South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-23
BIGGER CALF CROP
IS BEING PLANNED.
Forest Service Develops SyS-
tenn of Handling Cattle That
Promises Increase.

est service nave succeeded IN nm
/ proving the quality Of the range
and have developed methods Of
( handling cattle which result IT, re-
/ duced losses and bigger calf crops is
told in a preliminary report Of tie
studies being made at the tornado
range reserve in New Mexico. issued
as bulletin 55g Of the United States
: department Of agriculture.
While the studies are as yet in
complete. it Is stated that as a re-
suit of the improved methods grama-
grass range on the reserve has inn
! proved so per cent in parison
with areas on which the grazing
was uncontrolled 4 system of
stock watering places has aided in
! the utilization Of the range. while
care in handling cattle, the gradual
improvement Of the herds. and vac
, cination against blackleg have re-
suited i'm a larger calf crop, increas-
ed returns from sales. and lower
losses.
/ The tornado range reserve con-
tains about 100000 acres. II was
created in 1912 to secure a COM
] plete range unit for carrying on
range experiments and is in charge
of the grazing experts Of the forest
service, who are cooperating with
: a private cattle owner.
! Light Grazing Improves Range.
The Improvement in the range
was secured, the report states. pri-
Z I'll he
four mOnths-July TO October
when the grass is making its growth.
by not over-grazing during the other
eight months, and by better dis
tribution Of stock watering places.
Light grazing On ranges of the
southwest is profitable. the studies
have shown. Ii will probably not
reduce the total animal days feed
furnished on a given area during
the year and will reserve feed for
the critical period from February 70
July and later i'm case of prolonged
/ drought Where the whole of a
range unit is made up Of grama-
grass about one-third Of the area
should probably be reserved during
/ the growing season for two years
/ in succession.
Emphasis is laid on the import
ance Of developing a system of wa
| toring places. Where stock do not
have to travel more than 21h miles
TO water. fairly efficient use of plains
= and mesa range in the southwest
can be secured This means that
there should be one permanent and
dependable watering place for about
| 1900 acres. Such an acreage OF
igrama- grass range will carry about
/ 500 cattle throughout the year if
/ properly managed. Wherever the
distance between water holes is in
/ excess of 212 miles. utilization of
range becomes less efficient Where
tanks 20 supplement the permanent
watering places will be a paying in
( vestment
Increase i'm Calf Crop.
f. ON selected herd Of 500 COWS
| and 20 bulls. which was held in
pasture away from other stock. an
/ 81 per cent calf crop was branded
/ i'm 1916. From the remaining 1.522
cow of breeding age on the re-
serve. a So per cent calf crop was
( branded. The average calf crop for
/ the reserve was - per cent IL is
doubtful whether the calf crop on
adjoining unfenced range in 1916
reached 90 per cent. and this hgure
/ is believed 10 be high average
About 80 pounds of cottonseed
cake per head was fed 20 the spe-
cial herd This is believed 70 have
contributed largely TO the added
number of calves. The big Oppor-
tunity for increasing the calf crop.
says the report, is TO keep poor cows
in thrifty condition.
Small Loss Partly Due to Blackleg
Vaccination.
The average loss OF stock on the
! tornado range reserve I'm 1916 was
10 per cent. The average losses
fo~ New Mexico are approximately
I 1916 per cent for calves upato L
months old, 30 per cent Tor year
lings. and SIS per cent OF other
stock The small loss on the re-
serve is attributed 10 careful svste-
matte vaccination against blackleg.
the reservation OF grama grass
range for poor stock during the crit
ical spring months. 20 the feed the
animals received. and 70 prevention
of straying. In extremely bad years
some kind OF roughage 10 supple
ment the range forage for feeding
with Cottonseed cake or other CON
Centrated food. would be a decided
advantage on southwestern ranges
E,nsilage from soap weed has been
tried on the tornado reserve and
the results are promising. but not
extensive enough 10 warrant definite
F conclusions
The studies have shown without
doubt. the report states, that the
possibilities for decreasing losses
justify stockmen Of the southwest
in paying more attention 10 vacci-
nation as preventive OF blackleg
20 picking out and feeding stock in
need OF special care.
The number OF creameries and