GRAZING INDUSTRY OF THE BLUEGRASS REGION. 3 
produced on the limestone clays. Other soils may produce luxuriant 
grass, but the cattle fail to finish properly; they may do all right until 
they are 2 years old, when they are usually sold to the farmers who 
have limestone pastures. 
Ellett 1 has shown that there is a wide variation in the protein 
content of Kentucky bluegrass grown in different localities. The 
protein in the water-free material ranges from 10.22 to 19.98 per cent. 
It is interesting to note that the grasses analyzing the highest in pro- 
Fig. 2.— Steers grazing in the bluegrass region. Many thousands of such steers intended for 
export are finished on grass. 
tein were grown in localities well known for the excellence of the 
grass-fattened cattle produced. 
EFFECT OF WINTER GRAZING ON THE SOD. 
There is no question that it is more economical to winter cattle 
which have free range over a pasture in the bluegrass region than to 
feed them in small yards. It requires an abundance of grass at all 
times to produce 350 to 400 pounds of gain on a steer between May 1 
and October 1, and there should be considerable grass left when the 
cattle are sold. This is utilized by the newly purchased stockers. 
1 Ellett, "W. B. The bluegrass of southwest Virginia. Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. ISO, p. S9-96. 1909. 
