PASTURE PRODUCTION

AND UTILIZATION

in the aspen parklands

of Western Canada

1+

Agriculture
Canada

PUBLICATION 1546 1974

630. if

Pub. 1546
1974

PASTURE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION
IN THE ASPEN PARKLANDS
OF WESTERN CANADA

MELFORT RESEARCH STATION

RESEARCH STATION STAFF

S. E. Beacom, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D.

Forage Production, Harvesting and Utilization

D. A. Cooke, B.S.A., M.Sc. (Program Leader)

W. E. Coates, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D.

D. H. McCartney, B.Sc, M.Sc.

J. A. Robertson, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D.

S. 0. Thorlacius, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D.
J. Waddington, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D.
Cereal, Oilseed and Special Crop Production and Utilization

Director

Forage and pasture production
Forage harvesting systems
Pasture management
Beef cattle nutrition and

forage utilization
Sheep nutrition and forage

evaluation
Forage ecology and weed control

K. E. Bowren, B.S.A. (Program Leader)

A. G. Castell, B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D.

W. F. Nuttall, B.S.A. , M.Sc, Ph.D.

D. J. Warnock, B.S.A., M.Sc.

Tillage and cropping

Crop utilization (swine nutrition)

Soil fertility

Crop variety evaluation

CONTENTS

Page

PERENNIAL PASTURES 1

Management 1

Forage Production 1

When to Put Animals on Pasture 2

Stocking Rate 2

Removal of Livestock from Pasture 2

Pasture Clipping and Spreading Droppings 3

Fencing 3

Animal Management 3

Effect of Pre-pasture Feeding Practices 3

Rotational Grazing 4

Supplementary Feeding 5

Bloat 8

Other Management Practices 8

ANNUAL PASTURES

Oat Pastures 9

Varieties 9

Management 9

Advantages 10

Disadvantages 10

Animal Performance 11

Steers 11

Lambs 11

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PASTURE PRODUCTION AND UTILIZATION IN THE
ASPEN PARKLANDS OF WESTERN CANADA

Dryland pasture production in the parkland area (Figure 1) varies consider-
ably from spring to fall and from year to year. In an effort to increase and
maintain forage productivity, the Melfort Research Station for a number of years
has been conducting experiments to improve methods of pasture management. This
publication gives the results of some of our work on both perennial and annual
pastures.

PERENNIAL PASTURES

MANAGEMENT

Forage Production

Forage yields depend mainly on available moisture, temperature, soil
fertility, and type of pasture management. In an experiment at Melfort, dry-
matter (DM) production of brome-alfalfa pastures in the first 7 years following
establishment averaged 3660 lb/ac, but varied from 1570 to 5120 lb/ac (Figure 2)

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60 61 62 63 64 65 66

67 68 69 70 71 72 73

Precipitation
Apr 1 - Aug 31
Oct 1 - June 30

Nitrogen,
lb/ac

11 10 10 5 10 9 3

14 13 10 9 12 12 7

150 150
0 0

9 3 6 12 7 11 11
12 7 10 11 6 13 11

3 9 5 11 11 7 18
8 8 6 13 9 9 12

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 67 100 75 75 0 0 0 80 80 80 80
Figure 2 - Brome-alfalfa pasture dry matter production, Melfort, 1955-73.

Another variable is the seasonal nature of herbage growth. During the 7-
year experiment mentioned above, 70% of the total production occurred by the
1st week of July. Since the nutrient requirements of livestock are relatively
constant throughout the grazing season, plans for pasture management must allow
for this seasonal variation in forage production.

When to Put Animals on Pasture

Pasture, especially alfalfa or clover, should not be grazed in the spring
until the herbage has reached a height of 6-8 in. Most legumes require time to
establish food reserves in the roots before being grazed or the plants may
weaken and die. Some grasses, such as crested wheatgrass and Russian wild rye-
grass, and the legume sainfoin commence growth in early May and can usually be
grazed by the 3rd week in May. Other forages, such as bromegrass, intermediate
wheatgrass and alfalfa, are seldom ready for grazing until the 1st week in June.

Stocking Rate

The variability in DM production of dryland pastures makes the choice of a
suitable stocking rate difficult. At Melfort, production of 3000 lb DM/ac is
probably a realistic long-term average for an adequately fertilized brome-
alfalfa pasture. Stocking at the rate of one steer per acre, on the average,
allows yearling steers to gain 2-2.5 lb/day during the grazing season (about 100
days). In years of above-average precipitation, some excess herbage is available
to put up as hay or silage. Harvesting the surplus is practical only if the total
pasture is subdivided into several fields. Harvesting should be done in early
July to allow regrowth for grazing later in the season. If it is assumed that a
DM yield of 3000 lb/ac provides sufficient good-quality pasture for one steer,
the stocking rate for any area can be estimated from the average hay yield for
the area, relative to that obtained at Melfort.

Once the long-term average stocking rate has been determined, modifications
are required annually to allow for the variation in DM production. Assuming that
the level of fertility is adequate, the amount of rainfall before the beginning
of the grazing season (June 1) can serve as a rough guide to the carrying
capacity of the pasture for the season, compared with the long-term average.

Removal of Livestock from Pasture

In rotational grazing systems, livestock have to be moved from pasture to
pasture periodically throughout the season. Ideally, the animals should be moved
when the growth has been grazed to a height of 3-4 in. During the period of
rapid growth in June, it may be preferable to move the cattle before this point
has been reached, so that all pastures can be grazed before the plants advance
beyond the flowering stage. With a four-field rotational system, each field
should be large enough to provide grazing for 7-14 days.

Unless a rotational grazing system is used, pastures containing alfalfa
should not be grazed from September 1 until freeze-up. This allows the alfalfa
to build sufficient food reserve in the roots to survive the winter and establish
growth the following spring. Additional areas seeded to either crested wheatgrass
or Russian wild ryegrass usually provide excellent grazing in late fall and allow
the main pasture area to be rested.

Pasture Clipping and Spreading Droppings

In spite of good management, grazing may be patchy on some fields, espec-
ially if a continuous grazing system is used. When this occurs, livestock tend
to avoid the areas in which the herbage has matured and to overgraze the re-
maining area. Unevenly grazed pastures should be clipped to a uniform height,
preferably shortly after the animals have been moved to another pasture. If this
is not possible, clipping once a year either in late fall or early spring is
advisable.

Urine patches and cattle droppings can also result in uneven grazing, as
animals tend to avoid herbage growing close to either. Once dry, droppings can
be broken up and spread by harrowing. Fertilization of the pasture largely
eliminates unevenness caused by urine.

Fencing

A strong, well-constructed fence around the perimeter of the pasture is
particularly important. One consisting of four strands of barbed wire or page-
wire, with posts 16-18 ft apart, is recommended.

If rotational grazing is practiced, electric fences can be used to advant-
age for internal fencing. One strand of barbed or smooth 12-gauge wire, attached
to steel posts 25-30 ft apart, is usually adequate. If 110-volt current is
available, the high-voltage controllers are effective over several miles of
fence.

For additional information, see bulletins T-l and T-54, Pasture Fencing and
Fence Post Preservation, available from the Family Farm Improvement Branch of
the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture, Regina.

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT

Effect of Pre-pasture Feeding Practices

Calves - Restricting the gain of calves during winter has sometimes been
recommended to maximize low-cost gains on pasture the following summer. However,
in the Melfort area the winter is long and the grazing season short. A 400-500-
lb calf requires about 8 lb/day of medium-quality hay for maintenance. An
additional 5-7 lb of feed could provide sufficient nutrients to produce a gain
of approximately 1^ lb/day.

An experiment was carried out in which calves were wintered to gain at one
of three rates - 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 lb/head per day - and subsequently placed on
brome-alfalfa and oat pastures. The different rates of winter gain were obtained
by feeding the same ration (70% roughage and 30% grain plus a protein, mineral
and vitamin supplement) at rates of about 9.5, 12 and 14.7 lb of feed/head per
day. The results are illustrated in Figure 3.

Rate of gain on pasture was inversely related to rate of winter gain. For
every extra pound of gain put on during the winter, steers gained 0.5 lb less
during the pasture season (compared with those wintered to gain at the lowest
rate) . However, wintering to produce the higher rates of gain reduced the cost
per pound of gain for the winter feeding period and resulted in a heavier, more
valuable animal at the end of the grazing season. Therefore, if yearling steers

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100 140 180
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260

300

340

Fi-gure 3 - Effects of pre-pasture feeding practices on rate of gain of steers on
pasture.

or replacement heifers are to be pastured, it is recommended that they be
wintered to gain approximately 1.5 lb/day. On the other hand, if you are buying
cattle at the start of the pasture season, select those that show evidence of
being wintered at a low rate of gain as, other things being equal, they will
gain more on pasture than cattle wintered at a high rate of gain.

Pregnant Cows and Ewes - With a breeding herd or flock, winter feeding
should provide just enough nutrients to maintain cows or ewes and produce strong,
healthy offspring. Feeding more than is necessary during winter increases costs
without producing any additional revenue. If sufficient pasture is provided dur-
ing summer, the animals can be brought into good condition for breeding and main-
tained in good condition until the start of winter feeding.

Rotational Grazing

With yearlings, the objective of any grazing management system is to supply
enough good-quality herbage to allow animals to gain rapidly throughout the
season. Too often, much of the gain obtained during June and July is lost during
August and September due to a shortage of pasture.

One way to improve both animal and pasture management is to practice rota-
tional grazing. For this, the pasture area is subdivided into a number of fields

about equal in size and separated by electric cross-fences, which are less expen-
sive than conventional fencing.

An advantage of this system is that livestock graze more evenly if restrict-
ed to one portion of the pasture at a time; otherwise, they tend to overgraze or
undergraze some areas. Rotational grazing also makes it easier for a pasture
manager to assess the amounts of herbage consumed and in reserve and, thus, to
decide if the stocking rate is adequate and whether or not there is surplus
herbage that should be harvested for hay or silage. The main disadvantage of the
system probably is the additional cost of cross-fencing and providing additional
watering facilities.

Supplementary Feeding

The use of supplementary feed on pasture allows higher stocking rates and
also allows rate of animal gain to be maintained at a more constant level, both
from year to year and throughout a grazing season.

For the past 7 years, researchers at the Melfort Station have been compar-
ing three methods of supplementary feeding of yearling steers on pasture with
one in which stocking rate is adjusted to the herbage available (put-and-take) .
The methods include:

1. Maintaining a constant but low stocking rate and feeding back surplus
pasture preserved as silage.

2. Maintaining a high stocking rate and supplementing with oat soilage dur-
ing the latter half of the season.

3. Maintaining a high stocking rate and supplementing with rolled barley.

The barley was hand-fed beginning in early July. As the quantity and
quality of pasture declined the allowance of grain was gradually increased from
2-3 lb/head per day until the steers were on self-feed. The objective of these
pasture treatments is illustrated in Figure 4, where nutrient requirements of
the animals are compared with the herbage available for grazing. The results,
costs and returns of the 7-year experiment are summarized in Table 1.

Of the three supplementary feeding methods tested, barley has shown the
most promise. In addition to allowing an increase in the stocking rate, feeding
grain on pasture increased average daily gain and, in most years, many of the
steers carried a sufficient degree of finish to grade Good or Choice by the end
of the grazing season. During the period of the experiment, this method also
gave the highest net return per acre (which was obtained by deducting the initial
value of the steers and the supplementary feed costs from the final value of the
steers). However, at current (1974) values for grain and feeder cattle, feeding
supplementary barley would produce lower net returns than the supplementary oat
soilage treatment.

The oat soilage treatment also allowed an increased stocking rate and main-
tained animal gain at an average of 2\ lb/day. To maintain a supply of oat
soilage of good quality, three or four sowings at 2-3-week intervals beginning
in late May are necessary. A forage harvester and either a self-loading wagon
or a wagon that can be used as a self-feeder are required. If oats are to be
used, it may be more practical to completely graze the permanent pasture area

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Figure 4 - Comparison of nutrient requirements of steers with herbage available
for grazing.

and then to either graze the oat pasture or to move the cattle into drylot and
zero-graze the oats.

The pasture plus silage method has allowed an almost constant stocking rate
throughout the season, but at a lower level than for the treatments in which
supplementary barley or oat soilage were fed. Also, the net return per acre was
well below that obtained from the treatments in which supplementary feeding was
practiced.

The put-and-take method (stocking rate adjusted to pasture supply) is an
efficient way of utilizing the herbage. However, under this system, many of the
animals must be removed during the latter part of July and August and may have
to be sold at a time when other cattle are coming off pasture and prices are
low, or be finished in the feedlot during a busy season of the year. Table 1
shows that the returns for this method of management were lower than for any of
the methods with supplemental feeding.

Research results suggest that if grain is fed on pasture, a daily allowance
of 0.5-1% of body weight fed during the early part of the season will increase
rate of gain. Feeding more than this amount when the pasture is still in a lush

Table 1 - Supplementary Feeding on Pasture

Treatment

Put-and-take Pasture and Pasture and Pasture and
method silage oat soilage rolled barley-

No. of steers on test (24 ac) 36

Av. initial wt, lb 695

No. of steers off test 15

Av final wt, lb 950

Av stocking rate, steers/ac 1.05
Range in stocking rates,

steers/ac 1.59-.62

Av daily gain, lb 2.23

Liveweight gain/ac, lb 244

DM produced/ac, lb 3394

DM consumed/ac, lb 2898

Supplementary DM fed/ac, lb 0

Days of supplementary feeding 0
Supplementary DM fed/steer/day,

lb 0

24 35

697 694

20 31

958 947
.97 1.35

1.22-.62 1.56-1.12
2.27 2.23
252 333
3677 3787

(includes silage)

3004 3211

(includes silage)

484 889

(included above)

37 55

14.0 13.3

35
695

31

993

1.36

1.58-1.12
2.64
389
3796

3204

1031

75

10.4

Costs and returns (1974 estimate)

Cost of steers @ 40<f: (4% shrink)
Cost of buying and trucking

85^/cwt
Cost of supplemental feed

(air-dry basis)

- silage 6 3/4*/lb

- green oats @ 2<fr/lb

- barley @ 5<fr/lb
Est. investment in pasture

equipment (includes interest)
Value of cattle sold

- light feeders @ 43{

- heavy feeders @ 46<fr
Cost of marketing @ $1.10/cwt
Cost of pasture @ $25/ac

$9,523.52
202.37

$6,688.99
142.14

96.80

$9,478.72 $9,699.43

201.42

474.13

206.11

1,374.67

54.00

6,773.76

6,294.65

339.63

600.00

1.729.17

8,522.42

248.03

600.00

1,412.43

12,902.23

344.66

600.00

1,341.56

14,057.42

370.48

600.00

$

$

2,402.89
100.12

2,475.63
103.15

3,215.73
133.99

3,094.29
128.93

Return to labor/yr
Return to labor/ac

condition results in poor utilization of the pasture and little or no additional
gain compared with that obtained on pasture alone. Grain intake can be restricted
either by hand-feeding or by the addition of salt to the rolled grain. A level of
10% salt in the grain mixture will limit intake to about 6 lb/head per day. If
salt is used as a method of controlling intake, ample quantities of water should
be available within a short distance of the feeders. As soon as herbage consump-
tion exceeds herbage production (usually during the latter part of July), the
amount of grain fed can be increased gradually. By the end of the grazing season

the animals are accustomed to consuming large quantities of grain and, if not
completely finished, can be placed in a feedlot on full feed until ready for
market. There is some additional risk associated with the feeding of grain, be-
cause of increased incidence of bloat, but with reasonable care this risk can be
minimized.

Bloat

On pastures containing grass-alfalfa or grass-clover mixtures, there is a
risk of bloat. This risk is usually greater on regrowth in August. Observe these
general precautions:

1. Keep legume content of the pasture to less than 50% (by weight) of the
total dry matter.

2. Avoid grazing pastures after rain or a heavy dew, if possible.

3. Provide supplementary grass or oat hay.

4. Cull bloat-prone animals before losses occur.

Unfortunately, none of these precautions provide complete protection. When
bloat occurs, animals should be drenched. This can be done orally by means of
either a long-necked bottle or a pump stomach tube. A number of commercial bloat
preparations are available. Mineral or vegetable oils are usually effective.
Walking a bloated animal may help to initiate belching.

The legume sainfoin does not cause bloat and the variety Melrose is suf-
ficiently winter-hardy for the parkland belt of Western Canada. Although more
information is required concerning the management of this crop, it appears to be
promising as a nonbloating pasture legume.

Other Management Practices

Minerals - Grazing animals require supplementary minerals. Cobalt-iodized
salt should always be available free-choice. In addition, a mixture containing
70% of a calcium phosphorus supplement (such as bone meal or calcium phosphate)
and 30% cobalt-iodized salt is advised. Some commercial mineral mixtures contain
a small quantity of molasses to improve palatability.

Growth Stimulants - Implants such as Synovex and Ralgro are widely used for
finishing cattle in feedlots and can be equally effective when used for growing
and finishing cattle on pasture. Synovex-S is suitable for implanting steers and
Synovex-H is intended for use with heifers but should be used only on heifers
being grown for slaughter. When placed on pasture at a weight of about 700 lb,
steer calves implanted with Synovex-S gained 0.55 lb/day more over the grazing
season than similar unimplanted steers.

Control of Flies - Flies and mosquitoes can cause considerable discomfort
to animals on pasture and may reduce rate of gain. Among the worst offenders are
the stable fly, which tends to attack the legs, and the horn fly, which congrega-
tes in clusters on the withers. Horse flies are occasionally a problem and black-
flies may be a pest in pastures adjacent to streams and rivers.

8

Although no long-lasting fly repellants are available, a number of insecti-
cides provide some relief from flies. These include Ciodrin 20, Methoxychlor
(50% wettable powder), Ronnel and carbaryl (Sevin) . The usual methods of applica-
tion are as a high-pressure spray or by back rubber. Follow manufacturers'
directions when using insecticides.

Vaccination - Blackleg and malignant edema are two infectious diseases for
which cattle should be vaccinated. Vaccination is very effective and should be
done at 3-4 months of age and again at 1 year. The dose recommended by the
manufacturer should be given subcutaneous ly.

ANNUAL PASTURES

In drier areas of the parkbelt, the use of annual pastures is recommended
to stabilize production and extend the pasture season. When moisture is limiting
for several years in a row, a long-term, grass- legume stand can become very un-
productive whereas a cereal crop grown after fallow could yield reasonably well.
Sometimes cover crops are required to control erosion and these can be a useful
source of pasture when fencing and the provision of water do not present
problems.

OAT PASTURES

The best annual pasture for northern Saskatchewan is oats. Research at
Melfort has shown that good oat pastures extend the grazing season by as much as
40 days. This often enables the livestock producer to produce finished beef that
can be marketed off pasture. Areas not required for grazing can be harvested for
silage, oat hay or grain.

Varieties

Varieties developed for grain production, such as Garry and Rodney, were used
in most of the studies with steers. In lamb tests between 1970 and 1972, the
grain variety Fraser gave the best overall results when compared with two other
grain varieties (Harmon and Kelsey) and a potential forage oat variety (OA-123-1).
In a 1973 test with lambs, Fraser was compared with another forage oat selection
(IH 1863-4) and two feed wheats (Pitic 62 and Glenlea) . Fraser again gave the
highest gains, although both the forage oat and Pitic 62 produced higher yields
of dry matter.

Management

The following procedure is suggested:

1. Select a field that is to be summerfal lowed and divide it into four areas.
Important considerations are ease of access, fencing (electric is recommended)
and water supply.

2. Have a soil test done to determine fertilizer requirements; otherwise,
apply a fertilizer such as 23-23-0 with the seed at not less than 70 lb/ac.

3. Seed one area about mid-May, if oats are to be the sole supply of pasture;
or later (about mid-June, depending on expected date required), if oats are to
supplement perennial pastures. Seed 70 lb/ac. Seed remaining areas at intervals

of 10-14 days, for a continuing supply of oat pasture throughout the summer.

This also allows for rotational grazing, as oats recover well and may be grazed
three times in a season.

4. Commence grazing when oats are 9-10 in. high. If oats are grazed earlier
cattle may scour.

5. Move cattle when oats have been grazed down to 3-4 in. Rotate them quickly
enough to avoid any marked change in the quality of the pasture. As oats mature,
feeding value is still good but trampling causes excessive wastage.

Advantages

1. An oat pasture is usually easier to establish than a grass-legume
pasture.

2. It supplements and extends the grazing season. Oats are ready for graz-
ing 4-6 weeks after seeding and can be grazed until freeze-up.

3. From 40 to 60 steer-days of grazing per acre can be obtained, depending
on yield and stocking rate.

4. Dry matter yields are good (3400 to 5300 lb/ac at Melfort) .

5. Animal gains are good. Implanted steers of good quality and condition
should gain about 2\ lb/head daily. Well managed oat pastures, used throughout
the grazing season for lamb production, have produced liveweight gains of over
500 lb/ac.

6. Steers can be rotated between oat and grass-legume pastures without
suffering digestive disturbances, provided the stage of growth is similar on both
pastures.

7. Allows steers to be finished on pasture or to at least maintain a high
rate of gain without being fed grain.

Disadvantages

1. Crop has to be seeded each year; a wet spring could seriously delay
pasture production.

2. Wastage can range from 20-60%, depending on stocking rate, height and
density of the stand, etc.

3. Liveweight gain per acre is relatively low when cattle are placed on
heavy stands late in season (120-150 lb depending on crop yield and extent of
wastage) .

4. Nitrate poisoning may be a problem following periods of slow growth due
to frost or drought. Levels of nitrate in the plant may be increased by high
levels of nitrogen in the soil. Symptoms of poisoning are abdominal pain,
diarrhea and vomiting; rapid breathing or gasping; muscle tremor, weakness,
staggering gait; and severe cyanosis (turning blue). Death usually occurs 12-24
hours after eating the high-nitrate feed, if treatment is not initiated quickly.
Treatment consists of injecting a 1% solution of methylene blue into the blood
stream to provide about 1 mg of the chemical for each pound of body weight.

10

(For example, a 900-lb steer would require 90 cc of a solution made by adding 45
gm (1/10 lb) methylene blue to 1 gal distilled water).

The danger of nitrate poisoning on oat pasture is often greatly exaggerated,
however, and does not come close to outweighing the advantages to be gained by
using oat pastures either to supplement perennial pastures or as the sole pasture
for growing-finishing cattle. No problems have been encountered at Melfort, even
when steers consumed forage containing slightly over 2% nitrate. To be safe,
plants should contain less than 1.5% potassium nitrate (this is equivalent to
about 1% nitrate). If in doubt, send a representative sample of oat forage to
your nearest feed laboratory for a nitrate analysis.

ANIMAL PERFORMANCE

Steers

Mechanical Grazing - When oat pastures were cut daily with a forage harvester
and the green chop was fed to steers in dry lot, the liveweight gain per acre
increased from 129 to 312 lb (almost 2\ times). Average daily gains, on the other
hand, were reduced slightly, perhaps because the steers preferred chopped mate-
rial to shredded material. Therefore, it may be desirable to use the cutter type
rather than the flail type of forage harvester. Mechanically harvesting oat
pastures greatly increases the efficiency of utilization, but other factors such
as increased labor and equipment costs have to be considered. Perhaps a haylage
type of operation would be the answer if a low-cost storage unit could be built.

Lambs

In the 1971-72 lamb experiments (mentioned under Varieties) , liveweight
gains per acre compared very favorably with gains obtained on other pastures.
Giving the lambs access to a creep feed (cracked wheat, rolled oats and barley,
and supplements) on the oat pasture increased gains considerably.

The two-field (each 0.23 ac) rotational grazing system used in these
experiments was not adequate to provide continual grazing for three ewes and
six or seven lambs throughout the season. It is therefore recommended that a
larger acreage (by about 50%) and at least a three-field rotational system be
used to ensure a continual supply of forage and allow for better grazing
management .

11

DUE DATE

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K1AOCS
Ottawa

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