BULLETIN 1454, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
determining the carrying capacity of pastures, and in the use of 
other pertinent facts pertaining to beef production. The information 
obtained in this study is also an aid to cattlemen in deciding upon the 
methods best suited to their conditions and in estimating the probable 
results to be secured. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLINT HILLS SECTION 
The topography of the Flint Hills section varies from gently rolling 
to rough and broken. Much of the soil on the hills is rocky, con- 
taining fragments of the flint and limestone rocks from which the soil 
is derived. The farm land is located along the creek and river valleys. 
The soil containing the flint rock is usually deeper and heavier than 
location of the section in kansas in which 
the Cattle Study was Conducted 
Chase County. All data were obfa/ned in this county 
The approximate ex-tent of the Flin t Hills Region 
WttM)A Extent of the area surrounding the Flint Hills Region 
VfmmM i n which the results obtained in this study are applicable 
Fig. 1.— The Flint Hills lie in the eastern part of Kansas 
that containing limestone rock, makes better growth of pasturage, 
and does not dry up so quickly in dry weather. 
The principal grasses in these pastures are bluestem and the native 
grama grasses with some Kentucky bluegrass in the lower and more 
moist places, and some buffalo grass on the high, level stretches. The 
general farming operations conducted in the creek and river valleys 
within the pasture district consist chiefly of the production of feed 
crops which, although used principally for horses and milk cows, can be 
used for the wintering of beef-cow herds and those steers which are car- 
ried through winter. Alfalfa, corn, wheat, the sorghums, oats, and 
prairie hay are the principal crops. 
The amount and distribution of the average yearly rainfall and of 
the rainfall in 1921, 1922, and 1923 at Bazaar which is centrally 
located in Chase County, are given in Table 1. The spring and 
summer rainfall is of particular importance, although the moisture 
stored in the soil during the winter months aids in starting the grass 
in the spring and helps to keep it growing during the grazing season. 
