Use of Beef Cattle Feeding Data in Evaluating Mountain Meadow Management Practices

Abstract

AN interpretation of factors affecting the production of forage crops is more complete and realistic if results can be expressed in terms of animal performance. Usually, yields of dry hay have been taken by the rancher as the final basis for evaluating factors affecting forage production. In certain instances, additional information is available on such quality factors as the percentages of crude protein, phosphorus, or other chemical constituents of the forage. These criteria have not proven entirely satisfactory. In Gunnison County, Colorado, a test feeding plant for beef cattle was established where the relative merits of various management practices utilized in hay production and feed supplementation could be determined. This report covers a two-year period, 1950–1951, of investigation in which hays produced under variable fertility and harvest management practices were fed to cattle and the results evaluated in terms of beef production. Procedure Hay Production Approximately 60 acres of a fairly representative high altitude meadow were used for the production of hay for subsequent beef cattle feeding experiments.