Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-04-29
Early ISn of Pastures.

Farm stock of all kinds become tired
of dry hay and straw at this season of
the year, and desire to escape from the
restraints of the farmyard, that is likely
to be wet, dirty, and uncomfortable.
Especially is this the case with sheep.
They sight the first grass that makes its
appearance and seek to reach it. They
will travel mile to get taste of green
grass in the early part of the spring.
They are likely to waste much of the dried
food that is given them at this season
of the year Farmers are often impatient
to get their stock off their hands as soon
as there is an opportunity to engage in
spring work in the field and garden.
They have become tired of feeding an
imals, and have little time to attend to
their wants. By allowing them to go into
the pastures when they desire to go they
are saved considerable trouble. In not
a few cases farmers are short of hay at
this season of the year. They want to
keep their best hay for their work horses
and their cattle, sheep, and young stock
will not eat that which is inferior They
have no money to buy hay, and the roads
are in so bad condition that it is very
difficult to haul heavy loads over them.
There are no roots or ensilage on the
grains is likely to be quit small.
The temptations to turn farm animals
into pasture very early are many and
strong. Still, farmers should hesitate
about doing it unless the surface of their
grazing land is quite high and dry and
the sod is firm and strong. Much sod is
injured by having animals walk over it
when 1t is soft and filled with water. The
feet of cattle and horses sink into it, ex-
pose the roots of red clover and many of
the best grasses, press many fodder plants
so far into the ground that they die, and
leave the surface of the ground in very
uneven condition. A sod treated in this
way will never afford good pasturage
again. Mang acres of the pasture land
are almost completely ruined by having
animals turned upon it early in the spring.
The condition of all forage plants is
greatly injured by being fed off very ear
ly in the season. The matter stored up
In the roots of grass and clover during
the winter affords the material for form
ing the first leaves in the spring. These
leaves are necessary to assist the plants
In their future growth. They help restore
to growing condition. All kinds of
vegetation grow by the aid of existing
vegetation. If the first leaves are re-
moved as soon as they appear in spring
the plants are deprived of the means of
making strong and healthy growth.
As rule animals are in ured by be-
ing turned into pastures very early in
the spring. As soon as they get taste
ofgrass their appetite for hay, and corn
fodder is destroyed. The first growth of
grass contains very little nutriment 1t
is chiefly composed of water. 1t contains
scarcely any dry material. hundred
pounds of it cut snd dried would produce
but few pounds of hay. 1t is quite too
laxative to be eaten by animals that have
had little but dry food for several months.
lt Will not make much bone, fat or mus
cies' 1t not infrequently happens that
animals lose in weight and fall off in gen
eral condition after they have been turn.
ed INTO the pasture in the spring. As the
feed Is scanty they travel long distances
to obtain 1t, and it does satisfy their
munger. The fatigue in walking over
TURF that breaks beneath their feet at
every step makes them weak. Sheep
thrive better than cattle when turned in
to pasture IN the early spring. as thew
disturb the SOD less, while they generally
eat some of the grass of last seasons
growth. Sheep like change of food.
and unless they obtain it at the Droner
time they are likely to lose their anne
titles and to become restless and uneasy.
1t is better for the animals and mucb
better for the crop of grass to keep stock
out of ordinary pastures till the plant has
obtained good start and the ground is
tally dry. After leaves are spread over
the sarface of the ground they prevent
the feet of the cattle from breaking