Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-07-03

Inc stock bred on the open range
Of the west dies before it reaches
market age and that much Of this
loss can be stopped is shown by re-
suits reported from the national for
ests. This waste is said to add mil
lions Of dollars to the peoples meat
bill and gives one more cause Of the
high cost Of living. Winter storms
and summer droughts strew the
ranges with the bones Of cattle and
sheep; predatory animals take a
heavy toll; poisonous plants some
times kill half the animals in herd
almost over night. Cattle contract
anthrax, blackleg and other dis
eases, get stuck in bog holes, slip off
icy hillsides; and sheep pile up and
die Of suffocation. Insects which
madden and kill swell the total
losses rs do multitude of other
minor causes of death and injury.
II any Of the animals to be
grazed upon a national forest seem
to be suffering from disease, the
stock is subjected TO rigid inspec-
ton by the federal bureau Of animal
industry before it is allowed to enter
the forest. II an animal grazing on
the forest develops suspicious symp.
toms the permitee is requested to
remove it. The carcasses Of ami
mails dying from infectious or com
municable diseases must be buried
or burned, preferably the latter. To
protect their stock against blackleg,
permitees are encouraged to use
vaccine furnished free by the de-
partment of agriculture. Sheep suf-
fering from scab or from lip and
leg disease are barred from the for
ests until they have been treated in
conformity with the requirements of
the bureau of animal industry. This
CO. operation between the two bu-
reaus has made il possible to keep
the forest ranges remarkably free
from all forms of stock disease.
The settlement and development of
the West does not appear TO have
greatly reduced the number Of ami
mails which prey upon domestic live
stock, and the loss from that source
alone runs into the millions of dol
lars each year. Within the forests.
however. the number of domestic
killed has been apprcciably
reduced by the campaign against
wild animals waecd by the Officers
Of the service. During the past
eight years forest officers have
killed over $4,000 predatory animals
consisting of coyotes, wolves, bear,
lion, wild cats, lynx, etc.
The losses due to poisonous plants
have been in the aggregate the most
numerous and the most difficult to
guard against. Stockmen knew
generally that certain flats or valleys
or hillside slopes could not be used
for grazing without heavy losses of |
stock but there was much doubt as
10 what caused the loss. Gradual
" il was determined that the losses
we're due 10 various species of
,lant-. Later. il was learned that
n most instances these plants while
extremely poisonous during certain
periods of the year, were compare
lively innoxious during the re
of the grazing season. The
crest officers determined the vari-
nus plant species which cause death
r injury of live stock, the periods
Turing which each species is danger
MS, and the areas of forest land
pom which the plants are suffi-
iently abundant to cause losses of
tock. The next step was to devise
'ays and means Of preventing the
uses. Where definite information
obtainable the outer limits of the
olson areas are marked by warn
" placards which give the name
{ the poisonous plant, the kind of
Iock to which it is injurious, and
nc period during which il is most =
With this warning, stock
EN- are enabled to so handle their .
ock rs to- prevent the occupancy
the poison area during its danger
'riod. In cases where the areas q
poisonous plants are comparative "
small the permittee has been en- 1t
'uraged to fence them, material for
nee construction being furnished
ee of charge by the forest service. =.
lie result of this work has been to a q
duce the number of animals lost "
rough poisonous plants as com y"
red to the numbers lost several VI
airs previously. VI
Notwithstanding all precautions .
lich may he taken against stock -
isoning. losses from this source
lst be- expected. During the past
veral years the bureau of plant in
stry has been making study of
isouous Giants and of nntidotes