106 BEEF PRODUCTION 



guarded against. In case of alfalfa this factor is suffi- 

 ciently important to render its general use for pasture 

 questionable. No comprehensive experimental work 

 has been conducted relative to the comparative values 

 of different kinds of pastures for grazing or fattening 

 cattle. In the absence of such data we can only say 

 that from the cattle feeder's standpoint the best pasture 

 for a particular locality and type of soil is that which will 

 produce the largest average yield of beef per acre. The 

 extent to which summer and winter feeding are prac- 

 ticed has a bearing on this subject as well as the kind of 

 cattle handled and the labor available. 



MANAGEMENT OF PASTURES 



There is a number of considerations in connection 

 with the care and management of pastures that should 

 receive careful attention. Many pastures that are now 

 supporting but one animal to two acres might be made 

 to support twice the number with judicious management 

 along the following lines: First be persistent in securing 

 a good stand. The writer has traveled over many pas- 

 tures that do not possess more than half a stand of 

 grass, and it is obvious that such pastures cannot pro- 

 duce a maximum yield. Second, keep down noxious 

 weeds. Weeds seldom exterminate themselves, but 

 subsequently spread so rapidly that they take possession 

 of the land to the exclusion of useful plants. Pastures 

 should be gone over once or twice a year to remove weeds, 

 and this should be clone before they ripen their seeds. 

 The drainage of pastures is frequently neglected because 

 fields for pastures are usually selected on portions of 

 the farm where the drainage is so imperfect that grain 

 crops cannot be successfully grown. It should not be 

 lost sight of, however, that not only the largest crops, 

 but also the best and sweetest grass is grown on well- 

 drained soil. Where land set aside for permanent pas- 

 ture lacks fertility, a thorough top dressing of farm man- 

 ure will show almost immediate returns. If the pasture 



