The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-12-05
GRAZING AREAS
ARE IMPROVED
BY BEDDING OUT
GRAZING AREAS ARE IMPRO 18pt
BY EARL V. STORM,

by EARL v. SIORM,
On sheep ranges which are being
grazed In accordance with their car
rying capacity the principal concern
is to employ methods Of herding
which will tend to distribute the band
uniformerly over the area instead OF
massing or punching them. Range
destruction by sheep is most serious
where the animals are driven in
compact body or allowed to trail
around side hills in excessive num-
bers. Such handling results both in
heavy packing of the soil and the ex-
posture Of the roots OF the vegetation,
and at the same time prevents the
tail" end of the herd from getting
their quota Of choice feed.
Investigation with different meth
DDS of handling range sheep has
clearly demonstrated that they do
better II allowed to Craze at will and
bed out wherever night overtakes
them than where the band is return
ed to the same background for several
successive nights.
| Typical summer range graZed by
sheep under fence. where the band
was not herded at all. demonstrated
that it requires from rs to so per cent
less range than where the sheep were
handled under the old system OF
more or less close herding and where
the sheep were driven to the same
bed ground for several nights in sue
cession. The practice of bedding
sheep | ma new location each night
sheep in a new location each night
ding out" 'burro" or blanket" sys-
Item.
| The marked increase in the carry
ing capacity of forest range lands,
(which has resulted largely from the
improved methods Of handling sheep.
has led many sheepmen to adopt the
bedding out system. Approximately
so per cent or more of the sheep
Igrazed on national forests are now
herded under improved methods.
The chief advantage Of the bedding
Tout system over the old methods OF
Handling sheep on the ranges are as
follows: "a sheep are continually on
fresh feed from morning until night;
(2) lambs are not overworked by be-
ling logged while returning to bed
ground; (3) the range does not be-
lcome Overgrazed through trampling
Iaround backgrounds: az less range is
necessary under the new methods;
l(5) experiments have demonstrated
THAT lambs grazed under the blanket
lsystem weigh between and 10 per
Icent more at the end of the grazing
season than do lambs under similar
conditions using the old systems, and
(6) sheep require less water. as feed
lis available in early morning when
Iplants are covered with dew,
The procedure used in handling a
band of sheep under the bedding out
|system is about as follows: the herd.
er starts the band out from the bed
lground in early morning, grazing on
fresh feed around the area upon
which they had bedded, or, in any
course directed by the herder, until
about 10 a. m, then the sheep usually
shade up At that time the herder
usually returns to his tent to prepare
his dinner Upon returning to the
band the herder selects suitable
place to set up his teepee and bed his
sheep for the night. AS the evening
comes the sheep are headed towards
the desired bedding place, where they
soon bed down for the night. The
herder then returns to his tent ant
prepares his supper, after which III
lagain returns to his teepee near thu
I sheep where he spends the night. Al
The leaves his camp at noon he ma.
take enough food for his supper ant
breakfast and thus avoid returning tt
the headquarters tent for these tw'
meals.
The sheep are sailed each night
numerous small piles of salt bein
scattered over the bed ground. A
least 100 pounds of salt should be fe
levery five days to a band of 100
ewes and their lambs. When poss
BILE, it Is best to have salt on the ne,
background each night. as 1t tends t
make the sheep more Contented.
The supply or headquarters tent
moved and supplied by the cam
tender at varying intervals. usual
from to 10 days. depending upo
the luxuriance and type of forage.
Some herders have burro or SAT
die horse upon which to transpol
their bed and tepee over the rang
hobbling the animal at night near tn
sheep. Other herders prefer not
be bothered with horse. carryir
their bed and tepee on their back
During the warm summer months
Is not always necessary to use I
pee except in case of storms.
In view of the increase In gain
made by the sheep and the increase
carrying capacity of the range resul
ing from the open or bedding out sly
tenn of herding, there Is every reast
to believe that practically all Il
sheepmen win soon adopt theis me-
torious system.
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