CHAPTER XVI 



FORAGE ESTIMATES AS A BASIS FOR THE RATIONAL 



USE OF GRAZING RESOURCES (GRAZING 



RECONNAISSANCE) 



According to a well-established principle in economics, the 

 larger pastures, farms, and ranges yield greater returns per acre, 

 other things being equal, than do the smaller holdings. The 

 discussion of the question of profits being reserved for another 

 place, it may be stated that many instances could be cited 

 in which profits on the larger holdings are not commensurate 

 with those realized by the smaller operator. 



Some such reversals in the profits may be accounted for by 

 the fact that the resources of the larger livestock concerns are 

 frequently not utilized to the best advantage. Not uncommonly 

 the owner or manager of a pasture does not recognize its true 

 value or understand how to administer it. The high cost of 

 feed and labor now as compared with the cost in the early history 

 of the hvestock industry has tended to narrow the margin of 

 profit in Hvestock production to a point where, for the industry 

 to be really successful, the most approved principles of business 

 and of scientific management must be applied. To do this the 

 forage-producing capacity of the lands must be known, and the 

 problems pertinent to their most economical use must be recog- 

 nized and solved. While one still occasionally hears the state- 

 ment, " I am only a stockman," stock breeders and farmers are 

 generally willing to adopt improved methods in the handling 

 of their stock and lands. 



GRAZING RECONNAISSANCE 



The introduction of improved methods of harvesting the 

 forage crop as well as of handling the stock grazed presupposes 

 a careful study of all the more important factors that influence 

 forage growth and economic livestock production. On small 



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