94 DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



land. Where farm manure is available, it is generally put on the 

 pasture or meadow during the fall or early spring. Artificial fer- 

 tilizers applied in the fall or spring make valuable substitutes. 

 Nitrogenous fertilizers favor especially the growth of the grasses, 

 while the clovers and other legumes are mostly benefited by potash 

 and lime fertilizers. There are many experiments on record show- 

 ing that the application of fertilizers on grass lands will give good 

 returns in increased crop yields and an improved quality of the crop. 



Value of Pasturage. Pasture grasses furnish a very nutritious 

 and highly palatable feed for all classes of farm animals ; it is the 

 best feed for milk-producing animals that we have, and these pro- 

 duce the largest amount of milk when on good pasture. During 

 the summer and early fall, pasture forms, as a rule, the sole feed 

 for cattle and other farm stock, and when there is an abundance of 

 green feed the cheapest gains and most economical production are 

 made at this time. On account of the watery growth during early 

 spring, stock should not be turned out too early, both for the good 

 of the pasture and the stock. A feed of dry roughage, if available, 

 or of good silage at this time, as well as late in the season, will pro- 

 duce better results than pasturage alone. 



Feeding grain to cows on good pasture has not shown immediate 

 direct results, so far as dairy production is concerned, according to 

 investigations conducted at a number of experiment stations, 4 but 

 cows are brought to a better body condition by receiving grain while 

 on pasture. They are also likely to maintain their flow of milk 

 longer during the balance of the lactation and to do better the fol- 

 lowing lactation period than if no grain is fed (p. 243'). On scant 

 or dried-up pastures it is necessary to supply additional feed, either 

 green soiling crops, hay, or grain feed, in order that the flow of milk 

 may be maintained. This is so much the more important as a short- 

 age of pasture feed is likely to come at a time when extreme hot 

 weather and flies tend to make cows uncomfortable and largely re- 

 duce their milk production. 



QUESTIONS 



1. Name six different agricultural sections of the United States, with 



characteristic pasture grasses and hay crops grown in each. 



2. Why are only low yields obtained from many permanent pastures? 



Outline a correct system of pasture management. 



3. How much moisture, digestible protein, carbohydrates, and fat are 



generally present in pasture grasses? 



4. Give the characteristic differences between hay from grasses and legumes. 



4 Cornell (N. Y.) Bulletins 13, 22, 36, and 49: North Dakota Bulletin 

 16; Kansas Report, 1888; West Virginia Bulletin 109. 



