The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-03-02
'@RRYING CAPACITY OF
IRRIGATED PASTURES

10 IdhSu from Tie ldTlu SupoFlllIeuu-
rent's report of work for 1915, re-
Gently published by the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture:
The test in which two COWS were
pastured during the season of 1914
on three quarter-acre plats of mixed
grasses was continued during 1915.
Two of these plats were seeded in
1913, one to a mixture of awnless
brome-grass, orchard grass, peren-
NAL rye-grass, meadow fescue, tall
fescue, Italian rye grass, Kentucky
blue grass, and tall oat-grass, and the
other to the same mixture of grasses
with the addition of alsike clover and
white clover. The third plat in the
test was seeded in 1911 to mixture
of awnless bronze grass, orchard
grass, redtop and timothy. In this
test the two plats seeded in 1918
were placed in one Enclosure and
pastured alternately with the one
plat seeded in 1911. The COWS were
on the part of the pasture contain
ing the two plats for periods of from
10 days to two weeks and on the
single plat for periods of five to
seven days. Irrigation was applied
whenever necessary to each part Of
the pasture as soon as the COWS were
removed. In 1915 each part was ir-
rigated seven times. One-half of each
part of the pasture was top-dressed
with stable manure at the rate Of
10 tons per acre in the fall of 1914.
The beneficial effect of this treatment
hn 0f hn Cd,
very apparent during the pasturing
season.
The pasture period extended from
April % to October 8. During this
time two grade Jersey cows were
used. They were kept off pasture
during stormy weather for an ag-
gregate of Ia days, so that they were
actually on the pasture $50 days. On
the days that they were off pasture
each COW was fed Is pounds of al
falfa hay a day. The pasture fur.
nished ample feed for the cows until
September. l.. From that date to the
end of the pasturing period each COW
was fed Is pounds of alfalfa hay
day in addition to the pasture,
One of the cows freshened in Oc-
tober, 1914, so she was milking at
the beginnin gof the test. She became
dry by September Is and calved
again on October Is. The other COW
freshened on June 25, so she was
dry during the first part of the test.
The COW that was giving milk at the
beginning of the test was given
supplemental feed of six pounds of
chopped corn a day from the begin
ming of the pasture period to June
Is, and the other cow received no
grain until July l. From July l to
October IA, during the first half of
each month, each COW was fed daily
six pounds of grain mixture con-
slsting of equal parts of chopped
corn. wheat and oats. No grain was
fed during the second half of each
month. The increase in milk flow
during the period when grain was
fed was in no case sufficient to pay
for the grain.
The COWS produced during the sea-
son of 164 days a total Of 5,247
pounds of whole milk and 213.7
pounds of butter fat. At the local
market prices, the value Of the butter
lat produced was $52.O7. During
the entire period a total of 882
pounds of grain and 1880 pounds
If hay was fed. If the hay be valued
1t Sc ton and the grain at $1.25
per hundredweight, the total cost Of
he supplemental feed was 1882.
This amount, deducted from $52.O7,
he value of the butter fat, leaves a
'eturn of $36.15 for the pasturage
produced on three-fourths OF an
lcre. This is at the rate of $48.2O
yer acre.
The carrying capacity of these
hree quarter-acre plats in 1914 was
he same as in 1915. Two COWS were
,arried thru the pasturage season
ZACH year on the three fourths of an
.cre. This is at the rate OF eight
,ows on three acres. The results in |
.915 indicate that the pastures are
improving with age. These facts, as
veil as the return of $48.20 per
ere secured in 1915, show clearly
hat irrigated pastures can be MADE
uccessful on the Huntley project.
letting Some Return From Irrigated
PASTURES CIl0 rHSU LOtH
In the same report the writer dis
usses a preliminary test to deter
nine whether any returns can be
,otten from irrigated pastures DUR
ng the first year, when ordinarily
UGH pastures are not used. HE says:
"a preliminary test was made or
ight pasturing during the latter part
+ the season Of 1915. One of the
plats that was planted
Without a nurse crop was pastured
Turing the latter part of the season
IN August 27, 1915, yearling heif-
r was placed on the quarter-acre
lat. where she remained until Oc-
ober 80 except during eight stormy
avs. when she was kept up and fed
Italia hay at the. rate Of 20 pounds
day. While she was kept on pas
IRE no hay or grain was fed. The
uarter-acre plat furnished abundant
eed for a total of So days. me
1eight of the heifer at the beginning
{ the test was GIG pounds and at
ne close 73O pounds, the gain being
IA pounds. If this be valued at
We cents a pound. the gain made
as worth 1910 from the quarter
ere. or at the rate Of $22.SO per
ere for the first years pasture.
cat the time the test was started Il