ORGANIZATION OF THE RATIONAL USE OF NATURAL FORAGE LANDS IN DAGESTAN
The article deals with the organization of effective use of natural forage lands. In the feed balance, hayfields and pastures occupy a significant share and they are a store for increasing the production of livestock products with low prime cost. Currently, natural hayfields and pastures in Dagestan are unproductive and give a severely low hay yield. At the same time, research data and the results of advanced farms show that improving natural forage lands allows getting high yields. The article considers an approach of the steady fodder supply organization with the help of improvement and effective use of natural forage lands. Systemless use of flatland grazing areas turns grass pasture into sagebrush pastures at first, and then into a very dense pasture with a predominance of low-growing annuals with a short vegetational season. Moreover, they are weeded with harmful and poisonous herbs and shrubs. These and other negative consequences of natural forage lands misuse lead to changes in the botanical composition of plants, reduction in yields and decrease of soil-feeding capacity. Summer alpine and subalpine pastures are of great value in the conditions of mountain free range animal husbandry in Dagestan. Economic value of keeping animals in summer alpine pastures is determined primarily by the high nutritional value of these pastures, which do not burn out, have low dense plant stand with a large number of cereals and legumes.