Alfalfa in Kansas. 135 



EFFECT PASTURING HAS ON THE STAND. 



Probably there is no point upon which alfalfa growers hold so many 

 opinions as upon the effect pasturing has on the stand. A large propor- 

 tion of the growers consider that pasturing in any season or at any time 

 is injurious to the stand and are entirely against the practice. Still 

 others believe no serious damage results where good judgment is used. 

 Of course, if market hay is the object, pasturage is not practicable, but 

 it would seem from the data acquired, where judicious care is exercised 

 and the animals are not permitted to abuse the field, that the excellent 

 results obtained in pasturing swine and young growing stock (horses 

 particularly) would warrant the use of alfalfa as pasture, at least to a 

 limited extent. 



The worst damage caused by pasturing is usually brought about by 

 overpasturing pasturing too closely and continuously. Another great 

 cause of damage is the trampling and puddling of the fields in wet 

 weather, which packs the soil into a hard, compact and very undesirable 

 condition. Weeds and grasses often gain easy entrance to pastured 

 fields. Early spring cultivation is a necessity with a packed or weedy 

 field. Contrary to a theory often expressed, most growers believe that 

 no appreciable injury is done to the stand when a frozen field is trampled 

 or driven over. Fields of alfalfa under two or three years of age will 

 not stand pasturing. Abstinence in times of continued wet weather, and 

 until the alfalfa has made a good start, say eight or ten inches; waiting 

 until the field is old enough; regular and proper clipping as a means of 

 refreshing the stand ; alternation of fields as pasturage,* and the removal 

 of the animals before the growth has been eaten too short, are measures 

 recommended for practice. 



"BLOAT." 



Cattle and sheep are peculiarly susceptible to "bloat" when on alfalfa 

 pasturage. Only now and then is a horse lost from this cause, and never 

 a hog. Age seems to have little influence, as the reports mention animals 

 of all ages, and there is no indication that animals of any particular age 

 are especially liable to "bloat." 



There are growers who believe the only preventive of "bloat" worthy of 

 consideration is that of keeping the animals off the alfalfa. Reports 

 from those who practice pasturing, however, indicate that there are 

 certain conditions which influence the susceptibility of an animal to this 

 trouble. Turning stock on alfalfa pasturage that is wet with dew or other 

 moisture is said by many to be a dangerous practice, and it is recom- 

 mended that the stock be not turned on until the moisture has dried off. 

 Another measure which is said to aid in the prevention of "bloat" is that 



* Continuous close pasturing of alfalfa damages the plants by root starvation, while 

 the tramping of the soil when wet from rains or irrigation does further damage; the 

 result is a rapid thinning of the stand. This allows noxious weeds to gain a foothold, and 

 the productivity of the fields rapidly decreases. To obviate these difficulties a system of 

 rotation pasturing is being adopted in Arizona, in which the live stock is kept off the 

 fields until the alfalfa is sufficiently mature to make hay, and then the animals are turned 

 into the fields in large enough numbers to harvest the crop quickly. This system is 

 proving much more profitable than any other system of pasturing alfalfa so far known. 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Secretary, Circular No. 54. 



