LUCERNE FOR PIGS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 570, 24 May 1913, Page 2

LUCERNE FOR PIGS.

Recent reference to the value of lucerne in the production of pork has turned attention to a paper written some years ago by the Principal of Hawkesbury Agricultural College, wherein he specifically indicated its influence in the development of the bony structure of all domestic animals, and the production of lean meat. Lucerne, said the principal, is a cheap and reliable fodder for pigs in all stages of their growth, more especially for sows during the period between service and farrowing; and for boars and young pigs when building up frame prior to fattening. It has long been recognised that whilst wheaten bran provides an excellent food for cows in milk, its effect on pig is distinctly different. In the dairy ration, bran provides protein in a conveniently concentrated form. For pigs, lucerne is best, being palatable as pasture an.l as hay, easily digested and assimilated, and readily converted into blood. During the period of pregnancy sows require class of food, rich in protein to meet the demand for tissue making, and developing the unborn pigs, each of which weighs from 21b to 2slb at birth. As a rule, grasses are sufficiently rich, but it is always an advantage to give lucerne, the sows being then in better condition for suckling, and the young more thrifty and sturdy at birth. When denied food containing a proper quantity of protein, and fed too largely on maize or other carbonaceous foods, the sow becomes abnormally depraved in the desire for foods containing protein, and by no means infrequently satisfies this inordinate appetite by eating the sucklings just born. Young pigs, after weaning, when fed on lucerne judiciously balanced with grain, have more lusty vital organ i, stronger bonF ; and more blood.

Boars at the Bfcud are always better for service with a diet including lucerne. In all caseß lucerne alone.

either hay, greon fodder or tillage, iB 'oo narrow a ration, and hence lucerne should be balanced with maize, barley, rye, oatß, potatoes, or other starchy foods. Lucerne hay or green fodder is best feed from a rack as pigs, are liable to injure and soil food of the kind fed on the floor of the sty. The practice of depasturing lucerne ia highly profitable, and pigs are very partial to it. Much depends on the nature of the stand as to quality, but under average conditions an acre haw been found ample to graze fifteen pigs, when supplemented with grain. A gain of 771b of pork was made in a test in Kansas un lucerne grazing, supplemented with maize.