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Show IT TAKES 'N FOR MEADOWS TOO! EFFICIENT FEEDING I and LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT S, By Dr. Gustav Bohstedt of Animal Husbandry University of Wisconsin Emeritus Professor Salt Sparks Mineral Intake Some months ago I referred Utahs experience with dairy cows known to be deficient in phosphorus. Even though deficient, these animals did not eat straight bone meal when it was offered. When mixed with a bit of salt, the cows ate more of the needed phosphorus-bearin- g bone meal but not in adequate amounts because most more in line with the actual phosphorus requirements for the cattle. The mineral problem is accentuated in the Georgia area due to low calcium and phosphorus content in the native range grasses. The phosphorus content is only about half of what it should be and rarely exceeds 0.12 percent in the spring and declines to 0.06 percent in the winter. For the best results the phosphorus content should be fully 0.20 percent, and the rather considerable difference needs to be obtained from supplements. During the eight years the Georgia men studied mineral consumption, the steamed bone meal and salt was proportioned two parts bone meal to one part salt. Feeding was accomplished by means of mineral boxes located in each of several ranges. This Southeastern experience shows again that salt serves as an excellent appetizer with necessary, but unpalatable minerals. to ts seem to be unpalatable to livestock. at When, the Utah, mixture of salt and bone meal was in the proportion of 50 to 75 percent salt the cows ate two to three times as much bone meal as when smaller amounts of salt were added actually many times as much bone meal as when no salt was added. Another area now reports similar observations. Georgia Range Conservationists studying the consumption of minerals by cattle on the Forest Range noted their cattle ate only 5 pounds of straight bone meal per animal during the period of March through January. However, by means of e the meal mixtures the per head intake of bone meal was raised to approximately 25 pounds for the same period. This higher figure is much salt-bon- tt i. f "- H iH - As Question: When a killing frost strikes com in the dough or milk stage, will this com dry out while standing in the field all winter? Answer: Hardly! The higher the moisture of the com when frost strikes, the poorer the chances of drying in the ear. Fermentation and putrefaction of the moist ears within their husks proceed faster than the drying process. Frozen immature com should be harvested, preferably ensiled, as soon m possible. Southeastern Coastal Plain f' ' A More than three times as much hay containing 25 per cent more protein can be grown on mountain meadows at relatively low cost through planned soil fertilization," according long-ranto a series of tests recently completed in the Intermountain area. "Profit on the Mountains" 16mm color film report on the latest research findings points out that nitrogen fertilizer in recommended amounts forms one of the most effective new tools to he!p mountain ranchers raise beef in competition with other parts of the U. S. The U. S. Steel film is available through most local commercial fertilizer dealers. ge t u r Vf1 7 M " ifl.ih? . iiJ tiiiiSiif 1 W iriiiliilHiStij !(Hf Follow these simple steps to insufe representative soil samples . ffj Get full information from your county agent. .2 Select proper sampling tool. : h MM-:SK- j SJi 3 Keep out or sample separately I all unusual areas. ij iV'vW ; 4 Divide field into areas for sampling. Mik: 5 Take soil to plow depth from at least 15 spots for each sample. 6 When spade is used, save soil from middle of slice. 9 Number samples own records. 10 Always lime and fertilize ac- - I cording to your soil test recom- : S 7 Mix well in a clean pail. 8 Fill out information sheet keep your mendations. 4 " : |