GRAZING INDUSTRY OF THE BLUEGRASS REGION, 3 



produced on the limestone clays. Other soils may produce luxuriant 

 grass, but the cattle fail to finish properly; they may do all right untU 

 they are 2 years old, when they are usually sold to the farmers who 

 have Hmestone pastures. 



Ellett^ has shown that there is a wide variation in the protein 

 content of Kentucky bluegrass grown in different localities. The 

 protein in the water-free material ranges from 10.22 to 19.98 per cent. 

 It is interesting to note that the grasses analyzing the highest in pro- 



FiG. 2. — Steers grazing in the bluegrass region. Many thousands of such steers intended for 

 export are finished on grass. ^. 



tein were grown in localities well known for the excellence of the 

 grass-fattened cattle produced. 



EFFECT OF WINTER GRAZING ON THE SOD. 



There is no question that it is more economical to winter cattle 

 which have free range over a pasture in the bluegrass region than to 

 feed them in small yards. It requires an abundance of grass at aU 

 times to produce 350 to 400 pounds of gain on a steer between May 1 

 and October 1, and there should be considerable grass left when the 

 cattle are sold. This is utiHzed by the newly purchased stockers. 



1 Ellett, W. B. The bluegrass of southwest Virginia. Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. ISO, p. S9-96. 1909. 



