Generally, the quality of the hay produced is satisfactory for the main 

 herd. Thus, the problem here is one of producing additional quantities of 

 hay at less than the average market price. Applying 40 pounds of available 

 nitrogen annually will produce 0. 50 ton per acre of additional hay at a cost 

 of less than $20. 00 per ton. Two other practices, the seeding of legumes 

 into the existing sod, and applying phosphate fertilizer to seeded sod, are 

 economical also. 



Most ranchers produce some hay that is above minimum requirements for 

 weaner calves. But frequently, this quality better hay is intermingled with 

 other hay or is not favorably located; therefore, the operator may want to 

 raise better than average quality hay on specific fields as feed for weaners. 

 The best way to be sure that the desired quality is obtained is to use the two- 

 cut harvest system. Here again, the application of phosphate fertilizer in 

 conjunction with seeding legumes into the sod or the application of 40 pounds 

 of nitrogen fertilizer are the least costly methods of obtaining this type of 

 hay. The additional costs incurred with these practices are more than offset 

 by the value of the increase in quality and quantity of hay produced. 



If hay containing a high percentage of protein - superhay - is desired as 

 a supplement to lower quality hay, the most profitable practices will involve 

 a two-cut harvest system alone or in conjunction with high rates of nitrogen 

 application - more than 320 pounds. While these nitrogen application rates 

 indicate very high costs per acre, the number of acres required is relatively 

 small. On a typical Colorado ranch, not more than 3 acres would need to be 

 so treated. 



The practices cited as economically feasible are based on the premise 

 that the practices either reduce the average cost or that the increased value 

 of the hay exceeds the increase in the costs. The analysis does not take into 

 account other benefits that might accrue to an increase in the quantity or 

 quality of mountain meadow hay. Associated economies that might be involved 

 would be the ability of the operator to increase the size of his herd and thereby 

 reduce his average cost of operation per cow-unit, the possible increase in 

 weight of animals caused by feeding the animals a better ration, or reduction 

 in use of summer range that might accompany increased production fron: 

 meadows. Additional studies will be required to analyze these possibilities. 



If the proper conditions exist, many ranchers in the mountain meadow 

 areas of Colorado can increase production of hay from their meadows eco- 

 nomically by: (1) Applying approximately 50 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer 

 per acre; (2) periodically seeding adapted legumes into the existing sod; 

 (3) or both. If commercial feed supplements or hay of better quality is 

 needed to obtain the desired winter gains on weaner calves^ probably it 



