NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS FIELD STATION, 1913-1922 73 
The initial and the final weights are the averages of the three weigh- 
ings. The cattle are always weighed at the same period of the day. 
In order to keep a record of the individual steers, they are branded 
with serial numbers. 
After the initial weights are obtained the cattle are divided into 
uniform lots for the various pastures. The initial weight of 10 steers 
is about 7,500 pounds. The cattle have free access to water at all 
times. 
Fic. 8—Two-year-old steers used in the cooperative grazing experiment at the Northern Great Plains 
Field Station. This lot was on the 70-acre pasture. Photographed in October, 1922 
GAINS OF THE CATTLE 
The grazing capacity of a pasture is determined indirectly by the 
gains of the cattle. If the cattle continue to make gains that are 
relatively high the native vegetation is not being damaged by over- 
grazing. The grazing experiment has been in progress long enough 
to establish the maximum gains per head that may be considered 
normal. The seasonal gains of the cattle in the 70-acre pasture are 
given in Table 30. This pasture has produced the maximum gains 
per head. The quantity of available feed for grazing has not been 
a limiting factor in the production of gains in this pasture. While 
the total gain for the season is the measure of ultimate importance, 
the gaims for the various months are also significant. Table 30 
shows that the highest gains are made during June, and a slight loss 
is recorded for October. The weather influences the gains during 
October. Cold weather often occurs in that month, and the cattle 
lose weight because of shrinkage. 
The average gains of the cattle from all pastures are shown in 
Table 31 for the period the experiment has been in progress. The 
highest gains per head are made in the 100-acre and 70-acre pastures. 
