; TEXAS AGRICULTURAL$TJKI3 ENQQKSTATION \ , l‘ ‘w! ,5) c. H. McDOWELL, ACTING Dilfilétfiqgflp. College Station, Texas " “S; if ’ BULLETIN NO. 666 JANUARY 1945 PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY by E. K. CROUCH AND J. H: JONES ‘Eivision of Range Animal Husbandry AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS GIBB GILCHRIST, President E46-245-6M-L180 [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] Highly productive pasturage can be developed in the East Texas Timber Country. Such pasturage has been established on an old worn-out creek bottom field at the Lufkin Station. The methods used included clearing, drainage, the application of superphosphate and the seeding of suitable legumes and grasses. The application of approximately 200 pounds of phosphoric acid per acre permitted the establishment of adapted clovers and grasses and increased both the yield and quality of pasturage. Following establishment, it has been evident that a fertilized and highly productive pasture is permanent only as it may be maintained. If not maintained by proper usage and occasional mowing, it may become unproductive in a very few years. Pastures at the Station show beneficial effect from phosphate applications after 9 years, but there was some decline in production after 5 years. Excellent cattle have been produced on the Station pastures. Apparently the main reason why livestock fail to develop- good scale on native pasturage in the region is that the forage is de- ficient in feeding value much of the year. Improved fertilized pas- tures provide more feed and feed of higher quality for a longer period than native pastures. Improved fertilized and mowable pasturage may provide good grazing for 250 to 280 days and may also provide both hay for winter feed and seed for the improve- ment of other pastures. CONTENTS Y_ P Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5' Steps in Pasture Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. l Pasturage and Cattle Highly Developed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Certain Plants Become Established . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . ..1 The Clovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 The Grasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. l Fertilization Necessary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 Control of Forage Growth Necessary _ , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Improved Pasturage High in Feed Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16a Supplemental Feeds Needed in Winter ...................... ,, Pasture Improvement Accomplished Gradually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Literature Cited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _' PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER I COUNTRY* i T1‘. K. Crouch, Agronomist in Charge, East Texas Pasture Investigations Station, Lufkin, Texas. ” J. H. Jones, Animal Husbandman. ‘Information is presented here which has accrued in the course of de- fveloping and using an improved permanent pasture at the Lufkin StatiOH ,in the period 1934 to 1944. The Station was established to study means S of improving and using old fields and cut-over land for pasture purposes. Pasture demonstrations in the area, while showing that permanent pas- Qture can be greatly improved emphasized the need for additional informa- lltion regarding the dependability of various pasture plants and the means of establishing and maintaining them. At the outset it appeared that to develop the pasturage and to maintain a breeding herd of beef cattle on the Station for test purposes would also afford information on the prac- ¥ticability of pasture development in the area. a The Station, located '7 miles west of Lufkin and consisting of 229 acres, “is fairly typical of the area in vegetation, topography, soil, and condition- T It contains both creek bottom and upland. The creek bottom land is com- posed of the Bibb soils, which according to Carter (1) occupy about 15 ipercent of the East Texas Timber Country. The upland is composed largely ‘jof the Caddo and Lufkin sandy loams which occupy a high percentage ii of the upland in the region. The elevation above sea level is approximately f 230 feet for the bottom land and 270 feet for the upland. y The average length of growing season, based on records for 28 years Qat the Nacogdoches Station, 25 miles north, has averaged 247 days with the first and last killing frosts being November 15 and. March 13. The tem- Qggperature seldom drops below 20 degrees or goes higher than 100 degrees F. rzThe days of the year are about equally divided between clear, cloudy, and fepartly cloudy. During the ten years, 1934-43, the rainfall has averaged .1851 inches annually. It has been fairly well distributed, ranging from ifi2.5 to 3 inches in July and August to 6 inches in November and May, but damaging rains and hurtful dry periods have occurred. Cold, cloudy, and wet weather in winter and humid warmth in summer are somewhat l‘ ‘depressing to livestock. Conditions, however, generally favor a lush iforage in the spring and early summer, but the forages do not cure "and furnish palatable winter feed. ‘Credit is due H. F. Morris, E. B. Reynolds, J. M. Jones, W. T. Carter, R. L. Hensel, and . G. S. Fraps of the Station Staff; J T; Vantine, formerly in charger of Lufkin Station and l, citizens of Lufkin and the Hudson School Community for cooperation and assistance. 6 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION STEPS IN PASTURE DEVELOPMENT .Work was started in the spring of 1934 on an old-field bottom land: of 42.4 acres. Part of the area was in cultivation but part had been "if out for several years and was infested with sprouts. All of the area low in fertility and part was infested with crayfish. Sprouts were and the land was disked and dragged until fairly smooth. Drainage a were built, and then it was fenced into eight pasture areas of _ size. A view of the area at the time work was begun is shown in Fi L; The first seeding of grasses and lespedezas was made in May 1934f the clovers and winter growing grasses were seeded in November F5 disk grain drill being used. The eight pasture areas were seeded as des below: ‘p5 ‘s All pastures received a basal seeding of bermuda grass, carpet and native lespedeza. All pastures were seeded to Italian rye grass Fig. 1. The old-field creek bottom‘ land as it appeared when the pasture improvement in 1934. Compare with Figure 3A. ~,,» PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY ' 7 _ No. 7 which had rescue grass instead. Pastures 6 and 8 had dallis grass in addition to the other grasses. In addition to the grasses, Pasture 1 received subterranean clover and Korean lespedeza; Pasture 2, white clover and sericea lespedeza; Pasture 3, bur clover and Tennessee 76 lespedeza; lPasture 4, cluster clover and Kobe lespedeza; Pastures 5, 6, and 7, 110p lkclover; and Pasture 8 received the seeds of all grasses, lespedezas and clov- {ers used in the other pastures and in addition Carolina clover. The clovers, E Italian rye and rescue grass were planted to provide winter grazing while l the lespedezas were planted to supplement the summer growing grasses. The year of 1934 was very dry and the stands and growth of plants warranted little use. It became necessary, however, to provide a holding h place for 150 drought relief cows(*) during the summer, and these cattle i cleaned up all available forage. In April 1935 there were many bare spots within the area. Each kind f of lespedeza was reseeded in its respective pasture the first week in April, and 200 pounds per acre of 4-8-4 fertilizer was applied, with a 5 disc grain ii drill equipped with fertilizer distributor, the second week in May. Manure {was also scattered over the most barren spots. There were 23.28 inches {of rain during May, most of it in heavy downpours. Partial stands of picarpet, dallis, and bermuda grass appeared after the excessive rains éand consequent flood. During the summer, carpet and dallis grass made good growth but bermuda made little growth. Only Kobe, Korean, and com- tmon lespedeza came to a fair stand and made fair growth. The pastures ‘gwere grazed lightly during the summer and were mowed three times to control weeds and sprouts. Forage growth in 1936 was fair to good for the grasses and common lespedeza, but there was little to distinguish one pasture from another. p. The two-year old Hereford heifersfi) grazing these pastures made good egrowth; however, it was evident that more pasturage would be needed. E Current information indicated that the most practical means for producing more clover and grass was to use superphosphate; White and hop clovers twere the most aggressive; accordingly in October 1936 all pastures were iseeded with 2 pounds of hop clover, 3 pounds of White clover seed per acre, and 300 pounds of 34.39% (available P2045) superphosphate per acre ziwas applied broadcast. In addition rescue grass was seeded over all the ipastures at the rate of 10 pounds per acre. A similar application of E superphosphate was made in October 1937 to Pastures 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Eand all eight pastures were seeded with 5 pounds of Persian clover per " acre. Pasture 7 received only 180 pounds and pastures 2 and 8 »were skipped in order to have a basis for. determining the effect of this second application. The latter application of superphosphate Was made (")Government Drought Relief Program of 1934. P (flTwenty-nine grade Hereford heifers and one bull were purchased at weaning age in , Martin County, Texas. They were received at the Station December 8, 1934, and having been l‘ inoculated for tick fever were kept in dry lot during the winter of 1934-35. When turned to pasturage in April 1935, they averaged about 500 pounds. 8 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION for two reasons: First, more pasturage was needed and quickly in 0f to take care of the cattle for the heifers had calved in 1937 and it j planned to keep most of the heifer calves to compare their develop,» with that of theirmothers. Since the pastures had shown good respon1 the 1936 phosphate application, it seemed that to concentrate upon the; acres already established would afford additional pasturage more qui than to improve other land. Second, it appeared advisable, in view of good response from the first application, to see just how much more pasturage could be improved simply by adding more ,Phosphate. RESULTS Pasturage and Cattle Highly Developed: The pastures produced feed during 1935 and the heifers, being in their first year and pla with ticks, made little gain. It was necessary to start them on feed early} i‘ ‘ the fall and they were continued on feed until April 1936. With fair to 1W I forage growth in 1936 and with lespedeza furnishing good s-uxumer and _ is w , Fig. '2. White clover in pasturage, May 15, 1937 PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY 9 »_ pasturage, the heifers responded well and starting at an average of 620 _ pounds on March 26, attained 910 pounds on November 5, their greatest ~ weight of the year. The spring pasturage was greatly improved in 1937 due 5 mainly to white clover (see Figure 2). The heifers, then 3 years old, calved i in March and April and reached their greatest average Weight of the year, ~ 980 pounds, on May 27. Common lespedeza again furnished good pasturage i but the summer was very hot and the nursing calves tended to keep the l cows from making much gain. The pasturage was very productive through the years 1938 to 1942. The cows as 4-year-olds in 1938 reachedtheir maximum average weight, 1,175 pounds on November 1. In 1939, as 5-year-olds, the maximum average E weight was 1,170 pounds on July 12. Glovers were good in the spring, but r; the pasturage was not so abundant in summer and fall because of drouth. lThis was the last year that common lespedeza produced any appreciable 5 amount of feed. ' ' r w. yu-vvn w A The white clover apparently reached its peak in 1940. The cows became p fat early, increasing from an average weight of 1,105 pounds on March 20 _ to 1,230 pounds on April 17 and to 1,280 pounds on May 15. They stayed izfat, averaging more than 1,225 pounds per head from April 17 through f November 30. In 1941, another good year, the cows maintained an average ‘glweight of 1,275 pounds through May and June but declined rapidly in the Eofall. In 1942, as 8-year-olds and in 1943 as 9-year-olds, maximum weights ipwere attained the last of September; the respective average maximums 5 being 1,220 and 1,180 pounds. ~ Since the same cows remained on the Station from year to year, part ';.:_of their decline in weight for 1942 and 1943 may be attributed to age since cattle usually attain maximum development at 6 and 7 years. Observations show, however, that the white clover was less abundant than in 1940 and 1941 and that the percentage of hop clover had increased thus indicating fijsome loss of vigor in the pasturage, since the hop is considered to require ;less soil fertility than the white. Observations in the spring of 1944 further I indicated that the pastures were on the down grade although the 10-year- old cows were maintaining satisfactory condition and had calves at side. The improved acreage produces a large amount of pasturage in the spring and early summer, but dry weather often limits growth during late summer and fall. With improved pasturage just as with native pas- fturage, conditions seem to favor early spring calving‘. The lush spring pas- jf,turage induces heavy milk flow with rapid gains; however the very abundance Itof spring milk for young calves in instances necessitates milking to avoid udder damage. Summer calves just as in other regions encounter less ‘ffavorable conditions as heat and lessened milk flow. Bloat has not been a "élproblem. Perhaps the admixture of coarse grasses as carpet and dallis pre- Yvents any except mildvcases of bloat. - 10 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION is; lg I!‘ The amount and type of use to which the acreage has been subj i, is illustrated by the record for 1941, one of the good years. In that the average stocking rate was .73 animal units per acre. In additi 3,500 pounds of hay was harvested per acre, an amount sufficient to m _' tain a cow for about 200 days. The total production thus approximated _ maintenance of 1.3 animal units per acre. The pasture was, of c0 ‘j not in continual use nor did the animals gain at all times. Actually A‘ period in which the improved, fertilized bottom land pasture may be us or may produce gain, is pretty well defined by the dates of last and killing frosts, viz., March 13 to November 15, or 247 days. The extent of development reached by both pasturage and cattle indicated in Figure 3A. The mediocre flesh of cattle on unimproved tom land pasture near the Station is shown in Figure 3B. i ‘:1 Certain Plants Become Established: Although eight 5.3 acre blocks’ the bottom land were seeded to different mixtures at the start, all about the same plants in 1936. Liberal rates of seeding, overflows, I alternate grazing of the pastures combined to spread the same plants the entire area; also only certain plants persisted. The principal plants which have withstood all conditions of grazing, drouths, overflows, and freezes are: carpet grass, Ax affinis; dallis grass, Paspalum dilatatum; bermuda grass, Cynodon dac lon; white clover, Trifolium repens; hop clover, Trifolium dubium; A e‘ Fit. 3A. Cows at Station on improved bottom land pasture, May 19.40. Note size and l: dition of cows and excellent stand of white clover. Bloat has not been a problem. . fi-sw- w v, w. .-»,, “paw, "T ,‘ w” ‘F1 V W "mg N YWWW ‘ ., ,- , w-mw-~=-¢w~»~.rw-,m~,,fl,ww W p’ n, 11'1"” "W? 111' "w" y-v-Mq "V1?" w» "Jmvgnvflyfyw? yaw-f; -< t. . , v , f "PWWW" wr'"'-wrq*~wqppwgww ~w=v-v-y~,w,~ P"'—‘VI"Y‘YW5_ W w, PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TltMBER COUNTRY 11 Persian clover, Trifolium resupinatuwz. Common lespedeza, Lespedeza striata, maintained a fair stand for three years but practically disappeared aftersix years. Plants used in the original seedings, which for all practical purposes failed to withstand the conditions were: Kobe, Korean, sericea, and Tennessee 76 lespedeza; subterranean, cluster and bur clovers; Italian rye and rescue grasses. The Clovers: White clover and hop clover have been aggressive, and dependable. They grow well together with white clover taking the lower spots and hop the higher, better drained but usually less fertile spots. They reach their peak of production in May and may last until July. They furnish adequate grazing about 30 days earlier than dallis and carpet grasses and about 45 days earlier than bermuda, the three principal sum- mer grasses, and in some years have furnished fair grazing for cattle by March 1. Observations indicated that clovers should be seeded in October or pNovember. Seedlings from earlier plantings are likely to meet hot dry weather, and those from later seedings are more likely to be winter killed. Spring plantings are not practicable, for the plants may not have time to produce seed; also strong competition may be expected from the grasses. Where seedings are to be made on the sod, it should be closely grazed or mowed and held in this condition until frost. Where a seed bed is prepared by breaking, the soil should be packed before seeding. Stands were ob- tained from broadcasting seed on closely grazed sod and from spreading clover hay or manure containing clover seed. Fiz. 3B. Cattle on unimproved bottom land area near tho Station, May, 1940. _grass seed and. many old fields contain some bermuda. In such favorable “in 12 BULLETIN NO. 6&6, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Three pounds of white clover and two pounds of hop clover per ac are recommended rates for seeding; while eight to ten pounds recommended for common lespedeza. All should be inoculated for initial --~ A ings. Hop is strictly an annual andalthough white clover is a pere 1: Q under certain conditions it is principally an annual in this region. The ‘J fore, in order to maintain themselves, the clovers must be given oppo tunity to produce seed each spring. i" Stands of clover may be poor the first few seasons. In the case of ~41, Station pasture, the clovers became particularly prominent in the spring o, 1937, the third year after the first planting and following the first hea i application of phosphate in the fall of 1936. Poor stands may be the resu b of low germination or poor survival. Germination of clovers should not ~- judged 'by the common standards of germinations of other seeds. - s wide variation in hardness of seed coats often prevents a high percenta germination at any one time. Obviously this is often a valuable characterf istic for annual plants being grown in a permanent pasture, but characteristic may be overlooked and the seeding condemned when the fi ~~ germination is light. I Frequently after fair to good stands have been obtained in the fallfl the clovers will be present only in spots the following spring. Some the reasons for poor survival are obvious for the seedlings are small and‘ delicate and“ grow slowly. Early freezes, late dry weather, failure of in‘- oculation, and a deficiency of the plant food elements, especially phos- A phorus, are factors which cause heavy losses. At times the cause of poor; survival is not apparent, and cannot be explained until more is learned} about the specific requirements of clovers. I The Grasses: Both carpet and dallis grasses made luxuriant growth, and practically excluded bermuda grass, except on the better drainedl sandier spots. In severe dry spells large spots of carpet grass died, but the f stands of dallis and bermuda grass were not lessened by drouth, Thesef spots recovered by natural reseeding and by stolons under favorable conditions. On areas where the grasses were allowed to grow and remain tall throughout the fall, grazing being deferred for a fall cutting of hay, the stand of clovers was reduced in the following year apparently because-i the seedlings were shaded out. In somewhat similar manner, when white clover was permitted to make rank spring growth, grass growth was reduced, usually only temporarily but occasionally for the entire growing season. Five pounds each of carpet, dallis, and bermuda grass per acre are it recommended rates of seeding but in many cases artificial seeding is not necessary. Adjacent areas may provide sufficient carpet and dallis situations, the grasses will usually appear by the time clovers become es- tablished; however, seeding may be expected to speed the establishment of a sod. PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY 13V f Fertilization Necessary: The results during the first three years showed i that fertilizer was necessary to establish the clovers, and indirectly to provide adequate nutrition for the cattle. Figure 4 shows a Hereford bull “developed on the Station, while Figure 5 shows Hereford bull calved at the Station and sold as an 800 pound yearling afterwards being maintained on cleared but unfertilized pasturage. The results also indicate that phosphorus is the first limiting element and that phosphate alone will permit the establishment of white clover, hop clover, and grass pasturage. Eighty to 100 pounds of phosphoric acid per acre is the rate generally recommended as the initial application. In the case of the Station bottom land pasture, some of the areas applioations being made in 1935, 1936, and 1937, received a total of 222 pounds per acre. The question, “How long will the phosphate last?” has no definite answer at the moment. A great deal depends upon the class of pasturage desired and perhaps to some extent upon whether the pasture is heavily or lightly used. There was some evidence of decline in white clover in 1942 or five years after the last application of phosphate; however the E decline did not seem to be materially greater on pasture 8 which along with pasture 2 did not receive the last application nor on pasture _ w/'~".""§""“"""T"'!“Wy"""" “W7 "VTTTIVM fr» w - 11F" "wfrv" vIv-w-{qwwv-ww Fig. 4. Three-year-old Hereford bull developed on Station phosphated pasturage and with adequate winter care. Weight 1,600 pounds. 14 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 7 which received only about one-half as much. In May 1944, or after seven,’ years, there was evidence of decline in vigor and stand of white clover‘? particularly in pasture 8 and an increase in percentage of hop clover, indicating a decrease in the supply of phosphorus. Pasture 2 re- ceived a different management beginning in 1940; thus eliminating it as-if a basis for comparison. The small pastures in which the white clover grew most vigorously andvwhich were grazed the most show less of the a clover than those in which the growth was less vigorous and which were ‘ less heavily grazed. It is not clear, however, that the entire area should be‘ re-phosphated for the pasturage may still be classed as good and the 10-f; year-old cows being grazed upon it were in satisfactory condition and had A good calves at side. Furthermore, the moisture conditions which have prevailed since the decline was first noted in 1942 have no doubt had some effect. Rainfall was extremely favorable in 1940 and 1941", but it was ex- tremely dry in 1942 and 1943. Therefore it is impossible to determine how much of the decline in production can be attributed to phosphate depletion and how much to moisture conditions. If further study proves that the pastures receiving a total of 2.22 pounds of P205 in 1936 and 1937 were in 1944, needing another application, the initial applications would not be so costly when figured on an annual basis--approximately 22 pounds or P205 per year. This would be within the range of the estimates of other Fig. 5. Three-year-old Hereford bull, of similar breed pasturage. Weight, about 900 pounds. as Figure 4, developed on unfertilized ' *"rx“.*fnv'rwv'zw*"mvwwir~wrrevrwmw~'r. ~ m» PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY 15 workers. For example, Woodhouse and Lovvorn (2) in reporting on pas- ture improvement work in North Carolina state that phosphate re- quirements of good grass-legume sods on most soils in that state ammlnt to 60 to 100 pounds of P205 every 4 years. Since it is generally considered that there is very little loss of phosphate fertilizer from the soil through leaching apparently the only advantage to applying 100 pounds of P205 every 4 years over applying 200 pounds every 8 years would be the better distribution of the cost. The ideal placement of phosphatic fertilizers is in the soil, probably at a depth of 1 or 2 inches. Starting with fallow land, the phosphate would be placed in the soil, but where a valuable sod exists and continuous use of the pasture is desired as at the Station, it is no doubt better to make a surface application and risk loss of some effect of the fertilizer rather than to damage the sod. Here is another good argument for making at least the initial application a heavy one. At present, to our knowledge, there is no implement on the market for placing fertilizer in the soil at the desired depth after the pasture is established without destroying an undue portion of the sod. Therefore, the first application may present the only opportunity to get the fertilizer ideally placed. Control of Forage Growth Necessary: In small areas fenced off and not grazed, the clovers disappeared after one year and the areas were occupied principally by dallis and carpet grasses. As shown by Figure 6, the areas may produce an extremely rank growth of these grasses. Fig. 6. Exclosure in March S1939 showing the previous year’s growth of dallis and carpet grass, not only worthless when dry and dead but suflicient to kill 0-ut the stand of - clover. .and lespedeza were compared with those of forage. samples from un-_ w? 16 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION The system' of grazing employed at the outset was to confine the herd to a single 5.3 acre pasture until it was closely grazed. This was usuallyf accomplished in one or two days. With the eight pastures being grazed , rotation, the cattle had fresh, palatable forage high in feed value during? the growing season. Although intensive grazing on small areas permits. fair control.of rank growth, mowing has been necessary because of “spot; - grazing.” The maintenance of several pastures has the principal disad-Yi vantage of additional expense for fencing and watering. ’ a Improved Pasturage High in Grazing Value: Chemical analyses* of: forage from the fertilized bottom land pastures containing clovers, grassesf fertilized upland pasturage. In each case the samples were, in so far as; possible, collected from the forage that was being grazed. Figures 7, 8," and 9, show the respective crude protein, phosphorus, and calcium COD}, tent of the samples from both types of pasturage as well as the grades ;_. of forage according to the standards used by Fraps and Fudge (3). The samples from the fertilized bottom land pasture contained fair to high amounts of protein, phosphorus, and calcium. The samples from the ‘Analyses were made by the Division of Chemistry; g5’ Improved __,________ Unimproved ____ _... , 2o f" U) -H D d .0 i‘ . 1, Hlgh _ u L; IH l‘ \/ ‘é = A /\ ,_ Good / \ /"---\ i‘ ’° LI i‘, ‘ v \/ r x é ,'\ l ‘ie v ’ \ ‘a " I \ l I \\ 4; I \ \ I X I \ q V \ \ A S, [Fair \ I 1 \ I o \ I \ /"\ I \ ’ g 5 Deficient \§ l’ V ‘I ‘ r J’ 1- » \ v v Very deficient o||||\||||||||||llLlllv;ll\ Ian: 0:0. m: fags’ 9n. Du. i‘ fig;- 1w: Figure 7. Crude protein content o!‘ improved and unimproved pasturage by months, _, i-No analyses on unimproved pasture for December 1936i and March and May 1937. PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY 17 1 unfertilized upland pasture showed good amounts of calcium, fair amounts . of protein, but were low to deficient in phosphorus. Size and other factors as mineral consumption (see Figure 3A) indicate that the cow herd developed on the Station coincident with the develop- ment of the bottom land pasturage, were supplied ample nutrients in- cluding minerals. The cattle were given good year-round care and in winters were fed cottonseed meal insuch amount as necessary to main- - tain vigor. Negligible amounts of feeding bone meal and salt were ‘ consumed during the growing season. Much larger amounts were con- .- sumed after frost. The calves born and grown to maturity on the Station - show scale creditable to cattle produced in the western part of the state. Supplemental Feeds Needed in Winter: The bottom land pasture area 7 .has been used in full or in part for 280 days in most years. It has usually ' been vacated during December, January, and February. It has been lightly 1 used during these months because it is not then productive, is slow to drain, and the seedling clovers need some protection from trampling. The 3 upland is used instead for it aifords natural shelter and is better drained. ;- This area is usually grazed only lightly during summer; therefore quite § a bit of forage is generally available there during the winter to furnish f. needed filler. All forage growth is very scant in winter, but the clovers fur- OJ Improved i.._____ Unimproved _ _ _ _ __ _ High _j Good v I /A“ r'\ / V \ Phosphorus, per cent (Air dry basic) A Fair A /\ /% y I, ‘Xx ' ‘ ' ‘\ \ /\ / ‘ ‘I // v \ _ 1/ \ / \v"\\ / _ *\ 1/ V Deficient x \ / \v/ ‘~/ Very deficient 1m:- S: P1. Dre- Mal- Iwls 5pm u». (mn- ‘Ta/vi M46 ha? H31 Figure 8. Phosphorus content of improved and unimproved pasturage by monthfiq n-No analyggg on unimproved for December 1936 and March and May 1937. a 18 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION "s nish more green grazing then than any other plants that have been trill’ It has been necessary to feed a mature Hereford breeding cow approx mately 200 pounds of cottonseed cake and 1,000 pounds of hay in addi to available upland forage in the, period from about December 1 to Ma 15. * Average weight losses of 150 to 200 pounds per head are permitted wintering. Weight losses may be extremely rapid after frost unless f are supplied. In one instance, the average weight loss was 127 pounds p head in a 28-day period. Because of limited winter feeding, the lowest av " age herd weight of the year usually occurs about March 15 or just bef spring pasturage appears. Upon occasion, the greatest herd weight of i ' year has been reached in May. This suggests lack of balance in the '_ nual pasturage. Winter feed costs emphasize the need for winter pastur k Lacking winter pasturage, the alternative appears to be to harvest part/Q the seasonal growth of improved pasturage for hay. Pasture Improvement Accomplished Gradually: In most cases pas _ improvement must be accomplished gradually, lotherwise initial costs high. That it can be accomplished gradually and at moderate cost un _ a system of livestock farming is certain. A part of the Station's tim upland has been and is being cleared and turned to pasture from year n year at a moderate cost by (a) selling the merchantable timber, then co a 21.9 Improved i Unimproved _ __ __ _ __ ' x _ — .7 v High ii/Aw 0d faficfl‘ / 3K calflm» Percent (Air dry basis) /A\ f‘ A\\ 1 /'A f '\\// V" "iv/l x‘ ,' .4- \ \ .2» \- ~ 1 ‘ ‘ v’ \V,i<"" V ~~/ “l” Fair _/_ Deficient Very deficient °.\|11||||1a|‘1|||||l|||\||||.| Toni Srrr Dec. Nae. Iwvz S rr M“, I H36 10.11 l n39 M‘ Figure "9. Calcium content of improved and unimproved pasturage by months. *-No analyses on unimproved pasture for December 1936 and March and May 1987. ix i; PASTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE EAST TEXAS TIMBER COUNTRY 19 . f g the clearing job with the regular farm hands during the winter and i ck seasons, by (b) grazing the cattlealternately ‘upon the improved 'mland pasturage and this upland which spreads the desirable grass clover seeds, by (c) feeding hay, cut from the improved pastures and ining abundant seed, to the cattle during winter while they are on ‘upland; and by (d) scattering by hand over the spots Where log and h piles were burned, seeds collected during the hay baling operations. addition the cattle are adding some fertility to this land as they re- e about 200 pounds per head of cottonseed cake plus hay or other rough- during their winter stay on the area. p. the upland has been improved, the herd has been pastured more on this and less on the bottom land. It appears that there is a greater pos- ‘Iity of establishing year-round productive grazing on the upland than The bottom land because of better Water holding capacity of the soil and 1 r drainage. ' g ” SUMMARY sla e Lufkin Station started to develop a permanent pasture ‘upon an old- ‘w bottom land area in 1934. Seedings of several grasses, clovers, and les- ezas were made in 1934, 1935, and 1936. A light application of balanced filizer was made in 19,35 and heavy applications of T. V. A. super- Isphate Were made in 1936 and 1937. The area furnished little feed in and 1935, but improved greatly in 1936. High to satisfactory produc- p. was maintained but in May 1944, the pasturage appeared to be on the a grade. White clover was less abundant and vigorous than formerly and‘ _ percentage of hop clover had increased. garpet, dallis, and bermuda grasses, white, hop, and Persian clovers have 'sted through the years. Common lespedeza contributed to the grazing flour years, 1936 to 1940. Other lespedezas and clovers and the winter ses, rescue and Italian rye were tried, but either failed to survive or not appear toihave sufficient value to warrant further trial. he pasture was not established until after fertilizer, principally super- "phate, had been applied. Had phosphates been applied at the start, it ars that good pasturage could have been obtained the second year. effect of heavy applications of phosphate appears to be diminishing seven growing seasons; however, the pasturage may still be classed as wing was necessary to control weeds and sprouts in the beginning and ‘fbeen necessary since and to even up “spot grazed” areas which result under intensive grazing. Pastures that are lightly grazed and even l - that are both lightly grazed and mowed tend to revert to tall native ,_ es, rushes, and weeds. Hay mowed from the area has been used for ter feed and in some cases has been sold to local people as a source of ‘er and grass seed. chief advantage of a mowable fertilized and seeded pasturage is that rovides a longer season of good grazing than native pasturage. The 20 BULLETIN NO. 666, TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIO clovers are earlier and bermuda,‘carpet, and dallis grasses provide able grazing much later in the season than the native grasses. The . land pasture has been used for about 280 days each year but the t; of good grazing is pretty well defined by dates of killing frost, Ma to November 15, or 247 days. In good years, the carrying capacity has; ircm 1 to 1.3 animal units per acre-—surplus seasonal growth being‘ vested and fed for wintering. The pasturage has been heavily used throughout, principally for the 1i‘ tenance of Hereford breeding cows. These cows were brought to the S ' as weaned calves in December 1934 and were first turned to pasturage '1, spring of 1935. Beginning in 1936, they have maintained satisfactory ' tion, have in most years produced normal calf crops, and have deve as much scale as is common to the Hereford breed. The herd increa .‘ been sold largely to local stockmen for breeding purposes. Such cattle, turned on the native, unfertilized pastures and afforded scant winter have developed poorly, but when kept on Station pasturage and givenii quate winter feed have developed satisfactorily. The key to good pas {j and good livestock development in the area is superphosphate and cli LITERATURE CITED 1. Carter, W. T., 1931. The soils of Texas. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bl; 431. I 2. Woodhouse, W. W., J12, and Lovvorn, R. L., 1942. Establishing and improving pe .“ pastures in North Carolina. North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station I”- 338. ~ ' 3. Fraps, G. S., and Fudge, J. F.. 1940. The chemical composition of forage grasses East Texas timber country. Texas Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 582. ff ?sa¢nvo '3o211oo w w V; 'zaraa113 * v \ >