Los Banos Rotary Club History
Praises Value Of Permanent Pasture

Wm. H. Alison, Merced county farm advisor, who has championed the virtues of permanent pasture since the first test plots were planted in this county back in 1930, Tuesday noon gave members of the Los Banos Rotary Club a condensed, authentic picture of what this phenomenal forage crops means to Merced county today.

From the 11 small test plots that were planted by the Extension Service men back in 1930-31, plantings have increased at an unbelievable rate as both dairy and beef cattle men learned of its tremendous possibilities. Today, Alison said, there are 60,000 acres of permanent pasture in this county, or approximately 10 per cent of the entire acreage in the state. This county is the second largest producer of permanent pasture in the nation, exceeded only by Stanislaus county.

Alison said that there are four major kinds of dairy feeds: pasture, alfalfa, silage and concentrates. Of these, measured in total digestible nutrients, permanent pasture at today's prices costs $1.61 per 100 pounds. Alfalfa, at $27 a ton, costs $2.63 per 100 pounds of total digestible nutrients; silage at $80 a ton, $3.06; and concentrates at $82.20 a ton, $5.49. A survey of dairy farms in this county last year showed that where dairymen had sufficient permanent pasture, their net profit per cow amounted to $28.00 per year more than on dairies which did not use permanent pasture.

A good permanent pasture, Alison emphasized, must, first, produce a good quantity of forage feed; must continue to grow through a long season; must be palatable; and finally, must not become a weed. Of some 25 different permanent pasture grasses and legumes tested through the past 20 years. Alison said that today only five are on the recommended list—Dallis grass, Birdsfoot trefoil, rye grasses, alfalfa and ladino clover. Tall fescue, he said, is among the numerous grasses tested and found wanting through the years, and this variety is not recommended for Merced county farms by the Agricultural Extension office.

Speaking of Birdsfood trefoil, Alison related that the first plants of this variety identified in this county were found by E. Phillips, on a low section of his ranch. Alkali resistant and luxiurient producer, this yellow-flowered low growing plant is relished by cattle, has exceptional feed value and is considered one of the wonder plants of the county.

Under general conditions, Alison said his office recommends for beef pasture, a per-acre mixture containing 7 pounds of Dallis grass, 5 pounds perennial rye, 5 pounds annual rye, 3 pounds Birdsfoot trefoil, 1 or 2 pounds alfalfa, and possibly 2 pounds of ladino clover.

For dairy pastures, the common recommendation is 3 pounds Birdsfoot trefoil, 5 pounds perennial rye, 5 pounds annual rye, and 1 or 2 pounds of ladino clover.

Primary disadvantages of ladino clover, Alison stated, is that it sometimes causes bloating and he warned that in no event should any pasture mixture contain over 40 per cent of such plant.

Alison warned that good permanent pasture requires abundant water and said that availability of water should be the first consideration in planning any permanent pasture development.

August 17, 1951

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