May, 1933] Efficiency Studies in Dairy Farming 33 



the fanii be operated with a six-year rotation on six 10-acre fields. 

 The rotation would be corn, oats, clover, grass two years and pasture 

 one year. It is strongly urged that in such cases the better soil be 

 cleared of brush and the entire pasture then be divided into two ap- 

 proximately equal grazing areas. 



The use of tillable fields for pasturage is not new on this farm. It 

 is suggested that the fields be pastured only one year and then plowed 

 for com the next year. While serving as pasture they can advanta- 

 geously be alternated with the permanent grazing area. Taking field 

 F as an example, fertilizer or manure would be applied to part of the 

 10 acres in early spring, putting this land in shape for pasturing in 

 early May ahead of the permanent pasture. It would be pastured for 

 about 12 days after which one part of the permanent area would be 

 ready. About eight days later the remaining part could be pastured. 

 Rotating the herd from the tillable fields to the permanent pasture 

 would be repeated throughout the summer as long as each area pro- 

 duced sufficient grass. 



The length of time each is pastured depends upon the rate of growth 

 of the grass and the number of cows. The cattle should be moved to 

 a new field before the grasses are grazed too closely. As the summer 

 progresses it may be essential to rely on additional tillable fields. 

 Field E could then be fenced with temporary fencing and pastured in 

 rotation with Field F for the rest of the season. The fencing of fields 

 would not be a serious problem as the posts for the temporary divi- 

 sions could be driven during the spring and three wires put on at 

 slack times. 



Continued improvement will eventually give 20 acres of good per- 

 manent pasture. This increase should release one tillable field, ena- 

 bling the owner to cut more roughage and possibly keep more cows 

 through the winter. Thus, improved permanent pasture will increase 

 the capacity of the farm. 



On every farm the operator could well use his labor at slack times 

 in clearing hardback, juniper and brush on the potentially good pas- 

 ture soil, but labor or expense on poor thin soil should be avoided. 



Fertilizing will tend to stimulate grass production in late summer 

 when pasture is usually short. By dividing the permanent pasture 

 and grazing each half alternately, the total pasturage can be increased 

 and spread over a longer period.* Tillage land that is difficult to work 

 may be added to the permanent pasture. 



Rotated tillage land may also be used. In a six-year rotation, for 

 instance, the last year in hay may be used, or the oats may be pas- 

 tured. In some few cases where permanent pastures are very short 

 the last two years in hay or both the oats and the last year in hay 

 can be pastured. Small convenient areas near pastures or buildings 

 can be sown to sweet clover or special grasses such as Japanese millet 

 and pastured w^ien other feed becomes short. 



Each dairyman has a special problem, but he will find it profitable 

 to work out a long, continuous and adequate pasture program. This 

 will reduce labor on roughage harvest and help maintain milk produc- 

 tion at high levels and with low costs. 



♦Circular No. 35. 



