The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-06-17

which will make the most beef at least
cost.
/ The bureau of animal industry Of
the department of agriculture has for
several years been studying the prob
lem of utilizing these feeds to best ad-
vantage. In 1914 the department, in
cooperation with the West Virginia
agricultural station, began a series of
beef cattle experiments in Greenbrier
county, West Virginia, to solve beef
production problems in the Appalach
ian mountain region. This station is
located in the southwestern part of
the state, in the blue grass area, and
among the problems undertaken are:
First, most economical and satisfac
tory rations for wintering beef steers;
second, the influence of these rations
upon the gains Of steers the following
summer from grass.
The results Of the experiments ap-
ply not to West Virginia, alone, but to
all states having similar conditions,
which, in fact, includes the whole Ap-
palachian region, extending from
southern Tennessee to New York. 1t
is within this general area that abund-
ant pastures, cut-oVer and waste land
is found producing abundant pasture
of good quality for beef production.
The summers are not too hot, nor the
winters too cold The water supply
is plentiful, being provided by springs
and small streams that gush out Of
the limestone hillsides and down the
valleys unpolluted by communicating
influences
The South, with it's delightful eli
mate and long grazing period Of ap.
prOximately ten months of the year,
where carpet grass, Bermuda and other
kinds almost equally as nutritious
abound over the plains, the cut-over
regions and waste lands of this area
The Great Lakes region, properly
termed Glover land" where millions
of acres today are not completely util-
lied by live stock, all provide abund
ant pasture that is well adapted for
beef production.
The West. with its vast plains, wide
prairies and the resources of forests
and streams, may be used by the beef
producer to even better advantage,
although over stocking is factor not
to be overlooked
Will this vast area of unused pas.
ture be used for immediate produC-
ton? No. it's more difficult prob
lem than that. To use some Of it
involves an expense not justified by
present prices of cattle.
The danger of overstocking, with
its attendant loss in profit, is frequent
ly emphasized, but the decreased re-
turns due to understanding should be
considered as we'll When the num-
Der of cattle on a given area fail TO
keep the grass st lrt, that which is al
lowed to grow becomes less palatable
and less nutritive. Moreover, objec-
tionable weeds are certain to gain
foothold. BY utilizing to the fullest
extent the land devoted to pasture,
the value of the land is increased and
greater profit results. A system of
careful management makes it possible
to use higher-priced land, than has
heretofore been used for profitable
beef production. The intelligent uses
of pasture gives a return which com
pares favorably with that from the
cropping system, but requires less la
/ Dor 1t is not possible to state just
how many cattle should be allowed
to the acre for grazing purposes, be-
cause this is determined largely by
the quality and stand of grass, which
! is, Of course, variable.
In most sections the beef producer
who will obtain the largest net re-
! turns is the man who will stock his
pastures so that the grass is kept
fairly short but in good condition
throughout the grazing period
Nv. S. S.