, 1923-03-08
Coz Operation of
Forest and Users
Continued from Page Five)

n better appetite n thus makes for
additional gains of the stock.
3. The lack of salt induces scours,
loss of condition, and eventually a
complete breakdown of the cows
health.
4. That calving, after being deprived
of salt for a long period, is very likely
TO prove fatal to the COW, and that
cows which have been deprived of salt
for a long period take an abnormal
amount of it for several months fol
lowing.
The test brought out the fact that
chlorine is the essential element in
salt demanded by stock rather than
sodium. This fact has n most import
ant bearing on the sailing problem in
alkali sections where alkali may be
present (which does not contain much
chlorine.
With reference to distribution and
increased utilization, l have not at
hand specific examples on the Hayden
or Medicine Bow (you or the Forest
Supervisors may have examples in
mind) but l could give you these from
other localities:
On n certain unit of range of about
10000 acres there were grazed In 1913,
1914 cattle and horses. The stock
were salted at three or four places.
Part of the range was overgrazed at
the close of the season, and much feed
was unused on other parts. The up
per portion was little grazed. In 1914
the stockmen became interested in bet
ter methods OF sailing. A salt troughs
were constructed at a cost of $1.25
apiece from logs IS to "a inches In
diameter. In 1915 an additional %
troughs We're constructed at a cost of
$500 each. In our plans here we have
simply used salt grounds as sufficient
and 50 far have made but n limited
use of salt troughs. The kind of salt
used in most instances has not re-
quired the contraction of troughs.
These 66 troughs were distributed from
one-half to three-fourths of a mile
apart over The range and were number
ed ~consecutiyely from / to SO. beginn-
ing mt h lowest altitude and extend
ing c~onsecutively upward. In 1914.
when the first A salt troughs were
established and systematic sailing be-
gan, INA head of cattle and horses
were permitted to Craze, as
with 1914 in 1913; in 1915 about 21OO
head were grazed in 1916 about 215O
head in 1917 220O head: and in 1918
, head. nearly 700 head or a third
more in that particular unit of range
than before the sailing plans were put
into effect. The salt plan has simply
resulted in better distribution of stock
so as TO better utilize the feed. On
that range n definite written Sailing
plan Is prepared before the grazing
period opens each season. The late OF
placing salt at a given series of salt
troughs is varied somewhat from year
to year to give the forage plants on all
parts OF the range an equal chance to
grow.
This is just one illustration of how
salting plans are making for increased
utilization and production. l think
there is no question that improvement
in salting probably offers the greatest
opportunity for immediate improve
meht IN the management of cattle
range. In line with this, it has been
made a requirement, during the past
year or two. for zach national forest
10 work out practical sailing plans as
rapidly as possible.
The service may sometimes be ac-
cused of being arbitrary, and II is
Wiling to accept the charge where the
ultsnate benefit is to the stockman
himself. In some cases 1t has taken
years of demonstration to convert the
sheepmen. but whenever we get n con-
vert he doesn't baokslide.
need no mention the range i'm
provement program as another means
of improving our range management.
or the control of poisonous plants
Unfortunately the service has been
la handicapped in what it would like 60
do both in the construction of i'm
proyements and in the control of poison