132 Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



PASTURING BEEF CATTLE. 



Most growers report that the pasturage of beef cattle on alfalfa is 

 unsafe, because of the danger of "bloat." Fairly good success with fall 

 and 'spring pasturing is occasionally reported, particularly in the case 

 of weanling calves. The extent of this sort of pasturing is limited by 

 the amount of growth at those seasons, and care must be exercised not 

 to pasture too closely. The number of growers who pasture during the 

 midseason is very much in the minority. From the replies of those who 

 make a practice of pasturing beef cattle it is estimated that a mature 

 steer will require from one to three acres of alfalfa as pasturage, de- 

 pending on the luxuriance of growth and the quantity and character of 

 supplementary feed. It can not be said that the pasturage of beef cattle 

 on alfalfa is more prevalent in any particular section, as conditions ap- 

 pear quite uniform throughout the state. (See pages 410 to 415.) 



FIG. 126. Were it not for the danger of "bloat" alfalfa would make wonderfully fine 

 pasturage for dairy cattle. [Courtesy Farmers Mail and Breeze.] 



PASTURING DAIRY CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



Almost the same things that have been written about pasturing beef 

 cattle on alfalfa may be written about the pasturing of dairy cattle and of 

 sheep. The same risk of "bloat" is present, probably in a greater de- 

 gree in the case of sheep than in the case of dairy cattle. Were there no 

 danger of "bloat," alfalfa pasturage would, no doubt, make wonderfully 

 fine feed for any of these animals, but under the circumstances nearly all 

 growers consider pasturing with cattle and sheep entirely too dangerous. 

 (See pages 415 and 419.) 



PASTURING HORSES AND MULES. 



The pasturage of horses or mules on alfalfa is less dangerous. Results 

 are especially satisfactory with young, growing stock, brood mares, and 

 stock not hard at work. Reports as to the number of horses or mules 

 pastured on an acre of alfalfa vary considerably, averaging from one to 



