Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-03-04
Sudan Grass

Few farmers are aware Of the eX-
cellent results obtained in pasturing
dairy cows on Sudan grass at the
New Mexico Agricultural College
last year. For their benefit we wish
to give the following paragraphs
from the bulletin issued in April, 1918
on the subject Of Sudan grass. The
bulletin also contains much other val
liable information on the cultural
methods of this excellent crop. The
results on pasturing the crop follow
For the first pasture experiment
a tract Of land containing $40 acres
was seeded to Sudan grass April 10.
1916. at the rate of 20 pounds of
seed per acre, an ordinary Hoosier
disk drill being used Tor the purpose.
This piece Of land was divided into
two equal fields, which were arranged
so that they could be conveniently ir-
rigated and pastured alternately.
They were designated Field A and
Field B.
by June 10, just 60 days after
seeding, the grass was in excellent
condition for pasturing. averaging %
inches in height, when ~ dairy cows,
averaging 1858 pounds in weight,
were turned onto one of the fields.
After few days il was found that
twelve cows were not sufficient to
catch up with the growth the pasture
was making, and eight additional
larger cows, averaging llS6 pounds
in weight, were added for twelve
days, when the pasture was reduced
to the right condition and then the
extra cows were removed The two |
fields were irrigated and pastured al /
ternately during the season, the /
changes being made at intervals Of
about two weeks. Heavy rains came
about the middle Of October, making /
these fields muddy and the weather |
too cold for the grass 70 grow much. 4
The cows were taken off the pasture
October 10 and the experiment closed
October 20; but still later, in Novem-
Der. % head OF dry cows, beef cattle
and young stock were run on the two
fields for n period of eight days, and
he pasture furnished an abundant
supply Of feed during that time.
Each pasture was irrigated as
soon as the cows were taken off. and
Turing the IL to Is days between the
.hanges the grass grew from 10 to
2 inches in height. The last week
# the experiment, after the rains be-
ran and the nights became cool, the
pasture temporarily stopped growing
md the cows were fed an average Of
20 pounds Of alfalfa hay per head
six Of the twelve cows were kept on
he pasture constantly, day and night.
rom June 10 TO October 10, had a
mall grain ration, averaging about
our pounds per head. The twelve
ows we're divided into two lots. and
he grain ration was alternated from
ne lot to the other every thirty days,
o that the cows received exactly the
anne treatment and were practically
\ the same relative condition at the
lose Of the experiment. The result
{ this part Of the experiment shows
hat it does not. pay to feed a grain
alton to dairy cows running on a
God Sudan grass pasture. During
he four months that they were on
asture they made a total gain Of
22s pounds, an average Of 100
ounds per head, 2s,63s pounds Of
iilk. which produced 1.145 pounds Of
utter fat. The eight dairy and beef
'ws that were temporarily on the
asture gained 20 pounds per head
: a total Of 100 pounds in twelve
lys- The pasture carried an aver
&c Of LA COW per acre for 116
lys."