ECONOMICS OF FORAGE PRODUCTION 



IN THE 



MOUNTAIN MEADOW AREAS OF COLORADO 



A Progress Report 



by 



Elmer C. Hunter, Agricultural Economist 

 Farm Economic Research Division 



SUMMARY 



Production of hay is a major cost of ranching in the mountain meadow areas 

 of Colorado. Declining yields per acre, and the relatively high feed require- 

 ments per animal unit in these areas that result from the rather long winter 

 feeding period, justify special scrutiny of the management practices and the 

 economics of producing hay on these ranches. 



Recent research work in the Colorado mountain meadow areas has shown 

 that certain management practices can be used to increase the quantity or 

 change the quality of hay produced on the average meadow. 



The results of feeding trials carried on in conjunction with this research 

 and economic data gathered from ranch operators reveal that certain of the 

 management practices have relatively favorable input-output ratios. Under 

 proper irrigation, the most promising practices are simple to carry out and 

 are capable of increasing the efficiency of the ranch enterprise. If the mead- 

 ows are not too rough, if their soil profile is favorable, responses to certain 

 management practices exist. 



Ranch operators should consider three types of hay for their winter feeding 

 programs: (1) The base feed for the main herd; (2) the base feed for the 

 weaner calves; and (3) if the base feed is of too low quality, supplemental 

 feed, mainly for weaners. In addition, some operators may have potential 

 increases in forage production, which would increase the size of operation. 

 Economies associated with increase in scale of operation, in some instances 

 may overcome certain diseconomies associated with forage production. 



