The Influence of Grazing Management and Plant Associations on the Chemical Composition of Pasture Plants 1

G pasture h~anagement means a system of fertilization and. grazing which ir/s~res that an animal is able to consume, during each day of the grazing season, the maximum amount of feed of a chemical composition suitable for the maintenance of health and condition and for the production of milk, meat, bone, wool, or other product desired. The technic of grazing management can best be studied by careful observation of the habits of grazing animals (Fig. ~). Under the conditions prevailing in the northeastern states cattle show a preference for pasturage consisti-ng of short leafy herbage. They may graze such herbage to within half an inch of the surface of the ground, and continue steadily without raising their heads for periods of more than 3° minutes, the head moving from side to side as the cow slowly moves forward. There is a limi~ to the length of the herbage which can be consumed rapidly and easily in this way and a dense sward with a height of about 4 inches appears to approach the ideal (Fig. ~). The senses of sight, taste, and smell appear to used in determining the herbage to be eaten. The leaf is preferred to the stem. Short young herbage low in fibre is eaten in preference to old, tall, stemmy, and highly fibrous herbage. Certain grasses, legumes, and weeds are eaten in preference to others. Herbage growing in the vicinity of cattle droppings is avoided even when luxuriant in appearance, and this appears to be associated with the odor from the droppings rather than with the flavor of the herbage. A grazing animal not only removes herbage when grazing but also treads heavily on the turf. This treading action of stock influences sward formation considerably. The grazing habits of animals determine the type of pasture required. The most desirable pasture is one which permits a grazing animal to consume the maximum amount of feed each day during the grazing season. Observations by Woodward (~ 7)~ and other investigators indicate that a good cow in a good pasture can consume about ~5o pounds of green herbage containing about 3° pounds of dry matter in a day. Cattle do not graze continuously during a e4-hour period, however, the actual period of grazing is confined to about one third of the day, the remaining two thirds being spent in resting and chewing the cud (~4). Naturally the time spent in grazing, resting, and chewing will vary with the kind of grazing animal, the type of pasture,