The Coconino sun., 1924-08-29

4
i this fall.
Sheep and Lambs
Arizona sheep ranges are dry, con-.
sidering the season of the year,
/ though the feed available seems to
be of high nutritive value. Stock
water now presents the most serious
| problem. North of the Santa Fe
tanks are reported to be drying up,
! while the section directly south has
| felt some measure of relief through
/ spotted showers. Unless rains come
soon, many bands will be forced to
go long distances for water. This
most certainly will result in a rapid
loss of flesh, especially among lambs.
To prevent serious losses, rains should
come within from ten days to two
weeks. Both sheep and lambs have
maintained a remarkably good con-
dition to date. The figure reported
on August was so per cent of normal
and is only slightly lower than that
which was estimated one month ago.
i Spring conditions were almost ideal
so far as sheep and wool growers
were concerned. Desert pastures
were good and in most instances were
made available by the presence of
stock water. Some $4,000 lambs were
shipped from southern Arizona before
the close of May. These lambs "hit"
the early market and commanded
good prices
After bands were through lambing
and shearing was over movement
toward the north commenced. Where
the trails were used, feed and water
were found in amounts to prevent any
appreciable loss either in numbers or
condition. Early in June bands began
to come in to their home ranges in
the north. The appearance of the
animals was particularly pleasing to
their owners.
! At this time it was estimated that
there were approximately 100000
lambs yet to move. to market from
Arizona. Of this number $4,000 head
were expected to move as summer
fat" and $4,000 were expected to be
fat by fall Forty thousand lambs
appeared to be of the fall feeder or
stocker class.
No change in above estimates is as
yet indicated though continued short
age of rain will cause pronounced
shift in the estimate classes, though
passibly not in numbers, by Sept
ember 1.
In addition to the lambs that moved
and will yet move, there are some
$4,000 head of this seasons eve
lambs being held in the state to enter
the bands as future breeders. This
seems to be good practice, as the crop
this year affords some good thrifty
lambs to choose from and many bands
were in need of replacement by young
er stock.
The bands as whole cleaned up
old broken-mouthed ewes by bucking
them early and sending them to the
soft feed in the southern valleys.
These ewes mothered this seasons
crop of early lambs. Probably not so
many ewes of this class will be avail
able in Arizona this fall; however,
some younger bands may furnish a
good crop of early lambs.
Range Pastures
An average of 70 per cent OF
normal was derived from So reports
relating to range conditions August
IL; this is 13 points lower than the
figure reported on July this year.
/ This drop in condition was 81 per cent
of normal.
In general summer rains are very
late this year and are badly needed;
| where they have fallen the amount
has been small and the areas very
spotted. The higher attitudes in the
| Mogollon plateau have been most fay-
ored to date. Annuals started earlier
| in the season have dried up. Most
sections of the state have some old
GRASS left which offers a little feed
| to stock.
The principal grasses now offering
feed are gramma, galleta, sacaton
and six-weeks grass. Some httle
blue-stem and pine-grass is to De
found in Coconino county, while IN
Pinal county, along the washes, cattle
are seen feeding upon dry-sod grass
and johnson grass. On higher Levels
oak brush, chamiso and buck brush
are offering fair browse, while IN the
desert foothills and lower plains sage
/ IS being browsed and mesquite OF sew
eral varieties offers forage both IN
/ leaves and beans. Catclaw and Paio
| Verde are also furnishing browse IN
! the desert areas. Some animals are
found feeding upon coffee brush,
sauaw-tea brush and greasewood.
i
| rain and unless it comes before Sept
enber / it will be too late for many
ranges to produce and mature feed
to a point where it will be available
for winter feed. While few reports
mentioned water shortage on August
/, another month without rain will
show lack of stock water to be SER
ious problem in several sections.
Sharp reductions should also be ex-
perienced in the September | con-
/ dition.
Even fair amount of moisture
generally preoipitated over the. state
during August will quickly result an
frightened ranges and replenishment
of water supplies. Cattle would main
tain their good condition and possible
show an improvement.
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