66 MISC. PUBLICATION 194, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



and other pasture grasses are dormant, and to extend the period of 

 good grazmg from 4 to 8 weeks in the fall and early wmter. 



The acreage of such temporary pastures as Sudan grass and sweetclo- 

 ver should be only one-fourth to one-third of the area of good perma- 

 nent pasture on account of the greater carrying capacity of the 

 temporary pasture for short periods. The acreage of cereal crops 

 will depend on whether they are for grazing alone or for grazing and 

 grain production. 



Other important considerations in the grazing of cattle on farms 

 are water supply, salt, other minerals, and shade. Additional supple- 

 mentary feed will be required for fattening steers and cows beiug 

 milked. 



In determining the kind and quantity of feeds to use as a supple- 

 ment to grass, one should use supplements adapted to the purpose for 

 which the cattle are kept, and govern the quantity by the quality 

 and quantity of grass available and the time of marketing if the 

 cattle are being fattened. At the beginning of the grazing season the 

 forage contains a higher percentage of protein than it does later on 

 and accordingly the supplementary feed for the first part of the grazing 

 period for fattening cattle could consist of grain exclusively. 



As the grass becomes mature the supplement should include some 

 feed rich in protein, such as oil-mill byproducts. The purpose is to 

 maintain the proper ratio between the proteins and carbohydrates 

 in the ration. For milk production and growing animals, propor- 

 tionately more protein and also more mineral in the ration are neces- 

 sary than for fattening cattle. Also the protein requirements of 

 young fattening cattle are greater than those of older cattle. The 

 proportion of the quantity of digestible crude protein to the combined 

 digestible carbohydrates and fat is known as the nutritive ratio. 

 According to a recognized feeding standard (Morrison), fattening 

 rations for calves should have a nutritive ratio of approximately 1:6, 

 for yearlings 1:7, 2-year-olds 1:8, and mature steers 1:10 or more. 

 According to the same standard, a cow weighing 1,000 pounds requires 

 0.7 pound of digestible protein and 8 pounds of total digestible nu- 

 trients for maintenance. In addition, for each pound of 3.5-percent 

 milk she requires about 0.04 to 0.05 pound of digestible protein and 

 0.3 pound of total digestible nutrients. The nutritive ratio for a cow 

 giving 30 pounds of 3.5-percent milk should be 1:7. 



At the beginning of the growing period the moisture content of 

 young grass is high. The dry-matter content is about 20 percent and 

 consists of a relatively high percentage of protein and ash and a low 

 percentage of crude fiber. It is often advisable to give cattle and 

 sheep some supplementary feed at this period of the grazing season 

 to counteract, to some extent, the laxative effect of the lush grass. 

 In such cases the best supplement is some nonlaxative roughage, such 

 as timothy hay or straw, which gives to the ration bulk that is effec- 

 tive in slowing up the passage of the contents through the digestive 

 system and thereby allows time for the absorption of nutrients. In 

 turning cattle on pasture the transition should be gradual, begin- 

 ning with an hour or two of pasture each day, depending largely upon 

 supplementary feeds. 



