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Preliminary report on values of pastures for fattening pigs in Louisiana

Louisiana Experiment Station in cooperation with the U. S. D. A.

Abstract

1. Lots fed on pasture gained 1.45 pounds per day, as compared to 1.36 pounds per day in dry lot.
   
2. Pastures saved 26.7 pounds of feed per 100 pounds gain, with ten pigs pastured on one-half acre of pasture.
   
3. Assuming that the average gain per pig is 120 pounds while on pasture, and that ten pigs are pastured per one-half acre, a half acre of pasture will save approximately 325 pounds of concentrates, worth at present feed prices about 1.5 cents per pound, or a total of $4.87 per half-acre. Assuming that two pastures per year can be grown, this would mean a gross return of $19.00 to $20.00 per year, less the labor and seed costs for the pasture.
   
4. A greater return per animal from pasture would undoubtedly have been obtained in some cases if one acre of pasture had been available, instead of one-half acre. This was especially true in the winters of 1931–32 and 1933–34, when winter oat pastures were poor and showed little or no increase in gains. Usually one-half acre will provide sufficient pasture for ten pigs, provided that the pasture is well established before the pigs are turned in.
   
5. The most satisfactory returns per acre have been made on either white or red clover pastures, or on alfalfa when it can be grown successfully. From March 2 to June 10, 1932, white clover pasture replaced 57.5 pounds of concentrates per 100 pounds of gain, having a total value of $11.30 in 100 days for ten pigs. In 1934 at Jeanerette, one-half acre of red clover pasture replaced 55.4 pounds of concentrates per 100 pounds of gain, or a total of 588.4 pounds grain for ten hogs from March 23 to May 17. At present feed prices of approximately 1.5 cents per pound, the pasture had a value of $16.00 per acre in 56 days.
   
6. Recommendations for the farm hog grower:
   On the average farm, it is not always necessary to set aside definite fields or areas to be used only for hog pasture. It is advisable, rather, to move hogs frequently in rotation with field crops. Parasites are always a problem in the South and to change hogs to fresh land frequently is a good practice from the standpoint of fertility and for the good of the hogs.
   At the Jeanerette station it has proved a satisfactory practice to disc in winter pasture crops, either winter cereals or winter legumes, on corn stubble, and to use these until the clover pastures are ready in the spring. Such pastures save nearly half of the maintenance ration for brood sows. Such a practice does not require any cash. Crop land from the farm rotation provides the hogs with a change of land and helps to build up fertility.
   The clovers usually make good pasture from March until midsummer. Pastures of Sudan grass or mixtures of Sudan grass and soybeans may be provided for summer use, after which time the hogs may be turned into corn and soybean fields to fatten or may be run in the corn fields on soybeans after the corn has been gathered.
   Fresh pastures are necessary for young pigs, especially from farrowing time until they are four or five months old. Older hogs and dry brood sows may be run on permanent pastures with less danger of damage from parasites, but an occasional change of location is desirable.
   Mature animals on maintenance rations will make a greater use of pastures than will young fattening pigs and the savings in grain will be proportionally greater than that shown by these experiments.