Progress Report Series No.. 7.Revisedjanuary 
1949
of The A lab a m mca 
A urnck. Ac-a.,s
* * M. J. Fu c s , ,Drre' [ctr'
A YELARROUNT EE ndP1dECRP IGSYSTiM f Tor BEEF CATTLrI
in the PIE-iPONTr "and UPPER COATALPLIN
J, C. GRIMES, Anifta -l Husbandman
:D. aG STUKIE, Agronomist
Sevten dollars of every ten of 1,945 farm income in the Piedmont and
Upper Coastal Plain regions of Alabama came from production and sale of not
ton and cotton seed This large portion of the 1945 cash farm receipts eorr-
ing from cotton was produced on only per centbl opland
in the two regions, The' remaining 84 peil cent -of t heend contributed.m
less than its logical* share that' year.
For a numbor of years, the Alabama A,-iculturil Experiment Station has
sought practical methods bywvhi c h in come from'no n-cottonmight be in
creased. In 1943 a study 
wa&" begun at the'M in Station, 
ubur t
a year-round cropping system that would'(1) supply a large"amountof feed
per acre, (2) require as little hand and machine labor as possible, and(
require as little expense as possible.to establish and maintain,
Cropping System a n d 'Feeding ndGrazing Sce
Crops and acreage per cow, The s y stem of f odd and fo ragepodt
in this expberimenlt involved 2-12 cres per cow,diVided as follows:
I acre of lespedeza cericea
1 acre of kudzut
1/2 are of manganese bur clover in the inter followed by
Heai'high gear) rin sorghu in the- sumrmer-
Grazing and feeding schie du e~ The four crops were- combined into a
year-round grLazing aad feeding progiram in accordance wit'h the follow.ing
(1) The seniea was grazed from April 13 to November 16 (3"vear
average) except for temporary periods of drought. The statem-.e'nt ha,_3s fre~
quently been m ,ade that cattle do riotrelish senieca I:Jhile they evidently
for hay in June. Thle cured h ~y was fed. in the winter wi th grin sorghu
G) razing. the mananese bur clover wasstarted in. Dqcmber or later,
depending upon fall moisture and temperature conditions. It wasCont inued
throughout the winter and early spring. The cows were allowed to remain on
the clover only 3 to 4 hours each day, after hich they wore removed to pre"
vent damage to the crop by overgrazing and tramping, About mid-April the
cows were transferred to. the sericea, and the clover was allowed to produce
seed
0
( Te egari ariet of gan srhu whchfollowedthe manganese
bur clover, was -Mrvest'ed and-fed fromi. 'the stick('grainaMtalk)a
stover, This and the kudzu hay were fed to the animals during the winter,
when they were grazed on frett-ed kudzu and later. on,'the bur clover.
The daily ration used for the cows was 20 pounds of Hegan (grain and
st alk) -. nid 20 poud.s --of kudzu :hay ,Pp~r head in. addition to tjmanga nese
b.love r p~u
8* A I:rro'pa,,, FS ince the- start of t'his.experiment, several other
forge ops jh.ben t:e~ted;underl--grazing, 
conditionst
that the following substitutions might, be made- (percow.banie)
acre of improved pasture for the acre of sencea; and (2) on--half acre of
alfalf'a er one--acreof' Johnson grass for the acre ofkudzu;(3) one-half
a'c~e of rseeiIng, crimrson clover 'or, onea-hal f cr o
'halfa're-'ab ofangaUese- bur cl ovwr;' and (4.).,-one-half acre of.Jdlnson, gnass
or Sudan, g'ra(-ssi a s Ca hay c.rop' for, -~ alf acre f
'Re sultt s and. Qriclu si on S
Four beear opws. and 10 -,acres of-ln (sr
in t9is .X44r n in 194- and in 1945, ;in t e f owing ea (1946),the
expeinr'Jitot',woo eYTbcIVded be iclude '7 cows ac Qf._laM.d6,All of
the fed-o'nd by 'the covs-(.air ing this n3.yhea e
land allotted to the experiment.
Records of the weights and gains of thq,.,fqows and .calvea for each. of
thIIe thir ee ryd "s 'of this expe'riment- are ivni abls1 'n3 h
aiverage Pd results. for' the three yearis are shown' iniT~bI~e 4.
Thre e :of'. the .cobws .vwere bred and -on~e -had-.a. young calf when pla.ceQd on
the ezcperiment .in Dec6ember, -1943- ., Four -calves woere sl fo these .covvs
in 1944I at an a, :verage weight of 452 pounds. The 1945 crop of calv;esa ave?r-I
aged 507 pounds eaich and the 1946 calves averaged 473 pounds ea-_ ch, when
son ld
dur-i n j much o01 the - er iac;Dco'd e'0d. by t'his 'exerienttiereturns.-wereai80
worth 'of beef Per'' acr.0 aihially' Onc(-e, the crops wera -establishd, the prin-
cipal yearly'out-of-pocket.cost was ahout "6 per acre:for fertilizer.
APidvantages of System. The. chief advantages of thiS System are as
follows:
(1) Of the four crops in the systemn, three-.sericen kudzu and m.nga-
nese bur clover - are sail-irnroving le(umes.
(2) Sericea and kudzu are pe-rennicals, and manganose bur clover re-
seeds itself. Only one crop (grain sorghura) reauires seed ing and cultivat iono
(3) The cattle gather much of their feed from the fields which caveS
labor.
(4) -Two of the crops kudzu and -ericea aeespecially vell adarted
to upland soils.
(5) In this system, all-feed requirements of cattle-are raisedo the
farm Irv,1re the feed is used.,
Iow to Grow t he Crops Used in This y M
Malananese bur clovar, The first steD toward success with bur clover
is to preparre a good seedbed. Break the landiJuly, and harrow as often
as needed to keep-down weeds' and to form a f irm seedhd.Broadcast lime
and fertilizer at the following rates per acre and work into the soil during
August:
400 to 600 pounds of superphosphate or 600 to 1,000
pounds of basic 
slag
50 to 100 pounds of muriarte of potash
1 to 2 tons of. ground limesto.e
Apply 4 to 5 tons of manure pE.r acre, if a.vailable.
For best results, plant the crop during- September in southern _Alabama
and 'not later thain October 15 in nor-ther,,-n Alabamna. Broadcast 1b pounds of
scarified clean seed or 100 Pounds of seed in the bur per- acre, Inoc'uLa tlo n
is not required for seed in the bur; inoculate hulled seed with. either bur
clover or alfalfa inoculant.
Frshnth eehd lightly with a section harrow or weeder. TIfs ced
in bur are used, mixc with pulverized manure to help get inoculation. If
clean seed are i.sed, noculatdvdeteseditUwoeulpart 
s and
Bur love matres edvidatehMaorearlntoeuadel dw. I
sed r dsred, the d c -Ad3 v -%Tinesare1rked offIndA the_, buIq1*rsl+I can e+- 1 .:1-riithrb
Sericea. Success with sericea depends largely on the stand obtained.
Common causes of failure to get and to keep a good stand are seeding on a
poor seedbed and competition from weeds. To prepare a good seedbed, break
and harrow the land several weeks before planting; this should be done in
January or early February if weather permits. Land may be prepared in late
fall or early winter if there is little danger of erosion.
Broadcast fertilizer at the following rates per acre and harrow into
the soil 2 to 3 weeks before planting:
400 to 600 pounds of superphosphate or 600 to 1,000
pounds of basic slag
100 to 200 pounds of muriate of potash.
The best method of seeding is to roll the soil with a corrugated 
roller
just before seeding and broadcast the seed without covering. The next best
method is to harrow the field lightly with a spike-toothed harrow or weeder
and seed immediately without covering. Plant about 30 to 40 pounds of scari-
fied seed per acre February 15 to April 1 in southern Alabama and March 15
to April 15 in northern Alabama. Later seedings are often made but with
less success.
Sericea should be allowed to become well established before it is
grazed. For this reason, grazing is not recommended until the second year.
Usually the stand can be maintained for several years by making annual
applications of 200 to 400 pounds of superphosphate or 400 to 800 pounds
of basic slag, and 100 to 200 pounds of muriate of potash in March of each
year.
Kudzu. Prepare land for kudzu in November and December before bad
weather begins by breaking and harrowing 'well. In January or February, lay
off rows on the contour about 5 to 6 feet apart. Apply and thoroughly mix
with the soil 200 to 400 pounds of superphosphate and 100 pounds of muriate
of potash per acre and. bed back to form a low flat bed.
After the beds are well settled by the rain, set the crowns 5 to 6
feet apart on the beds during February and March. At this spacing, about
1,200 to 1,300 crowns will be needed. Cultivate kudzu the first year to
keep down weeds. To maintain a stand, apply fertilizer annually at the same
rates as before planting.
Grain sorghum. After manganese bur clover seed are harvested, pre-
pare the seedbed for grain sorghum. Break and harrow the land. Lay off rows
about 3 feet apart and plant grain sorghum in mid-June at the rate of 6 to 8
pounds per acre. No fertilizer is required, since the grain sorghum follows
bur clover that received liberal amounts of phosphate and potash, and since
the clover furnishes an abundance of nitrogen.
Usually, not more than two cultivations are necessary to control the
weeds. First, use a spring-toothed harrow or weed with a weeder; for the
second, use a shovel and sweep.
When the grain matures, cut with a corn binder, mower or sled cutter.
Shock sorghum in the field to dry 10 days to 2 weeks. Haul it to the feed
lot and stack around a pole, turning the heads in to protect the grain from
weather and birds,
- 4 -
Tabl I.fvtag~Tv~eght an Gans, y 
Ieridsof Cois anrd C~ves 
- aintained and UruwnonaFor
Crop Feed and F'or ape 8&ystcm 
for the P-,-1uiemnt and UoiperCosl 
Plains Regonsli
Eprment Stat- on, D cc.1 94 
Ncfov~meba_30,14
- Fed -Id z.u hP.7, gjrain sorgn 
_Tec srcc +r 
4dfose dU ~Ttl~zn o
Lnlnal nue-bernrd g azed ri 
J~~ec'_Lce-- Jpril 
12,P44 ct. 20 144toneya
ec. 1194j3--o [Pril 
12 '4 toOct* 20,'N 
ov,,."0, 144
Pmn-tial Gain 
- 4iitnltn i 
-in
weight 
wei--ht
-100
Cal 1 15100 
Id49
Cw2860- 0 
(loss' 770 70 840 
20
Calf 2 
150030 
sold,-
Cow1n3 r65 1 80 1091~00
Clf3140 
17 31 i 20 sold
4,90
175
Cow4 1 Oo 130 
110 130
C al f 4- 
8502 
0
Total weight
ca nda g ain of 31, 05 
45 (oss) 3460"4000OO4013
Total iweigh~t
andgan ~ 40470 610o ,10 
80 20167
calU-Ve6.S
t
Table 2. Averag-e l-e ghts and Gains, yProdcIow n aVesIanandadGono 
o
Cro--p Feed and Forage Syst[en- for the Pielnont and Upper 
kCoastal Fl- Ia-in Tegionis, ain.
T- eri ri-ment -&tatio.n, Dec, , 191.4 to 
IL'overnlber -1,4, 1945-
Fled k-,udzu hay, gainSO&x,, sogum-nrae srea and kUdzu
anid aF d anyeelover Apr. 
5,1945 to
Aninalnnb Decc1,14tu 1,94No.1'195 
Total gains frya
IntilGain Initia
wePht ei l
Fojunls -P ounmdis Pou d-Pio LrdsPournd,
Cow I
Cow 2
C alf 2
C ow, 3
Calf 3
Calf 4
TLota-l -eih
and gain of
840
860
9140
120
1,000o
3,6/40
20
'-150 (loss)
20
110
-75(loss)*
200
720
220
790
240
1)110
3,365
185
350
230
35-0
200
290
210
380
825
0
550
90
570
50
530
-320
330
550
and frain of' 660 6070 
2,030
.. ................ -....... 
....... . .. .. - ................ ..-.. .. .
ON
. ........ ... . ... ....... ..................
........ ...... . .................... I .. .............. . ......... . .....
Tbe3. eghsardCanby Peri 
ods, of Cow-s arnd Calves lMain
t 
aine rdGrw na orCo
Feed ad Forage Systeam for 
the Piedm-,-ont and Upper Coastal 
Plain Reg ,Iions,ManEpret
Stat-ion, N11ovember 15, 194 5 
to INovember 6, '14
~Fed kudzu hay,
grain sorghum -w. 
ota
Aimal stover1 and crazed 
Grazed . rze razed 
Grazedgin
number inanees e CIover 
seri cea I,4 ' 
,risea kdu 
o h
Nov. 15, 31945 
~ra
ArIl9Apr.r
0
1'I-July a0JLv Julj28 
i v29 --. Oct. 7--OCc:t Mv
Gnta ain . nit ial GaCain mt I 
al Gai..n G- i in
o................. .s.--- - ---- 
IFt
Lbr Lb L O.....Lb.0 
Lb lb Lbb 
T. b
Cow 101;0 -10 
r0 50 800 800 
60 0 90/
Calf 1 280 
1280 160 44 0 
~%
C ow 2 930 50 
8801 -120 760 (0L0_10 
94 70 6
Calf 2 140 
1L. 0 260 
20 2L 1 40
Cow 3 940 206 
90 l0 bO 
40 900) 7-0 
97 5
alf 10 
150Q130- 0 
-2L4 2 o 0 
.45
Cow 4 10 2 -1 
~20 920 70 
990 130 ' 0 
0 4
Clf 4 280 
2___O_120 400 
10417
Cow 5 1 00096 40 
9f 130 30 70 
900 80 0 0 
2
C.......alIf 5 190 190 110 300 ho 
3 10.. . ... ...
l~2....0 0 13 4 
0910 30 100 
3
Calf 6 3O 30 
60 140
Cow 7 940 40m00 
-150 7t;D 180 90 
10 94 20 0
Calf 7 '50 ~0 
l100 250. 20 270 0309 
iP
of.ow........-1 .
. . ...........
Total weigh
4
,
and ga.in 11,570-30 150 70 
232 0 563 70 lO~,l
jk1;60es -80 .1.60. - 2fe6ea0~ 
al . oud n
ed"on ku-IVfail.
aes?ad 6were weaned ancd rem-Iained dzn U uI I IUi
cl 6 rid130 punds IFThe wv~e ghts of these two c a.lveN,%Ws wertenot)t-1 +- Jly andtc, 
br
Tb .Avera. o 
T
'e D amied zrain3, Thy ~f C cfws and Cpaiv't : ait lnedand Crono or
Crop Feed and Foage Ssei od h IrnoQnt and Up,-er CoaStI-a-l ia in P J~, Y~
T*.4eramer.t$tio 14to9o
17.... ..Apr.. .12...... day....Fed..to...43 
to1 941 as Crze 
i~~~rc
wr g t (L 11- A k-t11a
V f 1.1 r Foun ounis nd
A 76 I (rEll
17 r 1, 4+8da t0 11, 0v 0. 27 
ays 'G'a3 e
4 cavsv,6515,4 
5 7
7n ciitalA a-.nalves 2241224L2T, 
72-in
3~Yev~ 5cow 09545 (oss %~l54T
weight "76 lbs