30 



the following crude protein content are considered: 



8. to 9. percent, basic feed for pregnant cows; 

 10 to 12. 5 percent, basic feed for weaner calves; 

 15 to 17. 5 percent, as supplement feed. 



Commercial nitrogen fertilizer has the greatest potential for increasing 

 the quality and quantity of forage produced from the meadows. The analysis, 

 therefore, begins with this management practice and compares other practices 

 or combinations of practices with results obtained from applications of nitro- 

 gen fertilizer. 



Hay can be produced at least average cost per ton when no nitrogen is 

 applied. The data in table 11 show that the application of nitrogen increases 

 the yield of hay, but that the cost per ton is greater than the average cost of 

 hay not receiving nitrogen. This does not necessarily mean that application 

 of nitrogen is unprofitable under all conditions, but rather that it increases 

 the average cost of producing hay. 



What difference in costs, production, and quality of hay would be expected 

 if phosphate fertilizer were applied instead of nitrogen fertilizer? Application 

 of 200 pounds of PoOr increases production from 2. 08 (O treatment) to 2. 18 

 tons per acre and increases the crude protein content slightly (table 12). If 

 the phosphate cost $18 and was effective over a 5-year period, the increase 

 in production would cost $36 per ton of increase for fertilizer alone. Table 

 12 shows the effect of this management practice on average cost per ton and 

 on the cost of producing an additional ton of hay by this method. 



The same table indicates changes in costs expected under a one or two-cut 

 system when the composition of the sward is changed by planting legumes in 

 the sod, using phosphate fertilizer, and combining these practices. The 

 three practices considered here are limited, in that additional inputs do not 

 increase the anticipated production. The phosphate intake cannot be increased 

 unless some other practice, such as nitrogen fertilizer, is added. It is 

 impracticable to seed more than a given number of pounds of legunae seed 

 into the sod during a given year. It might be profitable to seed legumes the 

 second or third year, but data on this practice are not available. 



Based on the information presented in tables 11 and 12, hays with crude 

 protein content up to 10. 5 percent can be obtained most economically by 

 following normal management practices or seeding adapted legumes into the 

 present sod under a single-cut'system. If a 15 - to 17. 5 - percent protein 

 hay is desired, application of liberal amounts of nitrogen (more than 320 

 pounds per acre) would be necessary under a single-cut system. 



