Milford chronicle., 1934-11-16
Does Pasture Reduce
The Cost OF Producing
Milk In Delaware?
By R: o. DAUsMAN

A report issued by one of tn
many new departments at Washing
ton advises farmers, in these time
OF low-priced milk, to reduce tn
cost Of producing milk by maxim
greater use of pastures. There is n
question that this advice is issue,
with the best of intentions and prob
ably is sound advice for the north
ern states where pastures grow
throughout the season. However
Delaware Agricultural Experimen
Station Bulletin 1870, entitled "Eco
nomic Readjustments in the Dairl
Industry in Delaware" throws ser
iOus doubt ,On this contention from
the standpoint of Delaware condi
tions. 1t is also doubtful If this con.
tention is true for the other states
on the southern border of the cas-
tern dairy territory.
This study indicates when allow
ance is made for differences in the
amount of grain fed that the num-
her of acres of rotation pasture per
animal in Delaware normally has no
marked influence on milk produc-
tion. That is, those farms which
have two acres of pasture per ami
NAL sell no more milk per COW than
those farms which have one acre of
pasture per animal: These results
apply particularly to the dairy areas
in central Delaware.
This does not indicate that pas
ture has no influence ON milk pro-
duction. 1t is common knowledge
that spring pasture does stimulate
milk secretion. But it appears that
cows get this stimulus regardless of
whether the acreage of pasture per
animal is large or small.
These results may be contrary to
general belief but observation and
comments of some dairymen sub
stantiate them. Usually, Delaware
dairyfnen turn on to rotation pas
ture about May 10 to is. During
normal year the pastures are graz
ed TO the ground by about July
and afford little pasture of conse-
quence the remainder Of the season,
possibly with the exception Of a
short period In the fall. The pasture
season proper, then, lasts Tor per-
iod of only six to seven weeks. A
dairyman in southern New Castle
county remarked that it Is an unus-
ual thing If he has pasture after
July l.
This condition is not true for
New York and the New England
States. In those states with the cool
summer weather permanent pasture
usually grows well throughout the
season. Delaware lies south of the
natural pasture belt. With her hot
summers permanent pasture and rO-
tatiOn pasture normally go into a
semi-dOrman condition by mid sum
lner. 1t should be added that this
study shows for a season of abnor-
mally heavy rainfall and an abnor-
mally low temperature that the ac-
reage of pasture does affect milk
During a cool season
with heavy rainfall the farms hav-
ing the larger acreage of pasture
per animal do sell more milk per !
COW than those farms with the small |
Ter acreage of pasture. However, |
this is not true for the average sea-
son.
The logical conclusion up to this |
point is that the way out for Della !
ware dairymen would be to fertilize
heir pastures and give them better
Delaware Agriculture Ex-
pertinent Station Bulletin 189, pub
ished by the Agronomy Department,
gives the results of tests made in
he application of fertilizers and
on pasture in Delaware.
These results show that the fertil-
zed plots make a more luxuriant
growth during the spring months
han the unfertilized plots. However,
Ifter about July l there is no mark
d difference in the growth on the
ertilized and on the unfertilized
lots. Apparently, Delaware rotation
assures go into a semi-dormant
ondition in midsummer despite :
my treatment that can be given
hem. Bulletin 189 indicates that
udan grass gives promise as a sup /
Elementary dairy pasture in Della {
'are.
Although the results OF this study '
ppear to be paradox they appar- (
ntly do not form a basis for alter I
lg greatly the cropping system in
he dairy areas in Delaware. Be ]
ause of the relatively cheap land q
nd relatively low fertility it does +
OF pay to crop Delaware land too t
cavity. It is probably good manage \
tent to carry about two-fifths of
le land in hay and pasture in CEN Z
al Delaware. 1t is also apparent )
lat Delaware dairymen as whole
D not over-estimate the value of o
lsture In milk production. At least y
lirymen who keep the larger herds q
, not increase the acreage Of pas 8
ire in proportion to the number of Z
,ws. They simply have less pasture Y
sr COW. However, this study may Z Z
nd to keep some amateur agricnl- :
rists from attaching too much Inn = 7
,rtance to rotation pasture in the 9
production OF milk in Del q
ware. and possibly in some of the .,
.ar-by states. II,