The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-03-29
SUDAN GRASS MAKES
EXCELLENT PASTURE,
SAYS STATE COLLEGE
Experiments Made by the Agron-
omy Department Prove Worth;
Cows Thrive on II and Butter
Fat Results Are Good.


state College. n. NJ. March 90
An experiment OF the agronomy de-
partment during the season OF 1913
indicated that sudan grass might
prove to be an excellent pasture grass.
Hence April 10. 1915. a seven-acre
tract was seeded { o this grass. at the
rate OF twenty pounds OF seed per
acre. using an ordinary Hoosier disk
drill for the purpose. This piece OF
land was divided into two equal fields.
which were arranged so that they
could be conveniently irrigated and
pastured alternately. By June ~,
just sixty days after seeding. the grass
was In excellent condition for pastur-
Ing. averaging eighteen inches In
height, when twelve dairy cows. aver
aging 1865 pounds In weight. were
turned on 20 n OF the fields. After
q few days Il was found that twelve
cows we're o sufficient to catch up
with the growth the pasture was maxi
ing, and eight more. larger cows,
average weight iiS6 pounds. were
added for twelve days. wher the pas
ture was reduced to about the right
condition and the extra cows removed.
The two fields were irrigated and pas
tured alternately during the season,
the change being made at intervals OF
about two weeks. Heavy rains came
about the middle Of October. making
these fields too muddy for use. when
the COWS were taken on and the ex-
...uf.n.rf afa.aHs lac an Nas.r - ~
vember. twenty-five head OF dry cows
and young stock were run on the two
fields FOR a period OF eight days. and
had an abundant supply OF feed dur
ing that time. Six OF the twelve
cows that were Kept on the pasture
constantly. day and night. from June
10 to October l3, had a small grain
ration. averaging fOur pounds per
head. The twelve COWS were divided
into two lots, and the grain ration
was ~slternated from one lot 10 the
other every thirty days: so the cow
received exactly the same treatment
and were practically in tn, same rel
alive condition at the close of the
experiment. The result OF this part
OF the experiment shows hat It does
not pay TO feed a grain ration TO cows
running on good pasture. During the
four months that they were on pas
ture they gained an average OF nine
teen pounds per head. and gave a.
pounds OF milk. which produced
1860 pounds Of butterfat. The eight
dairy n beef cows that were tenn
porariiy on the pasture gained eight
cen pounds per head, in twelve days.
The pasture carried an average Of
cows per acre for four months.
was no indication Of poisoning
by p~asturing this grass in November.
after the frost came. though ihe saine
care should be taken when pasturing
Sudan grass az when pasturing any
OF the other sorghums. Judging from
this single trial. sudan grass should
prove TO be one Of the best ANIMALS
for pasture during the season OF h
year covered b ythis experiment. II
is Of good quality. makes quick
growth after being pastured OF and
responds promptly to irrigation. II
il closely related to johnson grass
and very mucn resembles IL, but does
have the rootstocks that make
Johnson grass a pest. 4 number OF
years experience with Johnson grass
proved IL TO be excellent for pasture
but because of the difficulty of eradi-
eating IL when II once gets a foothold.
its use is not recommended. except In
Isolated fields intended for permanent
pasture. In composition and digseti-
for both pasture and hay sudan
grass Is about the same as Johnson
grass or timothy. The Sudan hay has
more protein than johnson grass hay,
but is a little lower in fats, nitrogen,
free extract and crude fiber than the
For pasture. the place of Sudan
grass and other ANIMALS u to supple
msnt the permanent pastures during
summer. They are NJ "A disad-
because the ground h necer-
,arily soft and subject 90 injury from
.rampling. ever under favorable con
because t'.ey do not form q
turf. Some Of the plants, too, are
up By the roots az the iirst
On this account, SUDAN
grass should not be p%asiured the hrst
line until IS 10 - inches high par
on sandy or loamy soils.
]