Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-11-17
SYSTEM OF
RAISING SHEEP
IS A SUCCESS
Forest Service Expert InveSti-
eating Conditions in New
Mexico With View of Estab-
fishing Experimental Year
Round Forage Station.

Mr.. J. n. Jardine, who is in charge
of the field Investigations now being
made by the United States forest SER
vice in connection with the expert
ments inaugurated in cooperation
with the bureau OF plant industry in
1907, to investigate the economic pos
sibility OF handling sheep in pastures
enclosed by coyote proof fencing. ar
rievd in the city yesterday and will
remain in the Third district for some
time looking over areas on the various
national forests with a view to the
possible selection for IA year round
pasture to make further study of the
pasturge system.
Extensive experiments have been
conducted under Mr.. Jardine's direc-
ton in different parts of the west and
the results obtained have been sur
prising to the most experienced sheep
growers.
The aim of the work is to aid in
bringing about a method, or methods,
OF handling sheep on grazing lands
hat will result in the most economic
utilization of the forage crop and at
the same time result in better returns
for the sheepmen by producing better
sheep with less loss INC less expense
for handling.
The experimental work has been
carried on very successfully in north
eastern oregon, OF an area Of 1850
acres enclosed by a woven wire fence
designed to be coyote-proof. In 1908
a band of ewes and lambs were turned
loose within the summer grazing sea-
son n their actions carefully stud
led. In 1903 a similar test was made
and in addition supplementary data
was collected on lambing ewes in pas
ture as compared with Landing on the
open range. The results obtained in
each case have been very satisfac.
tory.
MOI one coyote has gone through
the fence during the three seasons of
test. In 1908 the loss from the pas
tured sheep was one-half of one per
cent; in 1903 the loss was less than
one-fifth of one per contour head
out of a band of also head. The loss
from outside bands near the pasture
for the same period each season was
from two per cent to three per cent.
The lambs from the pastured bunch
each season were eight pounds heav-
Ter than the best lambs of the same
class from bands herded on range
near the enclosure. Each season these
results have been obtained on two
thirds the acreage of range per sheep
that was used by the bands hat were
herded. A conservative estimate for
the Increase in carrying capacity due
to the p%asturage system over general
methods of herding in large bands Is
from thirty per cent to fifty per cent,
the variation being IA to the differ
ence in herding. 1t is also known tina
by good care and careful handling the
wool clip can be increased from one
to three pounds.
In 1903 a band of 600 ewes were
LANDED on approximately 1926 acres OF
open yellow pine range. at a total
cost of s25 for labor-the work of one
man one-half of each day for one
month. The ewes were grade ewes in
ages varying from two years to ten
years. The lambs marked at three
weeks of age was 95 per cent of the
total number OF ewes.
Aside from the experimental data.
careful study is being made of the
prevalent systems of handling sheep
on the open range. 1t Is hope that
the results secured in pasture will en-
courage the sheepmen to work to-
ward more careful handling. allow
ing the sheep all the freedom possible
by herding coyotes away rather than
"massing" the sheep together for pro-
lection; and. further. by camping with
the sheep where possible rather than
e~xpending their flesh and energy by
trailing them to and from camp each
day.