43 



Feed for Breeding Herd 



Hay produced on mountain meadow rarely has a crude protein content of 

 less than 8 percent. Instances in which the crude protein content is less 

 than this are obvious to ranch operators. This low -quality hay is normally 

 associated with damage from moisture or from improper harvesting. 

 Normally, the protein content of hay is not a problem in feed used by the 

 breeding herd. The problem is one of obtaining the needed quantity at 

 least cost. 



As noted in the cost of hay analysis, only one of the four management 

 techniques - that of seeding legumes in sod - will reduce the average cost 

 of hay produced. This method reduced the average cost only slightly (from 

 $12, 05 to $12 per ton). Also it is limited in its application, that is, pro- 

 duction per acre cannot be increased much more than 0. 16 tons per acre 

 with heavier rates of seeding. If this increase in production is insufficient 

 to meet the hay requirements of a particular ranch, other alternatives will 

 need to be investigated. 



Three management practices (table 16) that increased the value of the 

 production were: 



(1) Applying 40 pounds of nitrogen on native sod, practice (4); 



(2) Seeding legumes into the native sod, practice (3); 



(3) The seeding of legumes into the sod, fertilizing with 

 phosphate and using a two-cut harvest system, practice 

 (2, 3). 



If hay is valued at $20. 00 per ton, which is approximately the longtime 

 normal price in the mountain areas of Colorado, it would be profitable to 

 use any one of these three practices on mountain meadowland under the 

 conditions described. Such practices as (3) and (2, 3) can be expanded 

 very little beyond the rates shown in table 12 because maximum potential 

 increases in yield probably are obtained at these rates. That is, additional 

 applications of phosphate (P„0 ) or legume seed will not increase the yield 

 further. 



However, additional nitrogen beyond the 40 pounds indicated above can 

 be applied profitably. The maximum theoretical profitable rate of nitrogen 

 application is approximately 50 pounds. This rate would give an increase 

 in value of production per acre greater than the increased cost, while higher 

 rates of application would cost more than the chan^^e in the value of the pro- 

 duction. 



