May, 1933] Efficiency Studies in Dairy Farming 31 



have had to feed more and more roughage during a considerable part 

 of the pasture season. In a few instances the gradual loss of pasturage 

 may eventually lead to the loss of the entire farm. If the number of 

 cows must be reduced to 10 in a region where 20 are required to give 

 the operator an opportunity for an adequate income, there is great 

 danger of abandonment. 



The total pasture area consisted of five and one-half per cent former 

 tillage land now open and growing good grass; 11 per cent good soil 

 now open and growing good pasture grasses; I7I/2 pc^i' cent having 

 good soil but now covered with brush; seven and one-half per cent 

 light sandy soil generally covered with grass but not productive after 

 July 1; 11 per cent rocky, light soil, rock outcrop, or swamp, and 44 

 per cent timber wath little, if any feed. 



From these data it was estimated that about 31 per cent of the 

 present pasture area is potentially good pasture land and with plan- 

 ning and with considerable labor in bmsh cutting, juniper eradication, 

 and fertilizing could be converted into good pasturage. The remain- 

 ing 69 per cent would not be of much importance as grazing land. 



The area of potentially good pasture ranged from two-tenths to 

 three acres per cow, with an average of 1.52. It is estimated from 

 the pasture data that about three-fourths of the fanns are short in 

 this respect and even though the operators reclaim all the good soil, 

 there will still be a need for a pasture program which will include 

 tillage fields. 



Every pasture had its June flush; but thereafter the grasses grew 

 more slowly, resulting in a distinct shortage of feed in July and 

 August on most farms. The pastures were generally on hillsides or 

 hill tops. Frequently they contained small areas that had once been 

 tilled but on account of location or rocks had been abandoned in 

 recent years. Certain other areas were open and had an excellent 

 stand of pasture grasses. On much of the area not covered with 

 timber, growths of hardback, alder, or juniper varied from a few 

 scattered clumps to solid stands. Thus some pasture land, potentially 

 good, grows little feed. 



The situation varied greatly. One of the better pastures with 100 

 acres available had 20 acres of good grass, 30 acres of open land with 

 good soil but partially covered with hardback and other small brush, 

 and 50 acres of woodland. Another pasture of 70 acres included 20 

 acres of good open pasture and 50 acres of good open land but which 

 was covered with juniper and hardback. A third pasture of 100 acres, 

 on the other hand, had only five acres of good grass and 20 acres of 

 open land with good soil but grown up to brush. In eveiy case the 

 growth of bmsh or juniper was gradually gaining on the grass. 



The pastures were conveniently located within a quarter of a mile 

 from the bam except on three fanns where the operators were using 

 abandoned back farms four or five miles away. Milking sheds had 

 been built in the pasture and equipped with milking machines, and the 

 men traveled back and forth by truck twice daily. 



One man with inadequate permanent pasturage fertilized tillage 

 fields rather heavily with chemicals and pastured them under a defi- 

 nite plan. On account of fertilizer, one field furnished an abundance 



