A STUDY OF GRAZING ON CERTAIN NORTHERN MICHIGAN CUT-OVER LANDS Thesis for the Degree of M. S. MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE Du Lac Weaver I942 THESIS It Isl II Irll I A STUDY OF GRAZING ON CERTAIN NORTHERN MICHIGAN CUT—OVER LANDS by Dee Lee Weaver "3,! up“ A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate School of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Soils and Conservation Institute 19h2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .......................................... 1 Grazing histories ..................................... Brueggeman Venture ............................... Rainey Lake Ranch ................................ Underhill Ranch .................................. watershed Ranch'.................................. Northwestern Ogemaw County ....................... White Ranch .........................,............ Richardson Ranch ................................. Paige Fam 0.0.0.0...COO...OOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ‘0 co \1 .x] 0‘ 0‘ W b.) m U) Serradella Farm .................................. Grazing Study Areas ................................... 12 - 75 Bechdoldt, Area No. l ............................ 1h Clemens, Area No. 2 .............................. l7 Cornwell, Area No. 3 ............................. 19 Davis, Area No. A ................................ 21 Dickerson, Area No. 5 ..l......................... 23 Frederick, Area No. 6 ............................ 26 Hauck Area, No. 7 ................................ 29 Hawk Area, No: 8 ................................. 31 Jaruzal, Area No. 9 .............................. 33 Katona, Area No. 10 .............................. 36 King, Area No. ll ................................ 39 . Lilley, Area No. 12 .............................. Al MCKa-y Area, NO. 13A513B 0.00.9.0...OOOOOOOOOOOOOO [*3 142799 Reid, Area No. IA ............................... 45 Saunders, Area No. 15 ........................... A7 Schearer, Area No. 16 ........................... 5A Seymour, Area No. 17 ............................ 55 Shull, Area No. 13 .............................. 57 Stevens, Area No. 19 ............................ 60 Thomas, Area No. 20 ............................. 63 Whitmer, Area No. 21 ............................ 65 Lake City Exp't. Sta., Area No. 22 .............. 68 Discussion ........................................... 76-96 Mapping procedure ............................... 76 Determination of Animal Units ................... 87 Vildland pasture types .......................... 9O Carrying Capacity scale ......................... 91 Summary .............................................. 97 Plant Check list ..................................... 100 Literature Cited O...0....OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0.0.0.900... 103 INTRODUCTION Michigan lumbering activities reached peak production about 1890. Large areas denuded of forest cover have been the result. With the timber gone, many lumbering Operators ventured into the business of grazing sheep and/or cattle on these cut-over lands. This has been especially true on the lands north of T16N in Michigan. A few of these grazing ventures have survived. many more have gone the way of the tall timber. But still more important is the large number of small scale farmer-grazers now operating in northern Michigan. There are also a few large-scale Operators grazing livestock on many sections of cut-over land. According to the 1935 census, 23.5% of the farm area of Michi- gan was in wild pasture and in the 27 counties of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan north of T16N, 38.2% of the area in farms was in wild pas- ture. These figures alone indicate that the wildlands play a part in the agriculture of the State. The use of cut-over lands for pasture is not confined to these lands under private ownership. Both the State Department of Conserva— tion and the United States Forest Service issue grazing use permits on certain publicly owned lands under their jurisdiction in Michigan. There also appears to be quite extensive "trespass grazing" on unfenced public and privately owned lands. Consequently there is much more ex, tensive use of cut-over lands for grazing than the census figures indicate. The problem objective was to determine the livestock carrying capacities for the major types of wildland pasture (cut-over lands used for pasture). There are other objectives upon which this objective is dependent. These objectives are, namely: (1) to obtain histories of past wildland grazing ventures; (2) to determine the principal types of native wildland forage; (3) to learn the current practices of herd and range management; (A) to obtain the gains or productions made by livestock on specific tracts and under particular types of use or manage- ment; (5) to determine the possibilities of improving wildland pastur- age or of supplementing it with plowland pasture; (6) to determine the effect of grazing on the condition and botanical composition of the range; (7) to determine the effect of wildland grazing on wildlife popu- lations; (8) to determine the future utility of wildland areas for graz- ing; (9) to determine the relation or influence of wildland grazing to forest use; and (10) to determine the relation or influence of wildland grazing on recreation. A preliminary survey was made. The Michigan Department of Conservation and the U. 3. Forest Service indicated a desire to obtain histories of past grazing histories. During the process of obtaining these grazing histories in northern Michigan, the 22 pasture areas were selected for study. To acquaint the reader with some of the background in.Michigan grazing ventures, the grazing histories are first presented. Because of the invaluable aid given the author, a dedication of gratitude is given to Professor L. R. Schoenmann, Dr. C. E. Miller, Dr. C. M. Harrison and Professor V. A. Freeman of Michigan State College, and to Mr. Charles E. Miller of the Michigan Department of Conservation. The thesis would not have been possible but for the aid and c00peration given by the Michigan Agricultural Extension Division, Michigan Agricul- tural Experiment Station, Michigan Department of Conservation, United States Forest Service and the farmers and ranchers of northern Michigan. 2a The problem was designated in 1940 as a Bankhead—Jones project in the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station. Under the provisions of this project, a c00perative agreement was made with the State Conser- vation Department to cover their interest and support of the work. An advisory committee to the project was appointed by Director V. R. Gardner of the Experiment Station. This committee, consisting of Professor L. R. Schoenmann of the Conservation Institute, Professor V. A. Freeman of the Animal Husbandry Department, and Dr. C. M. Harrison of the Farm Crops Department, Michigan State College, has guided the work on which this thesis has been based. GRAZING HISTORIES The following discussion concerns 9 brief histories of past grazing ventures. NO. l. Brueggeman Area: This area is located in northeastern Gladwin County. In 1939, he bought 50 ewes with the aid of a loan from a local bank. These ewes he placed on a 60—acre tract that was quite densely covered with 20 to 25 feet high aspen, white birch and willow. Much Of the land was wet. Because there were extremely few Openings in the stand and the area was wet, very little suitable feed was available to the sheep. During the winter of 1939-1940, the sheep had no shelter and little hay was fed to them. By the spring of 1940, 7 ewes remained alive out of the original 50. ur. Brueggeman had the note for the sheep, but nothing left to pay Off the note. This is an example, rather extreme but true, of what can happen where an attempt is made to graze livestock in a dense forest stand. The stand was dense enough to allow very little ground feed. The trees were large enough to place browse out of reach from.the sheep. The area was wet, thus encouraging sheep parasites. The sheep had no winter shelter. They had very little winter feed. Any one Of these factors could have been sufficient to cause failure in the grazing venture. No. 2. Rainey Lake Ranch: The late John Krauth, owner Of the area, described the ranch as follows: "The Rainey Lake Ranch, comprising approximately 13,000 acres, is located on the south side Of Presque Isle County bordering the county of Montmorency for a distance of five and one half miles. On the west it fronts Presque Isle and Montmorency State Forest Preserve, for a distance of five miles. It is flanked on the south for a distance of five miles by the Rainy River Marsh tract." Mr. Krauth purchased the cut-over land in 1898 from a lumberman. In the fall of 1901, he purchased a carload of western ewes in Chicago. Mr. Krauth had no hay stored and depended upon hay to be hauled into the ranch. The snow became too deep to get a sled or wagon into the ranch. Also, the ewes were bred on the western range, and dropped most of the lambs in January. The consequence was that most of the lambs died, and many of the ewes died of starvation. However, he did manage to retain ownership to the ranch. By 1918 he had 200 acres of land cleared and was raising sufficient hay for winter feed. At this time the ranch was sold on contract to two men. These men tried dairy farming; the partnership broke over financial diffi- culties shortly after. Mr. Krauth then had.the ranch on his hands again. In about 1925, he again sold the ranch on contract to six inves— tors from Detroit. These men invested heavily in buildings ($12,000 for one barn) and attempted to run beef cattle. When the 1929 depression hit, the barn burned, and Mr. Krauth got the ranch back again. The ranch has been abandoned since 1930. At present, the ranch, which is owned by Mr. Krauth's aged widow, contains five lakes. Two-hundred acres on Emmet sandy loam soil are cleared. The southwestern part Of the ranch is mostly jack pine and aspen cover on Roselawn sand, Rubicon sand and Emmet loamy sandy soils. There is quite a high percent of swamp scattered throughout the area con- sisting of Carbondale muck and Spaulding peat. There are also scattered spots of Griffin sandy loam and Emmet loamy sand. Most of the area has come back to dense aspen and white birch on the upland soils. The mucks and pests have a dense cover of aspen, spruce and cedar. The southwestern part of the ranch was burned over in 1937. This was the jack pine-aspen area. In general, it might be said.that the only place where desirable forage may be found for live- stock On the area is the area of 200 acres that was cleared. No. 3. Underhill Ranch: Located in northeastern Crawford County, there are approximately 3,000 acres in the tract. Except for less than 60 acres Of river bottom land (Lupton muck), the entire area is, and was, Open jack pine plains on .Grayling sand . The ranch, promoted by Dr. Underhill, was started in about 1900. The venture was financed by New York investors. A large barn, 2 silos, several buildings and two houses were constructed. Approximately 300 acres were cultivated for corn and hay. This crop area was fenced. They had about 500 head of Hereford and Short Horn steers. They hired three cowboys to herd the cattle. These cattle were herded throughout the township and into Otsego County. The cattle were shipped in by rail from Chicago in the Spring and then shipped out as feeders in the fall. Only a few head of cattle were fed over winter. The hay and corn crops failed. The beef cattle failed to make expenses. Dr. Underhill left for Oregon in 1920. Except for the areas along the river, the land became tax delinquent and returned.to State ownership. The railroad into the nearby town of Lovells has long since abandoned. In this same general area, there were other people who attempted to range beef cattle, but all have gone. The one remaining industry Of these particular jack pine plains is that of servicing the summer tourists and the sportsmen. NO. A. watershed Ranch: This ranch also was located in Crawford County but was in the western part of the county. The pasture consisted of six sections of cut-over land on which a none too thrifty stand of red pine and jack pine had once stood. The ranch had 300 ewes. They bought hay and some grain for winter feed. However, the death rate of lambs was very high. Expenses overran income, and the land returned to State ownership via the tax delinquency route. No. 5. N. W. Ogemaw County: This entire area, because of its general land type of jack pine and aSpen on Grayling and Roselawn sands in predominance, is treated as one venture. The principle area, Foster township, was settled first in 187A and reached its peak population about 1880. Having first been de- nuded of timber, the next step in the area was the attempt at farming. Those men who were grazing cattle and sheep on the large free range out- lasted the farmers. Most of these farmers had vacated by 1890. Large running fires were an annual Spring event to keep down the brush and to, as they thought, "help the grass." By 1900, most of the cattlemen and sheepmen were gone. By 1920, nearly all the grazing Operators had left. The last man to graze on a large scale left in 1925. He generally bought two carloads of steers in the Spring and sold the lot in the fall for feeders. However, even the whole township, of free pasture at the time, was not sufficient to warrant staying in the business This last man, however, did not stop operations devoid of money. He quit when he still had some money left although he lost money during the last three years of his cattle business, he had been losing money. The writer was unable to learn the reasons for this loss in profit. No. 6. White Ranch: Located in southeastern Charlevoix County and northeastern Antrim County, the area consisted of four sections of land. The original forest stand, cut over in 1903, was hard maple, beech, elm and basswood. The soils were Emmet sandy loam, Emmet loamy sand, Ogemaw sandy loam, and some Carbondale muck. Immediately after the area was cut-over, timothy and red clover seed was broadcast. Some smooth brome grass was sown in also. After this seeding, 150 head of Shorthorn grade cattle were turned out to graze. The next year 300 head were placed on the area. These cattle were used for beef for the White Lumber Company camps. This venture continued until about 191A. Meanwhile the hardwood second growth had come in, and the areas of timothy and clover were crowded out. The area was abandoned when the White Lumber Company set up a paper pulp plant on the West Coast. No. 7. Richardson Ranch: Located in southeastern Cheboygan County at the site of the pre- sent headquarters of the Pigeon River State Forest, the ranch was owned by two lumbermen, F. L. Richardson and Thomas McDade. It was originally set up on somewhat the same idea as the White Ranch. Three sections were fenced after the area was cut over. In this enclosure they ran beef cattle and used the beef for their lumber camps. many of the cattle were shipped to their farm in Ohio for winter feeding. A large barn was built that contained 100 steel stanchions for the cattle. The large white pine stumps were pulled in a field near the barn and timothy and clover hay grown on the area. As the lumbering was dying out in the early 1920's, old woods workers were placed on the ranch to care for the cattle. The "old timers" in this vicinity tell many stories about how the Old "lumber- jacks" killed or sold cattle belonging to the lumber company. In 1927, the railroad into the ranch was taken out. That was the last year cattle were run on the area. In 1928, the ranch was sold to the State of Michigan. The tract and its headquarters then became a part of the Pigeon River State Forest. No. 8. Paige Farm: Located centrally in northern Clare County, the farm consisted of 1120 acres. The soils are predominantly Roselawn sandy loam.and some Ogemaw sandy loam on which the cultivated crops and hay were grown. ILarge white pine and red pine stumps still remain on the areas used for pasture. Hr. Paige bought the ranch in 1902 from a lumberman, Mr. Blodgett. He built a large two story, 16 room house, a tenant house, a 98 foot by 100 foot barn and several other buildings. He planted 25 acres to apple trees. An estimated 200 acres was used for cultivated crops and timothy and red clover hay. The farm.was run by a manager, and general- ly carried 150 to 160 head of beef cattle. The cattle were bought in February and March and fed on hay and ensilage until they were turned onto the pasture in April or May. The cattle were then sold, a carload at a time, until all were sold by November. Leslie D. Robertson bought the farm in 1917 and sold it to Harry J. Collins in 1922. Operations ceased in the fall of 1928, and has Since been used only occasionally by renters. In 1938, Mr. Yake ob- tained the farm by a mortgage from Mr. Collins. At present, the large house is in need of repair and the farm buildings are sagging. Much of the land is now held in separate blocks of ownership, apparently for Oil speculation. NO. 9 Serradella Farm: Located in Iosco County seven miles north Of the city of Oscoda, the ranch consisted of approximately 4,000 acres bought in 1904 by Mr. Carl E. Schmidt, a Detroit manufacturer. The soil was a deep sand, formerly supporting jack pine and aspen. The purchase price was one dollar per acre. Of all the stories the writer has heard pertaining to farming or livestock ventures in Hichigan, this venture was by far the most Spectacular. Mr. Schmidt deliberately selected an area that Professor Roth, of the University of Michigan, Professor Kedzie, of the Michigan Agricultural College, and others told him was incapable of growing any» thing usable. At the time of the purchase, there were nine deserted cabins of farmers who had attempted to make a living on the area, and apparently had failed. The first Operation was to clear 320 acres Of the land of stumps to facilitate cultivation. On this he planned to raise winter feed for livestock and some cash crops. He paid one dollar per stump for each stump pulled. On one AO-acre field, he paid $3,850 for the stumps pulled. The first field was cleared of stumps, plowed, and planted to the best potatoes and corn available. The first harvest yielded six bushels of potatoes to the acre where ten bushels had been planted. The corn grew 14 to 18 inches high. This was in 1906. By 1920, these same soils were yielding 200 bushels Of potatoes per acre and the corn was over 6 feet tall. However, no estimate can be made of the thousands of dollars Mr. Schmidt spent on 10 fertilizers shipped in and the tons of barnyard manure purchased from nearby farms. He imported plants from all over the world. He named the farm after a European legume, Serradella. He imported machinery for working the farm. Plowing was done by attaching a plow to a cable run between two steam tractors. He employed men from Germany and Denmark whom he thought might be able to increase production. The livestock he tried through the years included Galloway cattle, Holstein cattle, sheep, hogs (1000 at one time,) chickens, Morgan horses and Percheron horses. Mr. Schmidt died in the early 1920's. At his death, the financial backing for the farm ceased. Some of the land was purchased by a few farmers, but they since have given up. The land apparently was not durable. The buildings have been dismantled. Most of the area is now in public ownership. The histories on the past grazing ventures were obtained by conversations with old residents, in some cases with the former opera- tors, from Old pamphlets and neWSpapers, and from county court records. The details in some instances may not be entirely accurate due to the inconsistencies in the memories of the Old residents, or their colorful elaboration of incidents and details. However, in most cases the stories from different individuals were essentially the same. The purpose in obtaining the histories was to attempt to dis- cover the reasons behind the decline of each grazing venture. It was hoped that these reasons would point out the land types unsuited to grazing and the management practices that appeared to be impractical. Following are those conditions and/or management practices which appeared to be responsible for the discontinuance of grazing ventures: 1. there cattle or sheep are carried the year around, winter feed must be raised on the area. The expenses incurred in buying and bring- ing in feed for livestock are prohibitive. 2. Where Grayling sand is the only soil type on the area, it cannot support a domestic livestock population. However, Grayling sand areas that are open to moderately covered with woody vegetation are successfully used in conjunction with better soil types. 3. Any area that supports a dense stand of trees, regardless of the quality of the soil, cannot be economically grazed. A. Cattle or sheep should not travel more than one mile to ob- tain drinking water. The areas close to water become overgrazed, and those more than one mile distant from.water remain very lightly grazed to unused. 5. The practice of using a cowboy to herd cattle or a herder for sheep has only rarely succeeded in Michigan. None of these herding practices have succeeded for any length of time on Open range. 6. Capitalizing beyond the need of necessary equipment and buildings has been a large factor in the decline of many grazing ven- tures. The Rainey Lake Ranch, the Richardson Ranch, the Paige Farms, and the Serradella Farms are typical examples. PROBLEM STUDY AREAS In June of 1940, 37 areas were selected in the northern part of lower Michigan which were being used wholly or in part for the grazing of livestock. The attempt was to select those pastured areas which are representative of the different types of grazing ventures now in pro- gress. By the fall of l9hl, 22 study areas remained. The other areas were dropped for reasons of lack of c00peration from the operators or because these ventures were not suited to the nature of the study. Table 1 indicates the locations of the remaining 22 areas which are here discussed. The Problem Study Areas were first mapped according to the Map- ping Procedure outlined. The acres contained in each of the units were then determined by planimetering. These units will then be grouped to form the Pasture Classes to be found in each of the areas, and the Animal Unit Capacity of each Pasture Class computed. The livestock carried on each area will be correlated with the calculated Animal Unit Capacity. Those conditions indicating the ap- parent success of each venture and an approximation of the wild game populations will also be presented. Note: It may be desirable to read the Mapping Procedure (pp. to ) to facilitate interpretation of the legends on the following maps. The sections on the Determination of Animal Units (pp. to ) and Wildland Pasture Types (pp. to ) will aid the reader to interpret presen- tation of data on each of the study areas. Table 1. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. ll. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. LCCATICRS OF GRAZING AREAS __. _____ A . h 1. I L mi .\ Legend: Bechdoldt Clemens Cornwall Davis Dickerson Frederick Hauck Hawk Jaruzal Katona King Lilley Mc Kay Reid Saunders Schearer Seymour Shull Stevens Thomas Whitmer Expt. Station m . SLLDIED ..__...__ «morn: we: ‘ tmtttwa emu. M UIWNILII " 4'er m: .aai AWMI— ' ymu‘ mil—:1“;— “- 4m, fau- wwm1o;%'t¢:‘? .. T81 “wart: wtxmficud'bom—aiztmw Lm‘ z‘fl— mac); .nrt I'Tiliu—1nuu:t [Wizawj— alarm: ' mung - (AM “we Inf-mn- math 4 “loam“ * I‘M—Am“ lwrtri Ll! ‘l;nor an" or "Alla—l: JIM —+‘1‘""’” “‘“Tv‘f-A'fil "twin 7|“- WI Wll‘UD m |IL team—L 1.41:1; (A row u Ju'anv EAL—1:“; lama? ——'!|m~7tmr Fun—u: ii“; in —_L~wr_7 'ruu mm’tu “~41"! WWI" -—J——- J— —L —L _L-_.'rw 13 Bechdoldt Area No. 1. This area consisted of one hundred and sixty acres located in central western Midland County where the Operator has been located for 20 years. There are 158 acres used for pasture, no hay or crOps are produced. Two acres are occupied by the yard and buildings. Calculation of Carrying Capacity Forage value areas by acres Carrying capacity per class by animal units Class II 2.2 Class III 3.0 Class IV 2.3 Class V 4.9 Class VI 0.0 Calculated Carrying Capacity 12.9 Animal Units Livestock carried consisted of 50 ewes and 40 lambs, a total of 12.5 Animal Units. 0n the face of the data presented, the area should be able to carry 12.9 animal units. Yet with 12.5 animal units on the area, lambs at 5 months of age averaged only 50 pounds each. The lambs were not only light in weight but were also thin. Poor management is the chief explanation. During the hot, dry months of July and August, grazing was confined to the droughty Rubicon sand areas, severely overgrazing these areas. The sheep were not turned onto the Newton sand area (wet in Spring and fall, moist in summer) until the rains had started in the fall. By the time the sheep were turned onto the Newton sand area, the A dense stand of second growth hard- woods furnishes little or no feed for livestock. Fig. 1 -4.»\_,,,,. W vv— \ ’ \r"\~ ‘\\\‘“¥~‘\“~A\A\\\--fl‘x Fig. 2. Dense lowland sedges furnish no ed- ible forage for livestock. 15 BEOHDOLDT AREA NO.| MIDLAND COUNTY SCALE: 3 IN.‘ I MILE '60 ACRES - 86 LF-P-M“/$s I CLP.wb—4"-I | . ILn-C‘Ja-Kfl I IO I F-Ig- {$759 I D o I - “Kn-59 I v '10 a pH, .9 H LEGEND 6 fig ‘1 E lIgSP.Cn-WB-4”'-1IEL _|:OE— IC’O . +6 I F—F-Ss F IP-wb-I-a. II. IKq-Pg-BK-cf 5&- ' 30 _ +5 Ii-F-Ss G Le—wb-w— 9. SE WEI—L G 10 ab F-P-"flg, H -wb~Sm-Em-‘l"-L 1 -9 -R -K -cr _G-. '0 46 -F-Ss J O I *5 4-6 — —$s J3 [Kin-MS°6K'C{‘MU 6‘! U ' 30 ' . 46 LF- F - Se l p . Ilia-CA-Rg-Qg-Cf G4 99-93‘5‘“ K9 Ga. 16 1? grasses had grown tall and coarse, and the area had become too wet for good sheep pasture. However, this Newton sand area would have been ideal for summer pasture, because it would be moist enough to permit growth Of forage throughout the dry months. The dry Rubicon sand then should have been used in the Spring and fall. The sheep would have grazed this way if they had free use Of the entire 158 acres, but the fence between the dry land and the moist land portions of the tract was not Opened until the forage on the dry pasture had been very heavily depleted. Clemens Area NO. 2. This unit consists of 600 acres in central eastern Alcona County, 360 acres being owned and 240 acres rented, and has been located here for about 8 years. Mr. Clemens is a farmer using little wild pasture, but depending primarily upon the income from alfalfa and vetch seed production. Of the 600 acres Operated by this farmer, only 80 acres were studied. This was a cleared field Of Selkirk loam, fertilized at the rate of 300 pounds Of 0-20-0 fertilizer to the acre. This resulted in a pasture consisting Of Dutch white clover and Kentucky bluegrass Of 100% density. On this area were placed 36 Hereford cows and their 33 calves, 11 two-year Old Hereford heifers, and one Hereford bull. This totaled 64.5 animal units carried on the 80 acres for 6 months. In December Of 1940, calves averaging between 8 and 9 months Of age aver- aged 526 pounds each. In 1941, the white clover-bluegrass area was severely affected by drought. For 6 weeks in July and August, the cattle were placed on an 80-acre alfalfa field. In November, 1941, the 7 to 8 month-Old calves averaged 428 pounds each. "*1 ._A-\....~—.~.»-_.-. ~— Fig. 3. ~,.« —-. v'—r‘— ww‘v A,/ -~_. J. Fig. 4. Bluejoint grass, CalamagrOStis cana- densis, on wet lands furnishes much needed forage to cattle in the dry months Of July and August. ._\ \ M\~--\\\ Droughty sandy soils produce limited forage for livestock. Only a small portion Of the ground is occupied by edible grasses. 18 I\\"'I “ ”is i‘§;/f‘ A A CORNWELL RANCH CHEBOYGAN a OTSEGO COUNTIES NO. 3 2.? U-6~Ls H “Em-Bws‘fM—Z fl L-w Go 0 2.7 U‘G‘Ls P—Wb—4"-2 IY L‘L‘Ci‘BF-BK 6; 20 27 U‘G-Ls P' Sm~I‘Z m 459‘64 6?- 50 2‘7 U~F~Ss o I P‘Kj-Cq GI 20 27 U‘F-Ss PC ‘2‘] I BI‘“Kq—Cq C}. IO 27 U‘GAL3~ IG Sm~Pc—F7—2 —2 DJ fi‘Cfi‘Mw Gz SCALE: 2 in.=1 Mile 44 8 0 Acre s I! _. AA AA 6 K I 9 N S" g u H ‘3; . u I 'l ‘T I] 0 II ; H K \ ”I M". ‘b H I |l ’l H H n R '1 u R H K II R L M p P R 3 R x R R R F R B p A C 2.0 F‘I - N\p P—sp‘cF-e'Mz m 0 Go LEGEND 2? R~F-Ls~/6 P~oK~$m —4'—3 spa—Kata»? I0 27 U-G ~45 Em~Hm~P~2—3 5'0 29 U—G—Ls-ZGB I 0E Kg‘Cg Dn-/Ww 5 Hm-Em- Ir 2 M21 Kq ‘Ml-U‘BK" GI" 6O 29 L/- 6 ~ Ls— 26 Em-Hm~Pc— I _2 Kq-Cq‘BK‘MW‘ GP 45' 7O F—I— Sb 0(Wp— 4'"— 4- Sfuups) Kq~ Dn-Mw 75 2‘] U‘G-Ls- 26 Ill Hm- Em~BH~4~ *Z L_r 2? U-6~/_se2(; Hm~Em~Pc -/-2 Kq~ C3 'BK‘ Mug CD 60 30~80 F‘I- Ms I Em~$P-/— 3 K —Dn~ GM- 5 70 .93 AA 29 5‘3 U~GcLs~ZG EM~Hm~Bu— 8H~2~3 [Sng-DD‘BK 60 2.? , U-G~Ls~ 26- 3:041“ 3 Cq-quRw-Mw—CF ’ 5‘0 26 UrG~A$-2,G— Em~$rn~ /~ .7) Kgst-Mw- C9 65 26 U~G~Ls~26 Hm - E m ~8w ~P—3m60% ~2 Cq‘ Kq‘Mw~ Hw 4-5 2‘7 UrG-Ls -/G Hm~Em~P< ~2-2 KchK‘MuJ‘hu GO 27 U-G~Ls—268 Em-Hm—Bw~8;.-4”—2 Kg'CS‘ 25 26-29 U-G~Ls- Sec: O KJ‘QS'AL - Dy; 70 (n w G: Q 20 Cornwall Ranch, Area NO. 3. This consisted of 4480 acres located in southern Cheboygan and northern Otsego counties. This tract was fenced in 1915 and leased for 5 years to the president of the New York Central Railroad. He ran 5,000 sheep on the area but scab and management troubles induced him to quit the venture. The present owner has run cattle on the area since 1920. For the last 7 years, he has had an average Of 243 steers with an average Of 582 pounds beginning weight and an average gain Of 180.5 pounds during the _ May to October grazing season. He carries no cattle through the winter but buys from.many markets in May and sells them as feeders in October. The sOils are predominantly Emmet sandy loam and Emmet loamy sand (Ref. 1). Calculatipn Of Cargying Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity Per Class by Animal Unit Class II 296 65.8 Class III 1537 219.6 Class IV 617 51.4 Class V 717 39.8 Class VI 1304 0 Calculated Carrying Capacity : 376.6 A. U. As the map (Area NO. 3) indicates, most Of the area was lightly to.moderately grazed. From all indications, the area is capable Of carrying more animals than have been kept. In 1941, it carried 340 steers averaging 700 pounds midsummer weight, 67 ewes, 2 bucks and 69 lambs, a total Of 323 animal units. tat '"e': coma are well 1 rabbit S W! sa'mee C: are rents V“. :orage V Class I Class 1] Class 1] Class 11 Class V R‘ ‘ ’ Y7 ‘VACSS the :- 21 watering spots are well distributed ttroughout the entire area. They consist of numerous springs and the Sturgeon River. Deer and elk are well represented throughout the area. Only a few partridge and rabbits were noted. Davis Area, NO. 4. This area consists Of 1080 acres located in southeastern Kis- saukee County. Eight hundred and twenty acres are owned and 260 acres are rented. The present owner has been on this area since 1905. Calgulation of Carrying_Capacityfl Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Unit Class I 12 6.0 Class II 358 71.6 Class III ‘ 73 9.2 Class IV 35 3.9 Class V 170 1.9 Class VI 109 0.0 Calculated Carrying Capacity : 93.6 A. U. Livestock carried on pasture consisted Of 40 milk cows producing, on the average, 600 pounds of milk per day, 10 heifers, 100 Old ewes, 50 yearling ewes, 80 lambs and 10 young horses, which gives a total of 93.0 Animal Units on pasture. The fact that the cows were fed silage, hay and grain at the barn would discount the actual load carried by the pasture. As indicated (map NO. 4.), the pastured areas were light- ly to moderately grazed. DAVIS A MISSAU ms: 2 IOBO ac L DJ! Z S La DAVIS AREA No.4 MISSAUKEE COUNTY SCALE: 3 IN.= l MILE I080 ACRES N M I 8b F‘P‘LC fl L O G- c+—Sq 0 O I‘S‘ Fc-F’Ls N P~Wb-/~7_ 17- IMGS LEGEND 35‘ 8/ 13 15 F-3~ c.-/a p-12 La , F—s-za D P~ M/A—4’-2 1’ H EW‘SN~3w-4U"3 E Q 0 If Kg~7;“-l3§ ~wc 5’2 LP so, 9° Wc~l<fi~l3n 3 60 "0 95' 40 8/ la‘ 20 -p- F—P~/wc_ If F—S~C¢-~ ’3 71 Y Z Mr E: B pA4/JI“/ )4!— E Pr S‘m-Wb-l‘z IJ R GO ' LR 6b Kq~n-m—G G3 a, LF 5” 80 J ‘30 o 8/ 40 I5 _ I3 ' “- - Fer-LL: F~ - c./ ;:~/3~Mc E:/‘ G L I,_ y”. C S C 6 11 F 0 [I K P-M/b-L‘Z- y s P~\A/b~M/,_-4"2 p‘ \A/A‘SM-l‘l‘ Q3 R ‘ S 62 K ~C ‘BK‘B ‘S G). ngcr-8q Go "EL~Tm*%-Hc C‘R‘I , 30 - J ’0 ’75 80 22 23 The Operator usually plans on having 40 acres in crOps each year. These include corn for silage, turnips and oats. He has 120 acres in legume (alfalfa) hay. Occasionally, deer are seen on the area. Fox squirrels are numerous along the river bottom; partridge and rabbits are scarce. There have been no predators for several years. Dickerson Area NO. 5. Located in northwestern Xissaukee County, this area consists Of 340 acres. The owner has 256 acres in pasture land and 84 acres in crops. The crOps consist Of corn, wheat, buckwheat, oats, alfalfa, potatoes and some land lying fallow. The soils are predominantly Blue Lake loamy sand with some Kalkaska sandy loam that is under culti- vation. Cglgulation of;9ar;yinngapacity' __ Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class IV 94 7.8 Class V 53 3.0 Class VI 109 0.0 M..— — A —— Calculated Capacity : 10.8 Animal Units —— — wiv— vi On this area were carried 11 milk cows, 4 dairy heifers and one bull, a total of 14.5 Animal Units. The cattle were very thin, and milk production drOpped severely in July and August. As indicated on the map Of Area NO. 5, the pasture was severely overgrazed. The forage was almost entirely Canada bluegrass. M— . ._v x. ..r._..... _ .1. _ fix. ” .. _\_ . -_.:_l. T..J d z. T s .. _ ._ T. ..\_ 7. .. ..i T .1 .. .1 r». s—-'———»l \. Al- 30 ES 2;. ' L—n-_______ . -.. x)‘«' I mg. 1....— __ ._ 28 Fig. 6. Scattered trees permit the growth of a fairly good grass cover. The trees also provide shade for cattle in hot weather. Fig. 7. Ranching operations are successful on areas well covered with edible grasses. ‘HAUCK AREA no.7 MIDLAND a ISABELLA COlNTlES SCALE: 4 m.-I MILE GOO ACRES A . D A m a9 IA M‘”" N C I a 'II ;II «I u E A7,, LEGEND p ‘ 15 _ ‘ “L m: H F OK-‘I” -| LE. jG'o H 0 V' _ :5 . GIT-IF-S-Ls’ fill I d (IMP-4'- F L52“? 191 5’5 l L '73 1 F-S-Lc F-I-Lc D. 0 If HIEM—HM-Ok-U"-3 In KQ.TM-RT J l L K: jet so 9.0 85 _ 35 I5 -5. [ F-S-Ls ~F-L 1 EL 0 ‘5’: d -a-: -R.f '92. k. - +~C . - 8- w G. 30 so 3° -u- . .. o . ‘L - . .. -A . 4 n \ . we“ 00". ‘. .'~ I I . \ i n I I n . I a C . i ‘ I 4 . | . -_~’ . l » . l -. I u . 3 ' '\ I I u u I \. . I v‘ ___ J ° ' I v l f f' \ I . Q I I 1 I I i _ _ A 7‘7 -- v-r— , . W 1‘ _ . - ‘ r . . . . «~—_ ~. 30 The buildings were adequate and in good repair. Modern machin- ery and equipment were used. This venture in livestock apparently was successful. The cattle and sheep were in good condition at all seasons of the year. The calves at 8% months of age averaged 400 pounds, lambs weighing 85 to 95 pounds were marketed at 7 to 8 months of age. Cattle and sheep are wintered on alfalfa hay. Hauck Area No. 7 This consists of 600 acres located centrally on the line between Isabella and Midland Counties. The entire 600 acres is used for pas- ture. The cattle are bought in Texas and Colorado in the spring, pas- tured in the summer and placed in the feed lot in winter on the owner's farm in Isabella County. They are sold as fat cattle in the late win- ter. He has Operated here since 1930. The major portion of the area is cleared. The soils are prin- cipally Munuscong sandy loam, Ogemaw sandy loam and Griffin loam, (Ref. 2). Water is supplied by three flowing wells and the Salt River at the south end of the areas. The forage is predominantly Kentucky bluegrass. Calculation of Cargying Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II #79 95.8 Class IV 96 9.6 Class VI 25 . 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 104.4 Animal Units 31 Livestock carried consisted of 100 head of 600 pound steers and 30 head of 500-pound steers, a total of 101 animal units carried. The cattle were all grade Hereford steers. The 600-pound steers gained an average of 1.37 pounds per day on pasture while the SOD-pound steers made an average gain Of 1.2 pounds per day. The only game noted on the area was numerous rabbits. Hawk Area No. 8. The eighth area studied consists of 240 acres located in central Gladwin County. It is divided into one 80-acre and one l60-acre pas- ture which are rented to local farmers. The BO-acre pasture is prin- cipally Saugatuck sand. 80-Acre Pasture Calculation of CarryinggCapacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class III 70 7.8 Class IV 10 .7 Calculated Carrying Capacity : 8.5 Animal Units Livestock carried consisted of 27 ewes, 27 lambs, and 7 head of 600-pound heifers, a total of 12.4 Animal Units carried. The pasture was severely overgrazed, the cattle were thin, and the lambs gained slowly. The lambs weighed 75 pounds at 7%.months of age. The l60-acre pasture was mainly Saugatuck sandy soil, Newton sand. HAWK AREA No.8 GLADWIN COUNTY SCALE: :2 m.-1 MILE 24o ACRES 36 F- - . P 55 I]: K- - Gs 60 P556 L~5 o A 1 P‘K-S ’62 20 ———¥-z LEGEND Cr- 5». 4'"- a F:'--P."/|s “-37" 15 32 33 l60-Acre Pasture Calculation of Carrying Capacity; Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Unit A Class II 141 28.2 Class V 17 1.0 Class VI 2 O Calculated Capacity : 29.2 Animal Units The livestock carried consisted of 75 ewes, 65 lambs, and 13 600-pound dairy heifers, a total of 28.7 animal units carried. The heifers of the same type as on the 80-acres pasture were in better condition. The lambs at 7 months of age averaged 80 pounds. The pas- ture was more moderately grazed. No game of any kind was noted on either of the pastures. Jaruzal Area No. 9. The 520 acres comprising this ranch are located in central Otsego County. There are 320 acres of wildland pasture and 200 acres in the farm. The pasture has about 250 acres of Rubicon sand and 70 acres of Kalkaska sandy loam. The farm, 200 acres, is Kalkaska sandy loam. About 20 % of the pasture has a moderate stand Of aspen and white birch. The remainder is open stump pasture. The forage is predomin- antly Kentucky bluegrass with poverty oatgrass and sand sedges. In 1941, the crops consisted of 20 acres of potatoes, 120 acres of alfalfa and mixed hay, 23% acres of oats, 8 acres of corn, 4 acres of wheat and 7 acres of sweet clover. ,4.-.‘ ~\»..‘_'\““_ g <..\- Fig. 8. Good grade cattle are produced on good wildland pasture. 4"“< _/-/‘*"..._/\.._,,-.'..-~ .V. . ..V .\\\ \ , x '\ Fig. 9. Deferred grazing allows extra growth of pasture plants in the early spring. 31; JARUZAL AREA OTSEGO COUNTY SCALE: a m- I NILE no.9 AL 0A Wu G ' A s. " AL'PoIAL C. | AL N It LEGEND 46 46 -F-$s II F-F-Ss A P-Sm-U' — a. c, 9-5..- 9.41. 1: Ka-Cg-BK-EL ‘ Kg-CQ-E-St b a. 5 9.0 50 7b ‘71 ‘79.. F-F-Ss-Ig- JI - -S .11 t-F-Ls m c a0 c 53 E cox} G3 G .LA. to; / ”59:- e- 9’ 5- g- | ~ 1:5 9.5 o 7‘ L9. '70. U'F‘SS-‘j” - oLS I { - - O o‘ -s —4'-‘ ,I F - ....,., .. H o ax-Katg-wq. Gt Kg— L)» ,G“ CiJ‘Iw-Qg’ ~10 - 3.0 9.0 5'0 u C. I . ul‘. - - . _ L .vvlll. .. ,. 1.. I. . .f . -I- t I . .. . n 1 II I ~ . ‘6' . 1‘ .2..- . a .I. \ .. -I It a a . r p . I. . ‘ ~. — . . .. r . . . . . . . . . . ...a I III I. r In. . 'p .L.---.._..,.....4.. - I 36 Calculation of Carrying_Capacity; Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class IV 230 19.2 Class V 78 _5.2 Class VI 39 0.0 ———— VT— — i —— Calculated Capacity : 24.4 Animal Units w: ——1— Livestock carried on the area consisted of 29 dairy cows and 15 dairy heifers, a total of 44.3 animal units carried. The heifers remained on the pasture at all times during the season. The dairy cows were on pasture only during the day. The cows were fed grain and hay at the barn and kept in overnight. Portions of the pasture were heavily overgrazed. Partridge were scarce on the pasture. Deer tracks were occa- sionally seen. Butterfat production of the 29 cows in May was 541 pounds; June, 5&2 pounds; July, 537 pounds; August, 473 pounds; Septems bar, 553 pounds; October 1-15, 236 pounds. The operators' buildings were adequate and in good repair. Katona Area No. 10. The 584 acres are located in southern Alcona County. Of this, 544 acres are owned and 40 acres are rented; 90 acres are cleared of trees. The operator started here in 1925 with no land cleared. The soils are Nester loam, Roselawn sandy loam, and Roselawn sand. Forest cover is principally maple, aspen and oak. \._ """‘V*\~'\..~ ~ “r. Fig. 10. Good water resources are good assets for livestock production on wildland pastures. .4 v-Wo #1,-.. FA- -\ -.. . . \ Fig. 11. The cut-over wildland areas of Michi- gan have many clumps of trees to offer shade to cows and their calves. 37 KATONA AREA NO. l0 ALCONA COUNTY sons: 3 "I.- I HILE 534 noses N 1 LEGEND F- P- MC IL E-G-Lc. I D s -C -P-‘I"'-3 C, H Rwh.Hm-II"-a, C:- 0 ° ~K -c .w "‘I I O 05 #18 16 all R-G-Cc U-F-Qs R-Gr-Lc. A P‘sm-""L :- E 0 it 4 P-Qb-l-Q. in K Ade-Cg. 9" Kg-Cg.P'g-SS ' K9,-C? 9.. '70 ' '30 to 9.3 lb 11] U-G-Lc. . . U-F-Se E.Q -LC. BIOME-I‘mollfifumiz 413 I] OK- w- a. I K a CI:- '§1-KII- x 6'- ‘P3.§9-C3.Kt .60 JK -c — On. a. ‘10 ID to 9.8 f 35 In, LG-Lc U-G-T-s I-F- -s C P~UJb~Hm-4"-& +1 G P-U .5..- ”’. E L? 9 I Kg-cL-BKJUQ— G, ‘ Ln. 50 4 ga - (3+ 9‘ . . 0 I5 2.5 38 ~~Ia -—-~o- _.,.-_ C‘ Y / Ole. )’ - -‘ - - — " -.-.-. vyv- 'A ‘ - ‘I 4\ .’\ I. O“ ’--— --. nYI . ail. I ‘l IIIll. x _ I .. I I 14 u H . . \ . I . \ \ d.. \ It ‘I. w l../. L. . K .D I .(v‘ . x .o . . I . .t . . I. _ . . . , . . O . _ a . n. . x . . t. . ~ a s .1. . _ I g I. \ L ‘ .‘l 1". n. \ . ~ H. v 4 \3 U . . .1 \n n. n . . . to: . .‘ . 1‘. \ k /p s I/ .g o . .s . . . . / . c r .m. . . .1 .. 4 v . . m .I . . . a _ , ' ... . a . . . . 4 . , a v a § k . I ‘ IIIIII‘II III?! .III.-Q.VIII>..II II. I I II-...II .‘..-..... .. ~__q._‘. __ __, _-. ....a 39 Calculation of Carrying_Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 139 27.4 Class IV 120 10.0 Class V 100 5.0 Class VI 61 0.0 Calculated Capacity : h2.h Animal Units The livestock consisted of 93 ewes, 108 lambs, 5 beef cows, 5 head of 700-pound heifers, and 5 calves, a total of 35.5 animal units carried. At 7 months of age, the lambs averaged 85 pounds. The calves at 9.months of age averagedflAZO pounds. Crops consisted of 88 acres of alfalfa hay and 16 acres of corn. Deer were numerous on the area, and there was a heavy partridge population. The operator's income was supplemented by carpentry work. The farm.buildings were adequate and in good repair. The house was new and modern. He used Power machinery, and two horses for farm work. King Area No. 11. This 400 acres is located in southwestern Montmorency County. He is using 200 acres of wild pasture. There are approximately 80 acres of Grayling coarse sand, 150 acres of Roselawn sandy loam and 170 acres of Emmet sandy loam, (Ref. 8). In the pastured area, 25% is covered by jack pine and oak, 25% is covered by aspen and 50% is Open. The operator has been here for 19 years. I33.» Kaine... Fa an»! .Miuia.» .. KlNG AREA J10. H MONTMORENC COUNTY SCALE3 4 lN-= l MILE 400 ACRES C Po 3 AL F In AL E A B C D F :Yd Bw TM AL LEGEND 59 . CU) F— F-Ss ‘ U_ C7-Ls A Jp- 4 '-a. 1 F a o m: F’g-Qs-Tq~w9-DM Ga. Fla—K —TM Ga IO 50 5‘? 16 F -F—Ss U- Cr—Ls 5 OK—5p—P-4"-Q_ 1 a P.sm-ox-wb-Rp-42/ I P .Kg—Cg-wg—DM Go. Lfit-Kg-Sg so I0 0 9.6 1b _ _ H n— 31F— M .- I .Ac-Bws M Go 93 4o ’70 35 35 ab U—F-Ss U~ F— 935 U-G-Ls D 9_ 1,11! _ 9_ E d 0 IV; N 0(Hm-P-4”1 as’fimrs) Ill: K9~Cs~Pe-SF G,” Ac-C9-93~Ps-5% G—o KQ—DN era :5 9.0 50 35 35 9.6 Ju—F—ss _ U-G-ZlLs E_0(P~9M 4”-as+umrsl E K _05.E.wb-sr-sc-4”-a. I p HM- 1.4 — a 3D: jK ~SF—BK 93 _Pg—Ss-BK-K5 6'0 Ln. 5'0 IO 0 5o Calgplation of CarrYinglCapacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 27 5.h Class III A7 6.7 Class IV #5 3.8 Class V 163 9.1 Class VI 73 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 25.0 Animal Units The livestock consisted of 17 head of 700-pound heifers, 7A ewes and 58 lambs, a total of 33.0 animal units carried. The dairy heifers remained in fair condition, the lambs at a months averaged 50 pounds. However, the pasture was overgrazed, and the lambs were usually sold by the middle of July at the 50-pound weight. This was done to relieve the pressure on the pasture. CrOps consisted of alfalfa and timothy hay, buckwheat, corn, potatoes and wheat. Considerable deer damage was done to crops. Par- tridge also were numerous. The farm buildings were in good repair, but the house was rather small. The Operator used modern power equipment. His income was oc- casionally supplemented by carpenter work and lodging and board for deer hunters. Lilley Area No. 12. This area consists of 29 acres located in central eastern Alcona County. It is part of a 320-acre farm. The 29-acre area is cleared r/ , .1. ,7» ,,,,,.,‘u..»—v‘.,.—‘4..—~,_.._ a. .mWN--vW ~-~. ~ ‘ “g \ ~\ 1‘ "N ‘M\““\‘\ \« L'~ ‘x..- *'\._‘ Fig. 12. An abandoned field on a slowly drained sandy loam soil that now makes a class II pasture. #3 Selkirk loam and Houghton muck. The forage was a Class I stand of Dutch white clover and Kentucky bluegrass. The area had been used for sheep pasture for 10 years. The area in l9A0 was heavily grazed. In 19AO, the area carried 80 ewes, 7A lambs and 39 wether lambs, a total of 27.5 animal units. The lambs averaged 80 pounds at 5% months of age. In 1941, the 29 acres carried 71 ewes, and 61 lambs, a total of 17.2 animal units carried. The lambs at 5% months of age averaged 75 pounds. The pasture appeared to be lightly to moderately grazed. Por- tions of the pasture were grazed close, while other Spots carried grass of considerable height. McKay Area No. 13A, 138 These two parcels, a total of 840 acres are located in central Midland County. It was divided into two nearby parcels, 500 acres in 13A and 440 acres in 13B. The principal soils are Newton sand, Rubicon sand, Mbnuscong loamy sand, Munuscong sandy loam and Ogemaw sandy loam. Calculation of Carrying_Capacity in 13A Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class . by Animal Units Class II 17 3.h Class III 48 6.9 Class IV 92 7.6 Class V 2l9 12.2 Class VI 9 0.0 Calculated Capacity: 30.1 Animal Units MO KAY AREA NOJBA MIDLAND COUNTY SCALE: 3 INJ I NILE 400 ACRES L -B C. LEGEND a 86-36-45 a -P-Ss A lawgswy-a !1 BK-B ~K ‘ '5 4.1.) on IO 15-55 F-S-Ls B MmeMF-s IE KG-Bk-Bi‘SG-UG Cf. 9.0 £5 A F-F-Ss C . -g. 11 K - ~C ~Bk-Ba 9: 30 6 F-F~S§ I D will: a- g-Kfl-Hw 6'3 30 I36 _E:_E-_S_L E E-[QE-Bn-l- 9.. In: Ka- L 3- "' 9 G" Z 36-86 F-P—Ss g.wb—Em~Al-q”-§= L_fl' r 3' L :5 £3 F-G-Ls Q Kr: .Ce-th . R. o- 65 1'4- ‘5 F- P-Lc 105.0“. 4.0:. ‘75 .5 F—p-Ss ML , lag-Se- IF- O 5 L5 k 0 Rs-ts-“s-QL 60 RH - .— - 1 . . 1 1 . _ 1 .. . . , I 5 _. . V 4 ' . _ A: 7 \ 1 1 . . 1 — A I . .7 ‘ I r . r 1 - — — .1- , . - .1 - i | . wfl ‘ I ' ~ ‘ . '1 ‘_ I on v - . + .— 1 . - —- — ~ .— - — r . u - .. . 1-. _ 1 - . .\ . - I h ’ ' \ a a n -- .1 I - 1 . ‘ n1 - —. A — .- . I ' L , 11 - _ _ I. n ‘ - . n _ ' . 45 Livestock carried on 13A consisted of 18 Shorthorn cows with 18 calves, a total of 25.2 animal units. The area throughout was moder- ately grazed. Cows and calves remained in good condition. Yearling calves from this area averaged 605 pounds. Calculations of Caggzing_0apacity in 138 Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units i—— _‘ fl Class II 20 A.O Class III A3 7.2 Class IV 94 8.5 Class V 109 6.8 Class VI 32 0.0 \ Calculated Capacity : 26.5 Animal Unit Livestock carried on Area 13B consisted of 30 dry Shorthorn cows, 1 Shorthorn bull, ten 600-pound heifers, a total of 36.0 animal units carried. During a portion of the dry months, the cattle were grazed on second cutting alfalfa to relieve the load from the pasture. Cattle remained in good condition throughout the grazing season. Cultivated areas were occupied by 90 acres of alfalfa and mixed hay, 31 acres of corn and 15 acres of potatoes. The work was done en- tirely by hired help, 3 men. The owner is a Midland realtor. Reid Area No. 14. This area consists of 720 acres located in central Alcona County. The soil is predominantly Emmet sandy loam with some areas of Saugatuck sand and Carbondale muck. Twenty percent of the area is densely covered MC KAY AREA NO. MIDLAND COUNTY SCALE: 3 IN.= I MILE 44o ACRES [BB 2 LEGEND 745 A—m G1. H-Hw.8e-9b co 26 F— P- Ms B P. mpg/"41 11 Le ~59 9‘0 O 36 F—P«Ss C WP—P~gM-‘/”’-9~ 1': LE G'0 O qq F— F~9§ o P-g/n—wP-Q-Q. 32: P —BK—Hw—K3~B£ C79" lo . 319 F-- P— 95 E P.5M-sM—AL—4"Lo.flf— _LR.-R.F~Ss—9 C70 0 ’36 _ F- P-Bs F wa~H~~4"— 9.. 3T. Bk‘BR‘LR-S -P ~11.) G'l IO 6 U1 F—Ss G wa -1~9\ E K9-C9'95~Ga - Mu G3 30 IO F—S-Ss H wa-EM-‘lm-o. 1 LR-Sg—Ss (3'0 0 6 U—F-Ss d P-wb-4"'-oc a: LR1 G- O O I. x F — F‘— 95 ‘ s Em.A~-CR-wlo—‘/”-3 31 K -LR.. G3 4 < 14942;. 59; - 3:“, 0—3 so P6 F- P- Ms swam-4&2. 31 SS—Kg—BR-wg 0‘1 9.0 )3115 U— G-~Ls wb- EM- |~’A, III— Kg-Cg-Q5-TM 93 40 I8 U—G —Ls p.wb-sm-oa(-¥”—3 I Bk-K5-er-w9 G—, :5 15 — ‘ IL s-' 9- 'N 6‘3 no 3b F-S -35 SM ~Lub- ‘~/’—9._. 11T— Ks-C9-0~-ss 6'; 50 55 9.5 5-9448 F —S~ Lc P-h)b~EM—0K-4’-3 I La-Kg-€g18a 5’9. IO 84—18 _ F- S-Lc. IL ‘EM-OK—wb-Q-Q— Kg -Rg- a— DN 6—3‘ '70 #7 by principally aSpen and white birch; 56% is moderately covered; 13% is improved pasture; 7% is alfalfa hay; and 4% is in buildings and lake. Calculation of Cargying Capacity _, Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 93 18.6 Class IV 176 13.9 Class V 224 11.2 Class VI 142 . 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 33.7 Animal Units Livestock carried on the area consisted of 40 ewes, 40 lambs, 15 yearling ewes, l2 Hereford cows, 2 head of 600-pound Hereford heifers, and 10 Hereford calves, making a total of 30.4 animal units. The live- stock at all times was in good condition. The lambs at 4% months of age averaged 78 pounds. The 9-month calves averaged about 400 pounds. The operator had a portable sawmill which he used for cutting lumber from clearing operations. The lumber paid for his clearing of the land. Alsike clover and sand vetch seed were broadcast over each area after clearing. The land was then used for sheep pasture for 4 years after which it was plowed and seeded to alfalfa after the stumps were pulled or blasted out. Numerous Deer and partridge were noted on the area. Saunders Area No. 15. This unit consists of 1080 acres located in central Otsego County. The operator owns 920 acres andxents 160 acres for pasture. L8 _ 11‘. hvfl““‘\~ .1_-»_\ »\ Fig. 13. Thin cattle and denuded soil are the results of overgrazing on sandy soils. Fig. 14. Overgrazing does cause depletion of grasses, leaving the exposed soil subject to wind and water erosion. REID AREA NO. l4 ALCONA COUNTY SCALE: 3 IN.‘ I MILE 720 ACRES AL H §"\" 9. LEGEND 3.1-36 2.6 IR‘G- LS - — c - I ~I-IA- OK- ‘I”- 3_leC To 3 k- e 530- K-g Ua ' K ~Ac-Uc-Sv-BK '20 6 as lR-G-Lfi R-Gr-Lc. - - -0K-’l' - _ D ~RUB-Bc‘ib-a. R-S - 9 GO Ka-Ua- ' k- 9 0 4o _ ’70 - ~M¢ E en-Sp- raw-a. In: _ 0 0-0 0 Jo F- P-Mc F, o ’1 g-C - 9 G; :5 35 j P 54. G E E ” IE. Ln. 6-0 0 2.6 35 _ R- G- L5 1 PEM'SM J" 3 J1 DK- Ln- K9 “1 JG- I5 49 I-II‘IIII'III: .- ---...a.—‘u- ——o x. \ \ . a.“.\ ..\. ‘ I a — . o - — _ r. F I‘ll: “ a o I. II. \t a . \ . r 1“ . . ... _ O . . ‘ u '1’. i 14 I \ to .I.‘ ‘ . a . ~Q ’ I l y .t .4“ . ‘1 r a. . 1 N f. .I.s ”A .. a Jr..4 I / l \ . . _ v u l .0 I. IIIIL ."—~~ ’Itnt‘l'l II ‘ . I. .I ¢b.\. -~h ,1 r. 50 Approximately 500 acres of the area are covered by a spruce-cedar swamp, 400 acres anaoccupied by a medium stocking of aspen-white birch, 130 acres consist of abandoned farm land and 30 acres are in alfalfa for hay. The soils are predominantly Rifle peat and Emmet loamy sand. Calculation of Carrying_Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 35 7.0 Class III 225 32.1 Class IV 91 7-7 Class V 42 2.3 Class VI 647 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 49.1 Animal Units Livestock carried consisted of 49 Hereford cows, 40 calves, and 11 head of 600-pound steers and heifers, a total of 72.9 animal units carried. The area had been in use for only 5 years, with a much smaller number of cattle. It was heavily overgrazed. The cows were in a thin condition, the young stock at 16 months of age weighed only 640 pounds and were lacking in condition. Eight calves born in the spring of 1941 died shortly after birth. No signs of game were noted on the area at any time. This area was in need of a sharp reduction in the number of livestock. The owner, a Gaylord dentist, stated that he was losing money on the venture and that he intended to quit the enterprise. 51 ,1,1_// 1 ,1, Fig. 15. The gasoline pump and concrete water tank economically furnish good water where lakes, streams or Springs are not plentiful. SAUNDERS AREA N0. l5 OTSEGO COUNTY SCALE: 3 IN.= I MILE l080 ACRES 9.6 R- F-SA ' K 0 II K —Q -C -Mu) Cr3 LEGEND '70 ’4-6 46 ’10 15 U—F~Ss U~F~95 In: F~P—/VIC Q-F—Ss A P1wb-LI”— 91 II D o G e sp1ch-Tm.Lw-z/w_11 L 9M_P_wb_ l//_ 1 10'— K‘B'Bk‘SS‘l—‘L 6'3 KS~Q9‘TW‘~ C9 3 5w C77 Kq~Cg-Hw-Ac 93' 9.5 (00 O Lfo 45 '70 ’16 58 i U - -S R— — <3; 8 -wb-4'-9. IL 5 (Ln—SP-Bunnea SH: H 0 III M=ZSC K —C ~ Bk Cr; 0+ ~ 59 _G'I Qo-TM- K 93 '49 ~T~I G—a so 0 60 9.0 ab 15 3t? 9.6 U~F.Ss I?— F—Qe U-F-Ls D: R—F—Ss C P—Bc-Bw-Suj59. 1' F Rmb~%m—4”—a 3“— .J P.wb-'/”-Q. , N am 1 a—a 1L K9~Ca-Ss-8K G, sK—La—ss Cr. Kg—Csfia C's Kg —89 6‘3 30 5 30 5o SCHEARER AREA MIDLAND COUNTY SCALE! 3 IN.= I MILE 380 ACRES WW 3541 B A Rh A‘ WA A. I A'- Y: to NO. 16 > "I LEGEND I4 F~ Q ~ La 0 IL K3~Mu—Ct—Mw 6-3 '70 14 ‘17— Cr -Lc1 HM-BI’I-EM~AI1-L/m-4 171: LR-Sg (73 O 13 F- G- — LC. Hm~BII—Bw-em-4"'~4 EL Ln. Geo O 13 L F-G-LC D 0 IE K9-Qg~R+-N\w @- a. '70 1’3... — ‘P—wb-Sm—LI’UQ E ‘Kg-IBK ~59 (3’1 3.5 ”~36 F‘ P- ‘55 o 311 sc-o9-RI-I9 (’71 lo (5 F—P—Ls N LUU—l‘l 11: ‘K -R+-wg—C+ 6'3 ‘-IB 85 P P.3l~uo%)~u 1"— '1 CT G—l 0 ll F-S-Ss R P—SM-TMiI-g . 11:- KfiMng—wc-BK-C-I' 6—3 35 /4 F~F—Ls 5 amt—sm-W-s ‘ BK~P —S ~LIL , 5 I4 F—P~ Ls P-Lw-Sm-AL—4”—5 89 o I3 0 I $9 6;, IO 53 5h Schearer Area, No. 16. This area consists of 380 acres located in northwestern Midland County, of which 280 acres are owned and 100 acres are rented. Wild pas- ture available consists of one 80-acre tract, two 40-acre pieces, part of a lOO-acre area and part of a 40—acre tract. The Operator has been located here for 43 Years. The soil consist chiefly of wet sands (Saugatuck, Colwood, Newton). The cultivated areas were occupied by 93 acres of alfalfa and mixed hay, 30 acres of white beans, 18 acres of corn and 9 acres of wheat. Calculation of Carrying Capacity __ Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class - by Animal Units Class II 20 5.0 Class III 77 12.8 Class IV 32 3.2 Class V 17 1.0 Class VI 73 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 21.0 Animal Units Livestock carried consisted of 100 ewes, 100 lambs, 9 head of 400-pound Hereford steers, a total of 30.4 Animal Units carried. The areas were heavily grazed, but when the pastures became short, the sheep were turned into alfalfa fields to relieve the pressure on the pastures. The stock was in good condition throughout the season. The lambs aver- aged 65 pounds at 3 months of age. The buildings were in good repair and the operator lived comfort- ably. SEYMOUR AREA NO.I7 OTSEGO COUNTY SCALE: 3 m.- l MILE no acne: LEGEND 18 ° , ‘ - “S‘lL—E 9.6-1 A. M-EM-4'“- I LR. (yo 0 , 16-33 , R-Q-g‘ng - 9.6- _ 8 M°E - 9.’ _ K5- Dunn-Ac Ga 80 ‘bo '42. cCr-Ss/Ls-9.Crb D E-wb-4"'-a_ I. LrL-LIJQ Go 0 ’41. R-G-Qs/Ls - 10h ‘ 5 M-Bs-4”’-:L 321 Ln. 0.. 0 O 2.6 - -L F’ 9 I am 6'3 40 H1 _ F-G-Lc J1 G 01 J Se‘AL-K: J65 Bo vIl‘lllI . . t.. 1 .. . . I a III: 1 . ,. . . . . _ . .. IIIII . 1. 1 1. __ _ r 1 u. u . . ‘ 4 . . I . . I I. . _ 9 I r A . A . I . \ a I. . .4 II I I . .1 . . . , . . _ . , . . 1 . w ..a I.. s I I l. . w I ‘I—I \. I. 1 I.. c . IIJ . I . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 4 . . _ i 1 . 1 w _ . _ 1 1 1 _ . 1 . . 1 1 . . r _ 1 . . . II . . I III 56 Seymour Area No. 17 The area consists of 260 acres located in central eastern Otsego County. Of this 246 acres are pasture, 12 acres are in alfalfa and 1 acre is occupied by the yards and buildings. The operators have been located here for 10 years. The soils are predominantly Emmet sandy loam, Nester loam and Blue Lake sandy loam. Approximately 20% of the area is densely covered by second growth hard maple and elm, 50% has scattered maple and elm, 15% is open grassland, and 10% is in alfalfa and brome grass. Calculation of CarryiggfiCapacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class I 12 6.0 Class II 129 25.8 Class III 75 10.7 Class VI 30 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 42.5 Animal Units * Livestock carried consisted of 30 head of SOD-pound Hereford and Angus steers and heifers, 2O Angus cows, 16 calves, a total of L7 animal units. The area was heavily grazed in some units, and would not have carried the cattle if it had not been for the alfalfa and brome grass improved pasture. The Operators were establishing 20 acres more of alfalfa and brome brass pasture. The calves, when the study started, weighed A00 pounds and made an average gain of 201 pounds in 3% months on pasture. Cattle at all times were in good condition. 57 Partridge were noted occasionally on the area. The operators, two retired men of the U. S. Navy, had a supplemental income in the form of pensions. Shull Area No. 18 This unit of 3663 acres is located in northwestern Crawford County. The land had not been grazed for several years prior to being fenced in April, 19hl. The soils are Kalkaska loamy sand in the valleys, Blue Lake loamy sand on the slopes and Kalkaska sandy loam on the up- lands. (Ref. 6) About 20% of the area is moderately stocked with pin- cherry, hard maple and elm and 80% has scattered pin-cherry and elm. Calculation of Cargying Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class III 1505 ~ 215 ‘ Class IV 1703 155 Class v 311 18 Class VI 1AA 0 Calculated Capacity : 388 Animal Units Livestock carried consisted of 1891 ewes and their lambs making a total of 473 animal units. The livestock were on the area from Apil 15 to August 10 or approximately 2/3 of the normal grazing season. There was also an accumulation of feed from previous years. Consequent- ly, the area appeared to be lightly grazed. The lambs at 3% months of age averaged 51 pounds at the time they were taken from pasture. 1 Fig. 16. Young aSpen Pouulus gp., furnish a portion of the feed for cattle on wildland pasture. Red maple, Acer rubrum, is also browsed. .m, (“-1-un Fig. 17. The area to the right of the fence has gone ungrazed. That to the left has been moderately grazed for 21 years. 58 SHULL AREA No.18 CRAWFORD COUNTY SCALE: 2 IN.= l MILE 3663 ACRES LEGEND 58 U~c-Ls~agcb A VPc~EM-Bw-F—l~l ILT1 KELE-Bk-BR-Mw 9| 60 4! S - F-Ls — 9. Gb 3 PQ-CC-EM-HM-Bw-P-‘lil E K9-3K~BR-C3 G— 40 .— ill S-G-Ls — a GE C L’s—”AWL 2- 1(9er or H 9~0 ao ‘ F—I-M _ 0’ o ,1 3.9 _6’1 15 b P:-Cc- P-l " K .C 3- '9-BK~ Dm 30 55 F—(‘r-Ls 4.1% T «J Hm-EM~BM—|l"’—'.L Jill Lk— $5 5’0 o 55 F—G—Ls- 9. C7 a—sM—Be-:-n 31: _Q -T‘M -Mw G", (05 H I 60 The Operator, a stockman from near Clare, Michigan, was well pleased with the results on the pasture. The chief difficulty encoun- tered was the obtaining Of a competent sheepherder to care for the sheep. Stevens Area NO. 19 This area consists of 920 acres located in central northern Missaukee County. The Operator has been located here for 38 years. The soils are mostly lowland wet loams, principally Selkirk loam. There are also some higher dryer soils, principally Ogemaw sandy loam and Rubicon sand. The forest cover is varied. Calculation Of Carrying Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Unit Class II 96 19.2 Class III 99 11.0 Class IV 395 30.h Class V 139 7.7 Class VI 88 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 68.3 Animal Units The livestock carried consisted Of-18 dairy cows, 10 beef grade heifers, 5 yearling grade beef steers, 30 beef grade calves, one Here- ford bull, 80 ewes and 70 lambs, a total of 58.8 animal units carried. The pasture in general was lightly to moderately grazed. The dairy cows, 18 in number, for the last 3 years averaged 177 pounds of butterfat per cow per year. In 1939, for the six months On pasture, the cows averaged STEVENS AREA NO. MISSAUKEE COUNTY SCALE! 3 IN.= I MILE 920 ACRES l9 Z C1 55 A —3zr1 Go 0 13 F- P—Lc b o I 99~Bg-cr 0;, :5 I?) F‘ S‘CG C O 312 Kg‘vas—R; G3 80 1’5 F-9~Cc. D o It [Dc—Hg- 89 G3 80 H: F—F—Ls E WP ~I-4/ H1_C9~BR-P9 C7, 40 :5 F—P—Ls- IG— F P—LOb~TM-SP~’7U”—/ II 89 Go 0 3b F~S~L9 G P—Lu‘o-Ltu—4Ll I '49-‘38-59—w9 CT: 3,0 40 — H spam—9-4 "ha 11‘. 0 I5 F— F—Ls IG— 0 wp—q'w amps) 1T£ H9 -419 ~DN-(AJc *Mu G- 510 LEGEND 15 _ F-F—Ls IG- _P-Lob—Al’~ 1' .K ~C9-Bk—P (3" 9.5 9" 15 F—F-Ls IG— 0 E K9TC9‘CF G“! 30 13 F-P-Lc. o 11 59— 89 G—, 910 13 F-P-Cc =P-wb—4”-91 fl 61 915 .10 F— P-Cc Lw-P—TM-L/l" ~l y:- 59 ~89—C-T 61, IO [3 F— P—Cc Lw— P- 4’—l 11 K —S ~LUG GB 3‘3 Fig. 18 An area containing dense clumps Of hardwoods intermingled Open grazed areas. .- 1, ~.‘ ’v—V" mvrvv- 1 ‘ \11 <\ 1, 1\ — \.\ \«\ 11‘~‘11 \11~11 Fig. 19. Veeds, grasses and brushpiles denote an area recently cleared of a dense stand of hardwoods. This is the first step in pasture development. 63 95 pounds Of butterfat per cow. The lambs at 6 months Of age averaged 86% pounds. In 19Ll, the gross farm income amounted to $3,799.33. This may be itemized as follows: 1001, $288.53; Cottage rental to hunters, $217.81; Sale of lambs, $A2A.00; A.A.A. payments, $129.70; Total butter- fat, $1358 (3,522 pounds); beef cattle, $7hl; hogs, $381.85; misc., $258.6A. Deer frequented the area occasionally. No other game was noted. Thomas Area, No. 20. This unit of 1280 acres is located in northwestern Ogemaw County. The operator has been located here for 2h years. Approximate1y50% of the area is covered by oak and some aspen, too dense to Offer any forage; the other 50% has either scattered oak and aspen or is cleared for culti- vation. The soils are predominantly Roselawn sandy loam (Ref.7). ‘Calculation of Carrying_Capacityfl Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 61 12.2 Class III 307 h3.9 Class IV 80 6.7 Class V 18 1.0 Class VI 616 0.0 Calculation of Carrying Capacity :53.8 Animal Units Livestock carried consisted of 30 Hereford cows, 30 Hereford calves, l Hereford bull, 10 head of 600—pound Hereford heifers, 5 head of 600—pound Hereford steers, 80 ewes and 70 lambs, a total of 63.5 THOMAS AREA NO. 20 OGEMAW COUNTY SCALE: 4 m; l MILE I280 ACRES LEGEND lb —F~55 9.6- A OK-Sm—P—WP-RP1LI"’1a, IE SSILR‘M5-BK-Pg GO 5 35 N ‘ U—G-fiL-S QG‘ B , 0K - I—a1 _Ha—Qe~5F~ M C79“ 50 35 c _If C7, 30 lb F—P—MS D_:V1” c. IO 1 ‘T 35 U- G—Ls 16- E OH-9M~P- “—2, I LR1U)g-f5 (To 0 35 U-C7~Ls 9.6- F 0K~P~gm~4l—Q, :1 K SF-BK (‘7, 9.0 91 F—FLM G 0 1”: LF e7, 35 U-G-Ls a6- 5 H o I 6c. 6"; '70 65 animal units carried. Calves at 9 months averaged 420 pounds. Lambs at 6 months averaged 84 pounds. The sheep remained on the area to graze throughout the season, but the cattle grazed only about 2/3 to 3/4 of the season. The rest of the season the cattle were grazing free on surrounding areas. In 1941, 10h acres of the area was seeded to alfalfa and brome grass for pasture. The operators believed the home area would then be sufficient to graze the cattle for the entire pasture season. Sweet clover had been used for pasture for the sheep. The cultivated areas were used for 27 acres of rape for hog pasture, 34 acres of corn and 43 acres of alfalfa hay. The farm buildings (see Fig. A) were adequate and in good repair. The farm was very well equipped with machinery. The venture appeared to be entirely successful. Deer were very numerous on the area. Thirty to forty deer were commonly seen on a 26 acre alfalfa field in the evening. No other game was noted. Whitmer Area NO. 21 This unit consists Of 640 acres located in northeastern Clare County. The Operator has been located here for 20 years. The area was logged in 1890 and burned over in 1918. Approximately 37% of the area is now so heavily covered by aspen, soft maple and white birch as to Offer no feed to livestock; 16% is moderately covered with aspen, soft maple and white birch; 37% is fairly Open; and 10% is in culti- vation and buildings. .A .-<-,.. ‘ -vx1 «.1. .1.»—~A.—-‘—. Fig. 20. Wandering cattle lightly graze this area now covered by a heavy grass sod. .11 -vv1._.~1 --4 r1 1.,-< 1 1 \1 1, 1 1 11 ‘7 1 _ '—1, \»1—11 \,1 ~11] Fig. 21. Many good quality sheep are produced on such wildland pastures as this. 66 WHITMER AREA NO. 2| CLARE COUNTY sons: 4 m.- I mu: e40 ACRES 67 U-Gst *1 ‘5 - -wb-wh-'~I'-3 IV:— Kg-‘Tn-SLBk-Ug _G-9_ 15 U I 3 if 1 AR LEGEND . I5 . lb 1 I U F LS I [U- F-Ss I AlsflP-Lob- 85- 4'11; [I D ~5M-O -g. E Ems: Ss Bx- Me. jc, c .w 49- 3g 61 0 3o lb ’6 L u- F- S. * l c F- 35 1 a - b-SM 4"'— aha: E P- -Sm- 4'- 91 1 LE- Bk-59- 4.09 J03 K -C3 3- Sf _G‘1 0 so If; g LF-f- Ls FL». mg 9-9. 3 Jim: “(9. SF- PQ- C9 193 45 '3 -$-Lc Em-hs K9 - Gig—r" BO .L1._LI I5 Iu- F-I_.s - a c... ‘ M Pkwy": flg‘unPa I IE ~j9-C3-Sf-Cf 1 Cr" 55 _ 40 F- P-Mc. R AL-Se-V"’-I Er. .[ 52 o O .III {1.}?! IIIIIIIIII1- 0. I t ‘5 Ilki .I!‘ I411... -. .\ R . s \ V lu .0 A x. {I\ X «f . . r . -§ 1 i x i . 1 .1 I. .\ )1! 1 .. r . I. II . . . . 1 u 4.. 1. a . o I . f 31 I . .1. I .. 1 _ - 1 II III I v 1 I .4 ill .1... . . . . _ . _ , 1 1 . 1. I l I... L . .1 I II I III .11 1 . c. . III: 1 \ r . 1 x . x {P v ' I 1 and ‘1 It» 1» .f . .. .1. a . s P o I I ‘I I . nus . l 1 II- lacllxt‘ u‘nxlff...- -l! . ‘31 IIIO‘I. I .l‘ 68 Calculation of CarryinggCapacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 1 .2 Class III 93 13.3 Class IV 212 17-7 Class VI 250 0.0 Calculated Capacity : 31.2 Animal Units — Livestock carried consisted Of 10 dairy cows, 6 head of 700- pound dairy heifers, 71 ewes, 58 lambs and one dairy bull, a total of 29.5 Animal Units carried. The cattle were in fair condition. The lambs at 5% months Of age averaged 83 pounds. The area appeared to be grazed at capacity carrying ability. The locality had a heavy deer population and many deer were seen on the area. However, no deer were noted at any time in the same pas- ture with the sheep. The Operator had a supplementary income as a mechanic for the County Highway Department. Lake City Experiment Station Area No. 22. The area consists Of 156 acres located near Lake City. The problem area was selected in June, 1941 with the purpose of obtaining grazing records over a period Of years. The other study areas, numbers 1-21, Offered no definite promise that a prolonged study could be carried on. At the Lake City EXperiment Station, a 60-acre field was selected. This had not been used since 1930 and had grown up to numerous Species 69 of woody vegetation. The trees and shrubs chiefly aspen, red maple and hazelnut, were about one inch in diameter an the average (see Map No.22). The soils were predominantly Ottawa loamy sand, Hester silt loam and Arenac sandy loam, with small spots Of Newton sand. The field was bounded on the north by the Xosquito Creek. This area was designated the "Wild Pasture." In the fall of 19Al, 7 study plats were set out on the area, each marked out by A iron pipes driven in the ground. Ocular estimates by plant species and photographs were made of each plat. The plats were set out in the 7 different conditions or types of pasture that existed in the 60-acre pasture area. The plans are to have each plat area Ob- served and reported on each year and more detailed comparisons made at the end Of 5 years. On June 4, 1941, 12 Hereford cows and their 10 calves were weighed and placed on the 60-acre Wild Pasture. Similarly, 12 cows and their 10 calves were placed on a 56 acre field of alfalfa—Kentucky bluegrass- white clover pasture. This second pasture, designated as the "Control Pasture" with its cattle was used as a check on the "Wild Pasture." Every 3 weeks, weights were taken of each group of cattle during the pasture season. During the dry months of July and August, the cows on the Wild pasture droppedin weight, but the calves continued to gain in weight.‘ The cows in the "Control Pasture" lost very little in weight, and the calves continued to gain. One cow in the "Control Pasture" died in August, causes unknown. On October 29, 1941, the cattle were removed from both pastures, and their weights were taken. Following is a table of weights taken June A when the cattle were placed on pasture and October 29 when they were taken from the pasture. EXP'T STATION AREA No.22 MISSAUKEE COUNTY SCALE: 4 IN.'-' I MILE I56 ACRES H F n I5 F—G-Ls . Q o _T_r_r J Ks-Ce—Hw 0-0 50 V N l- 18 9.3-97 O LI~S—LC F-G—Ls A J 0(Hm—awb-L/m—a‘51w R 0 IE M KQ-Hw—IUc -CT 2. Kg .Tm-R+— Fee. (53 N m '15 '70 R M Q8 I3 W K_1 s-_ I r “ ——_cr. —sg-ag 90 N as I5 18 . 9.8 F-G-LC. , F—G—Lc. L 5M-P—wb-0R-4”—91 1‘: T's ~#”—l 3C1} H9-Bg~99 CT; _K —c -Hw— m o 9.0 40 518-85, ‘ [91-17-36 F—G‘~Lc F—G—Lc M. O l V. 0 I Kg~Hw~LUO C"3 IKQ-DN-AF-HUJ~UJG C73 LEGEND '75 80 8— I3 25 _ '5 an~8¢ P‘I‘ " *LS F-P-Lc F—P—Lc _Fss fi—“flmc 12_1la|:ag_3z .F e . , ~ ~Lw~=l-' m E —|—3 31 w PAL— 411-: I —Jfl”_ as -Lub~’~/’—l E -G G-‘PSM N m 13%:th am: 3 C 9169 as W 4 __Gs 39-99 .91 59 39 G. 55 w IO 15 40 10 IO as 1.91 9.8 :91 ‘ 20 . IO— 86 as F-G~'—s m _J£ mn- ‘ F-P—Mu F—C—r—Lc B 5M.p_wb_wh-L/”-Q E D—iIL F Sm~P-wH- A-I c7 H-_IL PIAL_I,l”—I E Y-_1'I- Hank—saws 93 W 3 Kama—Ce 3 -—Ga 5 -s 0 (3'0 <90 _ ' IO 50 9.5 40 CO «.~’\_,v-x.-a. ---\-\» .1-1 Fig. 22. Loamy sandy soils lightly grazed produce good summer feed for live- stock. ‘M\_\\ -1 \1 _ ' 1 *\»1\ Fig. 23. Wildland pasture, hay and silage built these buildings and keep them in repair. 72 Weights of Cattle at Beginninggand End of Pasture Season Control Pasture Group Wild Pasture Group Weight of Weight of Total Weight of Weight of Total bate 12 cows calves weight 12 cows calves weight June 4 11,096 974 12,070 10,921 1,058 11,979 0ct.29 11,092* 3,673 14,765* 11,576 3,644 15,220 * 11 cows; an 880 pound cow died in August. From the table above, it can be seen that there was no signifi- cant difference in the gains made by the cattle on the two pastures. Throughout the season, the cattle were all in good condition. Upon inspection of the two pastures, there was a small reserve of feed left on the Control Pasture. 0n the Wild Pasture, the forage was very closely grazed and nearly all woody vegetation was severely browsed. Apparently, the reserve in forage that had built up during the previous 11 years was depleted. The writer's Opinion is that during another season, the number of cattle must be reduced on the Wild Pasture. In the grazing seasons to come, the weights on the cattle will indicate to what extent the livestock load should be reduced. Probably, the livestock on this Wild Pasture should be reduced to 6 cows and their calves. Wild Pasture Calculations of Carrying_Capacity Forage Value Areas by Acres Carrying Capacity per Class by Animal Units Class II 9.4 1.9 'Class III 36.2 6.0 Class V 14.4 .8 Calculated Capacity : 8.7 Animal Units I.) Animal Units Carried : 16.8 (12 cows + calves.) There is a possibility that the pasture will improve under use. If this does occur, then the pasture will be able to support from year to year more than the anticipated 6 cows and their calves. However, this is very doubtful under the extremely heavy grazing to which the pasture was subjected during the 1941 grazing season. ufi‘ N-“ 54"..- ~ 9‘. \ Fig. 24. The plat frame used in establishing the pasture study at the Lake City Experiment Station »_,A...,v