Gresham outlook., August 14, 1914, Page 9, Image 9

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nOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION
Pasture For Hogs
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<S>
T his is the firs t of a series of
e> artic le s dealing w ith crops and
<i> system s o f cropping fo r pork
'S production, prepared by Mr.
B yron H unter, who is now s ta te
** leader in charge of farm -m an-
ageinent field studies and dem-
& o n stratio n s in th e S ta te of
& W ashington, and employed co-
o p erativ ely
by
the
U n ited
<» S ta te s D ep artm en t of A gricul-
❖
tu re and the S ta te College of
W ashington.
son th e p astu re, i f under irrig atio n , is
«. irrig a te d ju s t a f t e r th e hogs are
changed from one p astu re lo t to the
next. T his gives th e su rfaee o f the
$ ground tim e to d ry b efo re th e forage
is larg6 enough to be grazed.
Pasturing the Meadow.
M any successful hog raisers prefer
<§> to use such crops as clover and a lfalfa
<» fo r both p astu re and hay a t th e same
® time, 'th e num ber of hogs tu rn ed into
<r> the field .a to lim ited th a t the usual
<& crops of h ay are m ade. T he chief a d ­
❖ v an tag es o f th is m ethod a re (1) th e
♦ presence o f an abundance of feed, (2)
*§> the meadow is not graced closely enough
fo r th e sta n d to be Injured, (3) it is
H IS bu lletin deals specifically w ith not n ecessary to subdivide th e pasture
crops and system s of cropping th a t into sm aller areas fo r a lte rn a te p as­
m ay be used in economical pork turin g , and (4) th e changing o f the
production in th e P acific N orthw est. hogs from one inclosure to another is
S cattered hero and there th roughout obviated.
the N orthw est a re men who are suc­
W hen th e num ber of anim als pas­
cessfully producing pork. They have tu red is so lim ited th a t th e usual hay
been visited, and th e ir m ethods, crops crops are m ade, th e grow th becomes
and feeding system s have been studied. so coarse an d woody th a t th ey do not
T his bu lletin m akes th e p ractices of consume as much fo rag e as is desirable
these successful men av ailab le to all. fo r econom ical gains, as th e hogs relish
O w ing to th e rap id g-ow th in popu­ th e young shoots best. W hen th e forage
lation of th is section during the la st d e ­ becomes too large to fu rn ish desirable
cade, th e dem and fo r pork has in ­ feed, an a re a n ear th e w aterin g place is
creased fa s te r th an the supply, and clipped w ith a m ower. T his should be
th ere is little reason w hy bog raisin g largo enough to fu rn ish th e desired
should not become a more im p o rtan t am ount of p astu re. In a few days th e
in d u stry in th e P acific N orthw est. A l­ clipped area produces a vigorous grow th
though thero have been some o u tb reak s o f new shoots, upon which th e hogs feed
of hog cholera, th e N orthw est has been w ith o u t m aterially d istu rb in g the rest
rem ark ab ly free from this disease. The of th e meadow. I f th e area firs t mowed
largi r cities have well-equipped p a c k ­ is not su fficien t to furnish the required
ing houses, and modern union sto ck ­ feed, more o f th e meadow is clipped,
y ard s are in operation a t P o rtlan d , Ore as n ecessity m ay dem and. To prevent
gon. D uring recent y ears a large p e r­ th e sta n d o f these clipped areas from
centage o f th e hogs slaughtered in th e becom ing in ju red by overgrazing, d if ­
cities of P o rtlan d , Tacoma, S e a ttle end fe re n t p o rtio n s of th e meadow are used
S pokane have been shipped from east in th is w ay from y ear to year.
of th e Rocky M ountains. In addition
Grain Ration While on Pasture.
to this, enorm ous q u an tities of E a s t­
W hile th e cost o f producing pork may
ern bacon and la rd are an n u ally con­ be reduced m aterially by th e use of
sumed by th e P acific Coast cities.
such roughage as a lfa lfa hay, roots, or
green p astu re forage, it is desirable to
M anagem ent of P astu res.
feed g rain or oth er co n cen trated feed
Since economical pork production d e ­ in addition. M ature, d ry brood sows
pends largely upon th e consum ption o f are som etim es m ain tain ed in an a p ­
a g re a t deal of cheaply grown feed, th e p aren tly satisfa c to ry condition on good
p astu re should be so m anaged th a t the p astu re alone. Young grow ing hogs, on
forage produced will be clean, ten d er the o th er hand, usually become u n g ain ­
and p alatab le. In p ractice, hog p a s­ ly in shape, big bellied and thin in
tu res are g enerally m anaged in one of flesh or stu n ted when compelled to su b ­
th ree w ays: (1) C ontinuous close g ra z ­ sist on p a sttu re alone.
ing, (2) a lte rn a te p astu rin g o f equal
Hog grow ers d iffe r q u ite widely re ­
areas, and (3) p astu rin g th e meadow.
g ard in g th e q u a n tity of grain th a t
The m ethod in most common use is to should be fed while on pastu re. Some
tu rn in all the hogs the p astu re will feed a full grain ratio n , i. e., all
e
support, leaving them in th e field d u r­ g rain th e hog will consume. O thers
in g the en tire season. U sually th e p as­ feed a medium ratio n , one th a t is equal
tu re is k ep t closely grazed. Too o ften to ab o u t 2 to 3 per cent o f th e live
it is overgrazed, th e p tan ts b ein g crop­ w eight o f th e hog. S till o th ers p refer
ped so closely th a t th e stan d is soon a lig h t g rain ratio n , one th a t is equal
ruined. The p astu re then becomes little *» «mly ab o u t 1 p er cent o f the live
b e tte r th an a d ry lot, and th e hogs w eight o f th e hog. O ccasionally men
m ake u n sa tisfa c to ry gains. W hen the are found who run ye«tng shotes on p a s­
feed in th e p astu re becomes scarce, tu re w ith o u t other feed T h is is a m is­
e ith e r th e num ber o f hogs p er acre tak e, fo r it alm ost in v a ria b ly results in
should be reduced or oth er fo rag e p ro ­ a stu n ted hog. No fixed an d fa s t rule
vided.
can be laid down, fo r th e supplem ental
Alternate Pasturing of Equal Areas. g rain ratio n which should be fed in
O ne o f th e most sa tisfa c to ry w ays of conjunction w ith green p astu re depends
m anaging a p astu re is to d iv id e it in to upon a num ber e f factors, th e more im ­
tw o or more fields of equel area. These p o rta n t o f which are (1) th e age at
field s a re then used alte rn a te ly , the w hich th e hogs are to be m ark eted , (2)
hogs rem ain in g in each ab o u t a week the price o f grain, and (3) th e plenti
oi 10 days. In th e case o f clove- and fulness and q u ality o f th e pasture.
a lfa lfa th e grow th is allowed to b e ­ R ations for Hogs o f V arious Conditions
come 3 'o 4 inches high be* re th e hogs
and Market Ages.
a ra tu rn ed in to e a t it o ff quickly.
I f hogs are to be m ark eted when 7
W hen the p astu re consists o f such to 9 m onths old, it is necessary to
crops as rape, k ale and vetch , which feed them about all th e g rain they will
w ill not stan d close g ra tin g , th e grow th consume, in addition to th e p asture, in
is p erm itted to reach s h eight of 8 order to m ake them reach th e weight
or 10 inches before th e hogs are tu rn ed dem anded by the m ark et, 170 to 225
in.
pounds. H ogs th a t a re m ark eted when
C hanging th e hogs from field to field 10 to 12 m onths old aro usually m ain­
gives th e p astu re a period o ' re st, d u r­ tain ed on p astu re alone d u rin g th e graz
in g which th e p la n ts recu p erate and ing season. I f fed a t all, tk e grain ra ­
g r w rapidly. W hen the stock is re ­ tion ¡a v ery lig h t. T his resu lts in a slow
tu rn ed to th e field th e fo rag e is clean, daily g ain , b u t a g re a te r percentage
te n d e r and p alatab le and la rg e quan o f th e grow th is m ade from th e cheaply
titie s a re consumed. Owing to th e rapid grown forage. The added cost of main
gr>w th made w hile a t rest, a p astu re ta in in g a hog u n til 10 to 12 m onths old,
th a t is subdivided and the areas grazed how ever, usually mor« th a n equals the
a ltern ately is cap ab le of carry in g a saving o f th e grain ration.
much la rg e r num ber o. hogs p er acre,
M ature breeding stock th a t is not ex­
o th er conditions b eing equal, th a n one pected to m ake an y gain in w eight re
th a t is continuously pastured.
quires b u t little , if any, ad d itio n al feed
H ogs usually graze a p astu re some- when on good pastu re. H ogs th a t are
w hot unevenly, some a iea s being eaten th in in flesh and n early grow n may be
o ff much more closely th a n others. To expected to m ake sm all d aily gam s
keep down th e weeds and m ake the w ithout o th er feed when on th e beat
grow th come on evenly, th e p astu re is of pastu re. P igs and sm all shotes usual­
clipped w ith a mower im m ediately a fte r ly become stu n ted when on p astu re un
th e hogs are removed. Hogs a re in ­ less given a liberal q u a n tity of ad d i­
clined io ro o t when th e su rfaee of th e tio n al feed. Young hogs should be so
rro i.s d is w et sr d a m x F or th is rea fed th a t they grow rapidly saataad of
T
to feed a t w ill u n til the crop i» con­
sumed is called “ hoggiug o f f ” or
“ hogging d o w n ” tho crop. To soma
th is may appear to be a w asteful prac­
tice. U nder good m anagem ent, how­
The Price of Grain.
ever, it is a very satisfa c to ry and eew
Owing to th e flu ctu ation in the price nomieal method of utilizin g lim ited
o f hogs and of grain, th e supplem ental
areas of these crops.
g rain ra tio n is som etimes expensive.
Advantages In Hogging off Crops.
U nder such circum stances there is g reat
Some of the adv an tag es in hogging
tem p tatio n to place th e bogs upon an
exclusive p astu re ration. This seldom o ff crops are (1) th e cost o f h a rv e st­
pays, fo r it usually tak es approxim ate­ ing and m arketing tho crop is Baved,
ly as much concentrated feed in the (2) tho labor of caring fo r hogs is
end, and much more tim e, to f i t for g reatly reduced, (8 ) tho vegetable m at­
m arket hogs which have been on an ter in the soil is increased, (4 ) tho drop­
exclusive p astu re diet as is required pings of th e anim als are d istrib u ted
fo r hogs fed lib erally w hile on pasture. quite evenly, and (5 ) the hogs are given
U nder extrem e circum stances m ature exercise. I t eosth from 15 to 25 cents
breeding stock or hogs whieh are n e a r­ per bushel to harvest and m ark et w heat
ly grown may be carried on good p as­ in th e g re a te r p a rt of the w healt belt
tu re u n til ch eaper concentrated feed of th e P aeifie N orthw est, the cost vary­
ing w ith th e yield, tho m ethod of h ar­
can be obtained.
vesting and thrashing and tho distance
Quality and Abundance of Pastura.
the w heat is hauled to m arket. In some
The com position of p astu re forage is of th e more arid w heat grow ing dis­
q uite v ariab le. A lfalfa, clover, veteh, tricts of both Oregon and W ashington
peas, ete., fu rn ish feed th a t is much the yield of w heat is frequently as low
rich er in p ro tein th an m ost other crops. as 6 to 8 bushels per acre. The cost of
G enerally, th erefo re, hogs which are h arvesting and m arketing such erops
feeding upon legum inons pasture require runs from 35 to 40 cents per bushel. The
slightly less co n cen trated feed than cost of h arv estin g and m ark etin g bar­
when g razin g upon no legum inous p a s­ ley is approxim ately the sam e as th a t
ttu re , such as tim othy, orchard grass, of w heat. When the hogs are so m an­
blue g rass o r th e cereals.
aged th a t the crop is thoroughly cleaned
I t freq u en tly happens t h a t a farm er up, hogging o ff th e crop p ractically
has more hogs th an his p astu re is eapa saves the cost of h arv estin g and m ar­
ble of su pporting. W hen snch is the keting. In the ease of light-yielding
case th e p astu re will go mueh fa rth e r crops th is saving is considerable.
if a full g rain ration is fed. The more
M ost of th e crops th a t are suitable
grain a hog consumes th e less he will for hogging o ff a re utilized during the
feed upon th e pasturo.
busiest season of th e year, i. e., a t a
In general, pigs and shotes should be tim e when it is very desirable th a t th e
k ep t in a th r ifty , grow ing condition at hogs require as little atte n tio n as pos­
all tim es. I t n ev er pay s to allow them sible. I f tu rn ed in to s m ature field of
to cease grow ing and become stunted. w heat, p eats or corn and provided w ith
Brood sows, likew ise, m ust be k ept in w ater, shade and salt, the hogs require
good flesh (n o t fa t) i f large litte rs of very little o th er atten tio n .
strong, h ea lth y pigs a re to be expected.
M ost o f th e arable lands of th e P a ­
In g a th e rin g th e m aterial fo r this cific N orthw est would be m aterially
bu lletin it w as q u ite g en erally observed, b en efited by the addition of more or­
on the one hand, th a t th e men who ganic m atter. W hen the crop is hogged
are en th u siastic pork producers feed a off, the straw , pea vines or cornstalks,
liberal supplem ental g rain ration to as the case m ay be, are le ft on the
young, grow ing hogs when on pasture. ground. By c u ttin g th is m aterial th o r­
On tho oth er hand, those who think oughly in the fall of the y ear w ith a
th ere is little p ro fit in raisin g hogs run sharp disk harrow and plow ing it under,
them v ery larg ely on p astu re w ithout the soil is enriched in vegetable m atter.
oth er feed d u rin g the g razing season.
This, in tu rn , g reatly reduces th e ten­
Hogging Off Crops.
dency o f th e soil to wash.
In hogging o ff th e crop, th e drop­
T u rn in g hogs in to a standing field
,f m atu re or n early m ature w heat, bar pings of the anim als are sc attered quite
ley , peas or corn and allowing them evenly over the field.
becom ing stu n ted . D uring th e fa tte n in g
period, hogs on pastu re should be fed
all the g rain th e y w ill e a t up clean
three tim es a day.
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... , ........ ...... .........
Name.
A ddre