CHAPTER XV. 



KIND AND CARE OF PASTURES FOR BEEF 

 PRODUCTION 



There are two general systems in vogue for furnish- 

 ing pasture for cattle — (a) permanent pastures and (b) 

 pastures used in a rotation. 



PERMANENT PASTURES 



There are some decided advantages in using a system 

 of permanent pastures for cattle. It simplifies the mat- 

 ter of fences, water supply, shade, and feed bunks. 

 It does away with the expense of reseeding. Another 

 advantage is that such a pasture properly managed is 

 never a complete failure. It may be short on account 

 of adverse climatic conditions, but it may always be 

 relied upon to furnish some pasture. Again, the per- 

 manent pasture properly managed may be profitably 

 used in prolonging the pasturing season. Undoubtedly 

 these advantages have largely contributed in making 

 bluegrass the favorite kind of pasture among cattle 

 feeders in the corn-belt. Of the replies received in 

 answer to questions sent out by the Illinois Experiment 

 Station to a large number of cattle feeders, 55 per cent 

 use bluegrass, 25 per cent timothy, 15 per cent clover, 

 and 5 per cent some one or more of the following: 

 Red-top, rye, cow-peas, and orchard grass. 



PASTURE IN ROTATION 



It is undoubtedly true that there are fewer bluegrass 

 pastures in sections of the country where cattle feeding 

 is a leading industry, than there were formerly, then- 

 place being taken either by a continuous crop-growing 

 system or pasture in rotation. There are some ad- 



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