96
Alfalfa sown broadcast........- 4 | 22d0ss22- --G0.....) 57} 6:8 | 270 | -69 | 2882 3. 25
Brome-grass in rowS.....-....- ; 4| May 11| July 7} 58) 5.5} 214} 61 2851 3.92
Brome-grass sown broade¢ast.. . AMS dors. | July | 56) 6 269 | .78 | 2895 3.11
GOBH- rs sane. cox). eecosee: = | 4 | Sept. 21 | Oct. 10 20 |. .5.5.|° 119.) 1.147) SOFIE eae

1 Corn fed on rye and peas. 2 Corn.
3 Average yield of corn from the check plat, 865 pounds. This was converted into gains at the rate of
7.44 pounds of corn for each pound of gain.

The 3 acres of forage, consisting of rye, peas, and barley, when
pastured consecutively carried an average of 10.2 pigs for an average
grazing period of 77 days. During this time the gain made averaged
462 pounds, or 0.6 of a pound per pig per day. ‘This gain was made
at an expense of 3.68 pounds of corn for each pound of increase.

Alfalfa in rows had a 4-year average of five pigs to the acre for a
56-day period. They increased in weight 242 pounds and consumed
724 pounds of corn. The average daily gain per pig was 0.78 of a
pound, and the ratio of corn fed to gain is 2.96 to 1.

An average of 6.8 pigs were supported for 56 days on an acre of
alfalfa seeded broadcast. The average daily gain per pig was 0.69
of apound. It required 3.25 pounds of corn as a supplement to make
a pound of gain.

The acre of brome-grass in rows carried an average of 5.5 pigs
continuously for 58 days. The gains made averaged 214 pounds, or
0.61 of a pound a day for each animal. It required 3.92 pounds of
corn supplement to make 1 pound of gain.

Brome-grass sown broadcast had a carrying capacity of six pigs
for 55 days. This lot made 269 pounds of gain, an average daily
gain of 0.78 of a pound per pig. Corn consumed was at the ratio of
3.11 pounds of grain for every pound of gain.

The acre of corn had a 4-year average of 5.5 pigs for 20 days.
These gained 119 pounds during the period. The average daily
gain was 1.19 pounds each. When the yields of the check plat of
corn are taken as a basis for the grain ratio, 7.44 pounds of corn were
required for each pound of gain.

CONCLUSIONS.

It is fully realized that the data so far obtained from these experi-
ments are not conclusive and that the work must be carried on for a
longer period of years before its value can become accurately estab-
lished. The diversity of conditions affecting the procedure and the
results of the experiment from year to year call for a careful study of
each year as a unit. This is more necessary, perhaps, where the live
stock is a factor to be considered along with the crop production than
when only the crops are influenced.

——

#24 BULLETIN 1143, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

In order to make a direct comparison and so determine the value of
these pastures, it is planned to carry a lot of hogs in a feed pen without

pasture but receiving a full ration of corn during the pasture season. ~

Regarding the five points about which the work was outlined, it is
believed that rather marked indications have been obtained regarding
the seasons during which each crop may give the best returns from
grazing, the comparative number of hogs which an acre of each crop
will carry, and the possibility of furnishing continuous grazing. To
date, no definite information has been obtained on the value of
manure resulting from pasturing or of the economic merits of pasturing
over harvesting the crops used. It is yet impossible to state the
influence that manure may have had on the rye and pea crops,
because the rye was grazed off or clipped before maturity and the
damage to the pea crop by hail offset any increase in growth that may
-have been induced by manure. The effect of manure has not been
apparent at any time on the barley and corn crops.

With the exception of 1921, as indicated in Table 1, the beginning -
of the pasture season for rye does not vary widely from the average
date of May 16. The length of the grazing period will depend upon
the number of hogs used and the season, but the total gains made
have been comparatively uniform, no matter how many pigs were used
or how long they were on the pasture. The high pork returns have
not necessarily correlated with high grain returns from the check plat.

The crop of peas suffered from hail three years out of five, which
factor influenced the returns received. Peas proved to be a very
palatable forage, but light yields even when the crop had not been
es by hail would seem to warrant at least 2 acres of peas to 1
of rye.~ :

Barley was severely checked by drought practically every year, and
comparatively low yields resulted. Small yields of grain and the
apparent unpalatability of the barley resulted in generally poor gains.

Alfalfa and brome-grass proved to be generally palatable forage,
and the dates of opening the pasture season on these crops were fairly
well established. The deviation was not far from May il. The
length of the pasture period depended more upon the season and the
stand of the forage than upon the number of hogs used. It so hap-
pened that gains made were generally greater with the larger number
of pigs used and with the longer pasture periods.

The perennial pastures made somewhat more profitable returns than
any one of the annual pastures, and in most cases the perennial pas-
ture gave more profitable returns per acre than the continuous annual
pastures. ;

Considerable experimental work is yet needed to establish a system
of continuous grazing and, if possibie, continue the season of green-
forage pasture beyond the period when field peas are available, thus
supplementing the barley pasture with green forage or ee
barley entirely. It would seem desirable to have green forage unti
the time corn is ready for harvesting. This would permit the use of
two crops of pigs a year and so increase the efficiency of hog produc-
tion as a factor toward the diversification of ent dry-iarming
practices. Experiments for the study of several crops in regard to
their ability to furnish green forage during the latter part of thesum-
mer have been outlined, and some of the work is already under way.

WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1923