Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-04-21
FARMERS CAUTIONED NOT TO
PASTURE CATTLE TOO EARLY
IN SEASON.
TOO MUCH WATER IN
EARLY-GRoWlNG GRASS
Article on Spring Feeding Issued by
Hugh Van Pelt Attracts Wide Atten-
ton-Eeonomy to Feeding Roushase
Even at High Prices Rather Than to

Waterloo. April 2i.-Tha warning to
farmers against sending their cows to
| pasture too early, which was sounded
by Hugh Van Pelt, was considered SO
! timely and well based that a request
for 1000 copies mas been received for
| If Michigan in anxious 70 observe this
| warning it should De needed by the
/ farmers of our own state in order that
what they hope 10 save in feed and
| labor will not be lost in the decreased
pasturage and milk production, accord
| ing to Mr.. Van Pelt, who also urges
the employment OF cultivation and fer
i tilization methods 20 prevent the pas
| lures from becoming poorer each year.
Following is the article which has
attracted such wide attention:
/ An excellent rule TO follow is to
keep. the cows in the barn yard and
upon winter feed ten days to two
weeks after the decision has been made
! to send them TO pasture.
| Water in Early Grass.
| Early spring grasses are largely wa
i! ter. They contain very little feeding
are first turned into pasture, even tho
| it may be in the early season, they in
crease in milk flow. This does not
| indicate, however, that they are secur-
| ing a great abundance of food nu-
trents. 1t morely likely indicates that
theg rass is serving as a tonic and a
stimulant to encourage cows to trans
fer from their bodies the nutrients
Stn ~
winter.
After cows get taste Of green
grass, they do not eat their silage and
other winter feeds with the same avid
ity they did before leaving the barn
yard. Consequently. # they do pro-
duce more largely. It is at the expense
of their bodies, and the loss in produc-
ton will come ,wo-fold in later
months.
Pasturaee Is Injured.
Furthermore. if cows are turned
into pasture too early. the grass is not
given an opportunity to get good
start SO il will grow well thruout the
season. 1t is kept close TO the ground
and when finally summer drouths ar
rive, pastures resemble board floors by
the absence Of feed produced. Grass
should be six inches high before cows
are turned into it. Then a sufficient
start will have heer gained so that
turnout the season. unless over-pas-
tured. an abundance OF feed will be
furnished.
When grass attains height of six
inches sufficient nutrilnent is stored
so that the COW IS enabled during her
grazing hours to secure 2 volume Of
feed large enough that instead of
acting as stimulant, it furnishes
nutr!ment out of which the COW can
make milk in abundance with ease |
Changing cows from winter ra-
tons to grass is radical change. No
radical change in feeding should be
made suddenly. 1t will, therefore, be |,
advisable to gradually accustom the /
cows 20 pasturage. In doing so. the an
imal body is protected against ahnor- |
NAL stimulation and will retain thru |
out the season much of the stamina and ,
energy stored up from expensive win |
ter rations. Let the COWS go to pas /
ture two hours the first day, three hours !
the second day, four hours the third |
day, and thus change gradually from |
winter quarters TO spring environment. !
In the same manner, the winter ration /
should be decreased slowly and regu- !
larly that the increase in milk flow
which follows will be permanent rath- |
er than of a temporary character.
An Ultimate Saving.
True as it is that grain and !
roughages are expensive this year, !
nevertheless it will be saving rath-
er than waste or extravagance to I
continue feeding dry feeds. especially {
hay, until after the cow has become !
well accustomed to the green grass |
and refuses to eat with avdity the |
food she lived on during the winter
Grain should not be taken entire |
ly away from cows that are produc- |
ing largely A certain amount OF food !
nutrients are absolutely necessary for !
the manufacture of milk and butterfat |
Knowing that pasture grass contains !
50 per cent or more OF water, it is not !
req sonable for the feeder to believe 1t /
possible for the cow 20 consume a
large enough amount of green stuff to
furnish nutrients for an exceptionally |
large flow Of milk It Is true she will
continue to yield largely on grass
alone for period of time, or SO long
as the green, succulent paiatable, cas-
ily- ilgeEted grass stimulates her to do