The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-17
MANAGEMENT

80 ~ ~ " tatN
| a which should be Of great value 20 livestock
= growers Of New Mexico aud the southwest
has just been issued by The department under
the title Range aud Cattle Management Dur
ing Drouth,' The bulletin Department OF
| Agriculture Bulletin No. 1881, issued May 20,
1922 is the work Of James t. Jardine, inspee-
tor OF Grazing, aud Clarence l.. Forlsing, graz
ing examiner. II is based principally upon oh.
servaiion and data surrounding the Tornado
Range Reserve in southern New Mexico. estab..
lished in 1912 for experimental purposes in
connection with range conservation and solu-
ton Of the ever recurrent problem OF dr9uth.
Summarizing the problem Of cattle produe-
ton and drouth conditions, the bulletin says
"if tho production Of livestock is TO continue
prOfitably over the vast area Of the southwest
crn ranges the hazard Of drought must be min
imized. Ranges must not be allowed TO deter
iorate az they have in the past because of inn
provident grazing management, aud measures
Tor their restoration after drought must be pro-
vided for. The present losses of cattle must
be cut down and the calf crops increased TO
more nearly what they should he. The breed
ing herds must be safeguarded against sacrifice
sale and loss in time Of drought, and young
stock must be kept growing. The solution Of
the problem Of stabilizing the production and
reducing the hazards must take into eonsidera.
ton all these phases, and al the same time be
capable Of practical application TO the every
day needs of the business.
"Stockmen Of this region realize that exist
ing conditions are unsatisfactory. In a ma
jority Of eases. however, they are not in a po-
sition to apply the remedy, since they do not
own the lands and can not regulate grazing
upon them. II an individual stockman reduces
his herd to save feed for emergency, the sur
plus grass tempts come one else To move his
stock in and Craze il. Supplemental feeding as
n remedy is limited because of prohibitive cost.
Livestock production in the southwest Is
dependent upon the range forage as the pri-
mary source Of feed, and any remedy for exist
ing conditions must. therefore, include a more
conservative and wiser use OF the range. The
first requirement is centralized control which
win regulate use of the range and prevent over
stocking as well as insist upon better manage
ment plans for drought periods. Supplemental
feeding can then be undertaken as far as good
business will permit, and there Will be oppor-
tunity for Improvement Of both stock and
range
The bulletin contains veiy valuable data as
TO the various grasses and forage plants native
10 aud possible Of development on New Mexico
ranges, as well as equally valuable data ON
Genealogical conditions and drouth rccur-
renee.
Among others the bulletin presents this inter
osting conclusion:
A stockmen may not agree that the ranges
of southern New Mexico are essentially a eat
tle-breeding ground. The facts, however, ap
pear to warrant this statement. One alteina-
tive would be 10 obtain steers nj an early age
ard grow them TO ?, 3, or 4 years of age for
shipment TO northern and middle western pas
lures aud feed lots 10 be finished for beef. The
difficulty Of this practice is TO obtain the steers,
In times past large numbers were obtained
IRON Mexico. As n future practice this has bur
doubtful possibilities, since il will be some
time before Mexico has any surplus Of steers
foi export.
THE best permanent interests Of the see
tion will be served by developing the industry
10 produce calves and steers and surplus COWS,
at least as long a. present conditions prevail.
In working ont livestock production on this
basis obviously the foundation is the breeding
herd, with variation in the number and ages Of
steers to, conform 10 variation ia supply Of
range forage and market conditions