THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY .2. NOTICE: Return or renew all Library Materials! The Minimum Fee for each Lost Book is $50.00. The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discipli- nary action and may result in dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN L161 O-1096 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station BULLETIN No. 247 FEEDING PIGS ON PASTURE BY JOHN B. EICE URBANA, JANUARY, 1924 CONTENTS OF BULLETIN No. 247 PAGE SUMMARY 37 PURPOSE OF EXPERIMENTS 39 PLAN 39 FEEDING OF MEDIUM RATIONS OF CORN, WITH AND WITHOUT TANKAGE, FOR PIGS ON PASTURE 40 Rape, Sweet Clover, and Blue-Grass Pastures 40 FEEDING OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF CORN, WITH TANKAGE ADDED, FOR PIGS ON PASTURE 43 Rape and Alfalfa Pastures 43 Field Peas and Oats, Rape and Soybean Pastures 45 FEEDING OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF CORN, WITH MIDDLINGS AND TANKAGE ADDED, J?OR PIGS ON PASTURE 48 Rape Pasture 48 CORN AND TANKAGE IN THE SELF-FEEDER, FOR PIGS ON VARI- OUS PASTURE CROPS 50 Alfalfa and Rape Pastures : 1914 Experiment 50 Alfalfa and Rape Pastures : 1915 Experiment 52 Red Clover, Alfalfa, and Rape Pastures : 1916 Experiment 52 Alfalfa, Rape, and Sweet-Clover Pastures: 1917 Experiment 54 Summary of Four Years' Experiments with Corn and Tankage in the Self -Feeder, for Pigs on Alfalfa and Rape Pastures 56 ONE vs. TWO PASTURE CROPS FOR PIGS 57 CARRYING FALL PIGS THROUGH THE SUMMER ON PASTURE 59 Heavy, Fat Pigs 59 Light, Thin Pigs 59 SUMMARY The various experiments reported herein were conducted in an attempt to determine the amounts of concentrates that are most profit- able to feed in conjunction with pasture crops for growing and fatten- ing pigs. Experiments were also conducted to determine the com- parative values of various pasture crops for growing market pigs, the use of the self-feeder on pasture, and the possibility of carrying heavy, fat pigs, and light, thin pigs through the summer. 1. Without concentrates young pigs made very little gain on either rape or alfalfa pastures. 2. A greater percentage of pigs became unthrifty and had to be taken from the lots receiving light rations than from those receiving full rations. 3. Pigs fed light rations of corn on pasture during the summer and finished on corn and tankage in the fall required more concen- trates, per hundred pounds, to reach an approximate weight of 225 pounds, in two of three experiments, than did pigs which received a medium ration of corn on pasture. In turn, pigs fed a medium ration on pasture required more concentrates to finish in the fall, in all the experiments, than the pigs which were on the self-feeder during the summer. 4. Medium corn rations for pigs on pasture were found to have an advantage over full rations in the possibility they afforded of making use of a larger percentage of new corn; also in the smaller requirement for high-priced protein supplements. Pigs which are fed medium rations, however, are usually sold on a later and lower market than full-fed pigs. 5. The self -feeding of corn and tankage to pigs on pasture proved . to be an economical and labor-saving method of growing and fatten- ing pigs for the early fall market. 6. For maximum gains, self-fed pigs on pasture required some tankage. Pigs fed medium corn rations on pasture without tankage were fattened in the fall somewhat less economically than the pigs which had received a small amount of tankage during the summer. 7. Pigs that had been fed a small amount of corn during the summer consumed more tankage in the fall, when self -fed their tank- age, than could be used economically. 8. The addition of middlings to a self-fed ration of corn and tankage increased the daily gains and also the cost of gains. Such a difference in cost may be offset by a higher market. 37 9. Little difference was found in the actual feeding value of the various pasture crops used. An average of several tests would indi- cate that alfalfa had a slightly higher feeding value than rape. In the one experiment with red clover slightly more rapid daily gains were secured than with alfalfa or rape. In the two experiments with sweet clover, the results were not so good as with either rape or alfalfa. The combination of Canadian field peas and oats followed by rape and later by soybeans proved to be no more satisfactory than either rape or alfalfa alone and caused the additional trouble of pro- viding the several forages. 10. No marked advantage was found in pasturing pigs on both alfalfa and rape over pasturing them on either crop separately. 11. The carrying of fat, heavy hogs through the summer proved to be unprofitable because of the slow daily gains and the high con- sumption of concentrates per 100 pounds gain. 12. Fairly satisfactory gains were made by light, thin pigs car- ried through the summer on a moderate grain ration and fattened on full ration in the fall. The concentrate requirements were somewhat high. A greater profit could be made in carrying them through the summer only as the price for them in the fall at the heavier weights would be greater than the price for them at the lighter weights in the spring. Because of the extra risk and labor involved, however, it seems better under ordinary conditions not to hold fall pigs through the summer. ACKNOWLEDGMENT Acknowledgment is hereby made to Professor William Dietrich, formerly Assistant Chief in Swine Husbandry, under whose direction the first of these experiments were started, and also to Mr. W. J. Carmichael, Associate in Animal Husbandry, who for a time had charge of the work. 38 FEEDING PIGS ON PASTURE BY JOHN B. RICE, ASSOCIATE IN SWINE HUSBANDRY PURPOSE OF EXPERIMENTS The primary purpose of the investigations reported in this bulletin was to study the amounts of concentrates that are most profitable to feed in conjunction with pasture crops for growing and fattening pigs. The concentrates used were corn, tankage, and middlings. Data were also obtained on the comparative values of various pasture crops for growing market pigs, the use of the self-feeder on pasture, and the possibility of carrying heavy, fat pigs and light, thin pigs through the summer on pasture. The experiments were conducted during the years 1911 to 1919. PLAN Pigs Used. The four hundred and five pigs used in these experi- ments were of several breeds and with but few exceptions were pro- duced on the University Farm. Duroc-Jerseys and Poland Chinas predominated, but some Berkshires, Chester Whites, Hampshires, Tarn- worths, Large Yorkshires, and cross-breds were used. All pigs were of March and April farrow excepting those used in Lots 44 and 45 (in the experiments in which fall pigs were carried through the summer). Selection of Pigs for Lots. The lots for each test were made up of pigs as uniform as possible in breed, age, weight, sex, thrift, lines of breeding, and individual merit. Weighing. The pigs were weighed individually every two weeks during the experiments. The weighing was done before the morning feed was given. The hand-fed rations were weighed at the time of feeding. The feeds for the self-feeders were weighed in quantities sufficient for several days' rations. With each weighing 1 of the pigs, the feed remaining was weighed and returned to the feeders. In the case of pigs which were removed from an experiment before its completion, the data up to the time of removal are included in the totals and averages shown in the tables. Quarters. During the winter months, the pigs were quartered in small movable houses. During the summer, sunshades were the only shelter furnished. 39 40 BULLETIN No. 247 [January, Length of Feeding Periods. Since the purpose of the investiga- tions was to secure data on the growing and fattening of pigs, the tests in most cases covered the period from shortly after weaning time until a marketable weight of approximately 225 pounds had been at- tained. In a few experiments, however, the pigs were fed for a definite period of time. Concentrates Fed. The concentrates used were No. 2 yellow corn, shelled, 60-percent protein tankage, and gray flour middlings of the best quality obtainable. Omission of Financial Statements. Financial statements are omitted from this bulletin because of the impossibility of any set of feed prices even approximating the prevailing conditions for all localities at different times of the year and in different years. The concentrate costs are expressed in terms of the number of pounds re- quired for 100 pounds gain. From these data the cost of gains can readily be calculated at the prevailing prices. No value is assigned to the forage consumed. This fact should be kept in mind, especially when pigs fed on pasture are compared with those fed in the dry lot. FEEDING OF MEDIUM RATIONS OF CORN, WITH AND WITHOUT TANKAGE, FOR PIGS ON PASTURE RAPE, SWEET CLOVER, AND BLUE-GRASS PASTURES Six lots of eight pigs each were started on experiment June 15, 1918, in an attempt to determine the comparative value of medium rations of corn, with and without the addition of tankage, for pigs on pasture. The pigs averaged 38 and 39 pounds in weight. The various lots were placed on rape, sweet-clover, and blue-grass pastures and were fed as follows: Lot 1. Rape pasture: two-thirds ration corn 1 Lot 2. Rape pasture: two-thirds ration corn, ^4 pound tankage daily per pig Lot 3. Sweet clover pasture: two-thirds ration corn Lot 4. Sweet clover pasture: two-thirds ration corn, ^4 pound tankage daily per pig Lot 5. Blue-grass pasture: two- thirds ration corn Lot 6. Blue-grass pasture: two-thirds ration corn, *4 pound tankage daily per pig The rape was sown about April 1, and by the time the experiment was begun had attained a height of six to twelve inches. By July 10 * Three pounds of corn daily per 100 pounds live weight, which is about two- thirds as much as the pigs would have consumed. FEEDING PIGS ON PASTURE 41 TABLE 1. MEDIUM RATIONS OK CORN, WITH AND WITHOUT TANKAGE, JOR PIGS ON PASTURE Experiment begun on June 15, 1918. Pigs changed from pasture to dry lot on October 5. Lot No 1 2 3 4 5 6 Number of pigs 8 210 Jan. 11 8 2 196 Dec. 28 8' 196 Dec. 28 8 203 Jan. 4 8 210 Jan. 11 8* 189 Dec. 21 Days on experiment. . . . Experiment ended Forage, H acre per lot. . . Ration on pasture Rape Corn% ration 1 Rape Corn% ration; tankage Klb. daily per pig Corn i Sweet clover Corn^ ration ind tanka Sweet clover Corn% ration; tankage ^lb. daily per pig ge in self- Blue grass Corn% ration feeder Blue grass Corn% ration; tankage Klb. daily per pig Ration in dry lot Feeds Consumed and Gains Throu hout Experiment, in Both Pasture and Dry- ot Periods Average weight per pig Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Ibs. Initial weight 39 38 38 38 38 38 Weight on Oct. 5 123 122 106 117 109 117 Final weight 231 224 224 230 233 227 Gain Total gain per lot Av. daily gain per pig. . 1540 .92 1446 .94 1051 .79 1529 .94 1540 .92 1456 .98 Concentrates consumed per lot Corn 6060 5316 4239 5844 6127 5296 Tankage 492 542 403 580 528 565 Total 6552 5858 4642 6424 6655 5861 Average daily ration per pig Corn 3.61 3 46 3 18 3 60 3 65 3 56 Tupkftg* ...... . , ... .29 .35 30 36 31 38 Total 3 90 3 81 3 48 3 96 3 96 3 94 Concentrates per 100 pounds gain Corn 393 368 404 382 398 364 Tankage 32 37 38 38 34 39 Total 425 405 442 420 432 403 Hay removed per acre, Ibs. 3510 3510 'Three pounds of corn per 100 Ibs. live weight daily, which is almost two-thirds as much as the pigs would consume. *Pig taken out July 27. weight 38 Ibs.; replaced by pig weighing 55 Ibs. Pig taken out Nov. 26, weight 55 Ibs. 'Pig taken out Aug. 5, weight 29 Ibs.; replaced by pig weighing 49 Ibs. Pig died Aug. 13, weight 25 Ibs.; replaced by pig weighing 60 Ibs. Pig taken out Aug. 29, weight 35 Ibs. Pig taken out Sept. 7, weight 26 Ibs. *Pig taken out July 20, weight 20 Ibs.; replaced by pig weighing 43 Ibs. *Pig taken out July 20, weight 17 Ibi.; replaced by pig weighing 42 Ibs. Pig taken out Nov. 26, weight 196 Ibs. 42 BULLETIN No. 247 [January, it had made a growth of two to three feet. This early growth, with its deep roots, carried the crop through July and August. As the fall rains came, the rape grew well again. While the forage was not so tender during the summer as it might have been had the crop been sown later, it seems necessary in the central and northern part of the state to let rape attain a good growth early in the season in order that sufficient forage may be had during the hot, dry months. The sweet clover was also sown about April 1, and had attained a height of six to eight inches at the time the pigs were placed on experiment. In early July it had grown so tall that it became necessary to clip it with the weeds and grass that had grown on the lots. This cutting was left on the ground. The blue grass was an old sod on rather low ground. A small amount of alfalfa was scattered through this blue grass. The pigs were continued on pasture until October 5, when they were placed in the dry lot with access to corn and tankage in self- feeders. The various lots were kept on experiment until they had reached an approximate weight of 225 pounds, the dates ranging from December 21 to January 11. The data are reported in Table 1. This method of growing pigs (feeding two-thirds of the corn they would consume while on pasture) is a practice followed by many corn-belt farmers in carrying pigs through the summer. Maximum gains are not obtained while the pigs are on pasture, but by fall the animals have attained a weight of 110 to 140 pounds and are ready for making maximum gains on the new corn crop. When this prac- tice is followed, more than half the corn used in growing pigs to a marketable weight is from the new crop. This method of feeding, therefore, may be used to advantage by the man who wishes to con- vert his new corn crop into pork as quickly as possible. The fact, however, that pigs fed in this way during the summer are usually sold on a low December or January market should also be borne in mind in considering the advisability of this method of feeding. Of the pigs that had been on blue grass and sweet clover during the summer, those that had received tankage averaged 8 and 11 pounds, more, respectively, when taken from pasture, than did those that had received only corn. Of the pigs that had been on rape, those that had had tankage averaged one pound less in weight than those which had received only corn. During the period in the dry lot, all pigs which had been fed tankage on pasture made more rapid gains and consumed less concentrates than the corresponding lots which had not received tankage. As an average of the entire experiment, the total amounts of feed required to produce 100 pounds gain were from 20 to 29 pounds less in the lots fed tankage during the summer than in those not fed tankage. 1924] FEEDING PIGS ON PASTURE 43 FEEDING OF DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF CORN, WITH TANKAGE ADDED, FOR PIGS ON PASTURE Eight lots of pigs were placed on experiment June 11, 1917, to determine the value of different amounts of corn and of the addition of tankage to the rations of pigs on pasture. On June 25 two more lots were added to the experiment. The pigs averaged 43 to 47 pounds in weight. The lots were made up of eight pigs each with the excep- tion of Lots 15, and 16, in each of which were sixteen pigs. The pastures used were rape, alfalfa, field peas and oats, and soybeans. While on pasture the pigs in the various lots were fed as follows : Lot 7. Rape pasture: no concentrates Lot 8. Rape pasture: one-third 1 ration corn Lot 9. Rape pasture: two-thirds ration corn Lot 10. Rape pasture: corn and tankage self -fed Lot 11. Alfalfa pasture: no concentrates Lot 12. Alfalfa pasture: one-third ration corn Lot 13. Alfalfa pasture: two-thirds ration corn Lot 14. Alfalfa pasture: corn and tankage self -fed Lot 15. Field peas and oats, rape and soybean pasture: one-third ration corn Lot 16. Field peas and oats, rape and soybean pasture* two-thirds ration corn RAPE AND ALFALFA PASTURES The rape was sown and handled as described under the first experiment. The alfalfa pasture was in its second year's growth. The two attempts to carry pigs through the summer without grain (the one lot on rape pasture and the other on alfalfa) were unsuccess- ful. After two weeks, during which time the corn was gradually re- duced, no grain whatever was fed. During the following eight weeks which the pigs were kept on experiment, those on rape gained an aver- age of 5.2 pounds each and those on alfalfa, 3.38 pounds each. Two of the pigs on rape died a short time before these lots were discontin- ued, apparently from starvation. At the end of the eight weeks the remaining pigs in both lots were fed a grain ration and developed economically to marketable weight. It is doubtful if many of these pigs would have lived through the entire summer without grain, altho those on alfalfa might have survived had the pasture been particularly good. However, the loss of part of the pigs and the small gains of the others made it inadvisable to continue the experiment longer. 1 One and one-half pounds of corn daily per 100 pounds live weight, which is about one-third as much as the pigs would have consumed. 44 BULLETIN No. 247 [January, On October 15 the pigs were removed from pasture to the dry lot. The ration of corn for those pigs which had received a limited ration was increased gradually to full feed with an addition of .4 pound tankage daily per pig. This method of feeding is comparable to the general farm practice of pushing pigs to a marketable weight as soon as the new corn is available. The self-fed pigs were continued on a ration of corn and tankage in the self-feeder. The results obtained in the experiment are reported in Table 2. The pigs which had been self -fed throughout the experiment were ready for market a month sooner in the case of those that had been on rape (Lot 10), and one and one-half months sooner in the case of those that had been on alfalfa pasture (Lot 14), than were the pigs in the lots which had received a two-thirds ration of corn on pasture and were full-fed in the dry lot in the fall. The medium and the self-fed rations of concentrates given the pigs on both the rape and the alfalfa pastures produced more rapid gains and produced them on fewer pounds of concentrates than did the light rations. The lots which had received a two-thirds ration of corn during the summer both reached a market weight sooner than the lots which had received a one-third ration of corn. During the forage season the light-fed pigs made the most eco- nomical gains, but the total concentrates required to develop these pigs to a marketable weight was much larger than was required in either the lots which had received a two-thirds ration of corn or the lots which had been self -fed corn and tankage. It should be remembered that the longer pigs have to be fed in the dry lot in the fall and winter, the greater is the offset to cheap summer feeding. While the pigs which had been fed a two-thirds corn ration re- quired a greater amount of concentrates, per 100 pounds gain, than was required by the lots which had been self-fed, their gains were less costly, because of the fact that these lots had not been fed tankage during the summer, as had the lots which had been self-fed. However, the higher cost of the concentrates required by the self -fed lots was in reality slight, and in farm operations such an increased cost is usually offset by the more favorable selling price brought on the earlier market by self-fed pigs. In general it may be said that full-fed pigs which have access to forage until the time of marketing, make their gains on less concentrates than do pigs which are fed a medium ration of corn on forage during the summer and are later fattened in the dry lot. The economy of the gains will depend some- what on the amount of protein feeds used. The feeding of medium rations, in addition to its saving in protein supplements, may have an advantage over full feeding in that a greater proportion of the corn fed is from the new crop (note the 1984] FEEDING PIGS ON PASTURE 45 following figures). However, as the prices of corn and hogs vary, either full rations or medium may become the more profitable. PROPORTION OF CORN FED BEFORE AND AFTER OCTOBER 15: EXPERIMENTS ON RAPE AND ALFALFA LOTS, 1917 Ration fed during Amount fed previous Amount fed after the summer How fed to Oct. 15 Oct. 15 percentage percentage Corn and tankage Self-fed 81 19 Corn two-thirds ration. . Hand-fed 42 58 Corn one-third ration ... Hand-fed 19 81 Little difference was found between either the rate or the economy of gains made on rape pasture and those made on alfalfa. The rape pasture was slightly superior. The poor results obtained in Lots 8 and 12 were partly due to the extremely severe weather of December and January. FIELD PEAS AND OATS, RAPE AND SOYBEAN PASTURES The thirty-two pigs in Lots 15 and 16, which were fed light and medium corn rations, respectively, were turned on various pasture crops during the summer. Until July 16, the pigs in each lot were pastured on a half -acre of Canadian field peas and oats. At that time they were turned into rape pasture, each lot being given access to one- fourth of an acre, in order that their former pasture might be seeded to rape. On August 20, when this seeding had made a good growth, the pigs were turned back into their original pasture. On September 22 each lot of pigs was turned into a half-acre pasture of soybeans. These soybeans, having been broadcast in April, were well podded and furnished good feed until October 15, when the pigs were removed to the dry lot. The corn rations were then increased to full feed and .4 pound tankage per pig per day was given. As on the rape and alfalfa pastures, the lot given a one-third ration of corn during the summer, Lot 15, required considerably more concentrates per 100 pounds gain than did the lot given a two-thirds ration, Lot 16. Lot 15 required somewhat smaller amounts of con- centrates, per hundred pounds gain, than did the lots which had re- ceived the same amount of grain on rape and alfalfa pastures (Lots 8 and 12). The pigs in Lot 16, however, required somewhat more concentrates per hundred pounds gain than did the lots which had received the same corn ration on rape and on alfalfa pastures (Lots 9 and 13). These two lots, Nos. 15 and 16, required the use of a greater acreage of pasture than did the lots on rape and alfalfa and caused the extra cost and trouble of furnishing the several forages. 46 BULLETIN No. 247 i t 1-10 6 "O m _ d d 12 o3 CQ a> o3 2J 03 ~03 9-.C M* K d B'J N 0) P &H g O fc, >, O< 03 6 2 i-H t. 00 COi-l O OS 1-5 O. i o t - O o3 'd " ' . 1 OOb- . i 1-Pl ^55 ^ O s3 Gt2 O "*"" il \so a ^ vS ^\ d CO l-H 2 8 Q X-l 53 ll * S, obo r^ 93 ^d 03 2 ^H 13 ~s-J O bC *-H O oj 03 <3 O ^ d l-H t I 1 tM 1 Ll) .0 3 o ^ "^ * O rH S S I C bJO^Jn *-< c3 rf^ QJ 03 ^d 3 OS 2 d El fl - P a* O O 00 \M O) \ 00 CO . fi, el t-C ^J o3 OH O 03 1-5 S d M ^^ '3 . oo co B\ U3 8JC QU 3 * 4* 49 fl h 43 73 all S a H i 2&s o w g i a d Q I 1 d 55 ** d d ill 1&& 3 oj x ^ P W oT 1 1 . d o 43 .SPS M) S3o .^&2. ^ rH rH <-, 3 UJ m I " H CN *" d C^ l-H -J3 . . ^J gj K - 1984] FEEDING PIGS ON PASTURE 47 fc 00 M aot^ui eo co oo co *H CO t>-OOCO rHrHCO o eocoi^ TJ * W Tt rt