FINISHING CATTLE ON PASTURE 169 



ing. Bermuda grass in the South is quite satisfactory. 

 The grasses of the western ranges are usually quite 

 nutritious, but they are much wanting in relative abun- 

 dance of production. The best grasses for beef produc- 

 tion will usually be mixed grasses adapted to the locality 

 and which insure continuity in growth in the pasture 

 during the growing season. All the clovers furnish good 

 pastures for beef production, except the sweet varietj^, 

 Mchlotus alba, but none is superior or probably equal to 

 the common red variety in amount of production fur- 

 nished during the growing season. The clovers do not 

 usually provide grazing for so long a portion of the year 

 as grasses. 



AVhatever the variety or varieties of plants in the 

 pasture, the grazing should be abundant. The laying 

 on of flesh by cattle grazing is so far retarded when they 

 are compelled to travel in search of food beyond what 

 is necessary to furnish them with exercise. In other 

 words, they lay on flesh when lying at rest rather than 

 when exerting. It may not always be possible to adjust 

 the stock fattened to the carrying capacity of the graz- 

 ing, because of the variations in the seasons, but the 

 aim should be, when stocking the pastures, to keep the 

 number of animals introduced rather under than over 

 the carrying power of the pastures, unless when it is the 

 intention to supplement them with other food. In other 

 words, it would be better in every way to have some 

 pasture left uneaten than to have an under-supply. 

 Where pastures are extensive, and on rugged lands, it 

 may be necessary for the cattle grazing to travel much 

 more in securing food than on grazing the opposite in 

 character. When grazing is sparse and rugged, light- 

 weight animals will gain more relatively on it than large 

 and heavy animals. 



The grazing should not be over-succulent. When 

 the grasses are abundant, succulence in moderate degree 

 will promote growth, but when present beyond a cer- 



