Winslow daily mail., 1926-12-18
FOREST EXPERT
GIVES HINTS ON
CATTLE FEEDING


What constitutes the right use OF
grass and browse range is a ques-
tion that has been perplexing
southwestern stockmen for q
number of years, according to John
Kerr, chief of the office of grazing,
Southwestern Forest Service Dis
trict..
IN order to assist in solving the
many problems in connection with
this question, states Mr.. Kerr, the
Forest Cervice has been conduct
ing, during the past ten years, a
series of experiments on the Santa
Rita range reserve near Tucson,
Arizona. These studies are being
made, in cooperation with stock
men using the range, under the
supervision of Director Matt j.
Culley.
The real value of any range is
found in the abundance and condi-
ton of forage plants. Whether
their condition is thrifty is re-
Elected in the amount and quality
OF the forage produced each year.
1t is particularly important, con-
tinues Mr.. Kerr, that the ranges
be- sgraZed properly SO as to main
tain the right balance between
plant growth, soil fertility, and
the amount of forage taken by
stock from the range. 1t is es
sential to- permit the range grasses
toSgo tossed at frequent intervals
so. as to provide new plants to take
the place of those which have
died or passed their best productive
period. This can be done by con-
servative stocking which gives a
part Of the range an opportunity to
reseed each year. 1t has been
found that ranges can be reseeded
Just as effectively by properly con-
trolled grazing as by complete
elimination of stock for short per-
iods.
Other Experiments Told
Experiments have also been
conducted to determine the results
OF various forms of livestock and
range management. The calf crop
record discloses the fact that on
the reserve for the past ten years
the average of 73 per cent, as COM
pared with about SO per cent on
surrounding unregulated ranges,
has been maintained Marketing
data. covering 5000 head of outside
cattle, as compared with stock
marketed from the reserve. show
that the reserve stock brought
from So to $S more per head than
those Of the same age from out
side unregulated ranges and that
cutbacks in the range reserve cat
tie averaged about three per cent
as compared with much greater
cutback where similar practices
are not followed. Z.
The marked increase in the calf
crop and in the Improvement OF
grade and market value of the
stock have been accomplished by use
of h sufficient number; of pure
bred sircs, culling of undesirable
atfsftaged cows, careful selection of
lleilers for tpplacing culled stock,
niaintaining stock in good thrifty
coiftlition the year round, preven-
ton of inbreeding and proper salt
ing and stocking of the range.
The range management practiced
afl-the reserve has resulted in
greatly reduced losses from star
yation.' Maintenance of the range
III good condition and conservative
Stocking insure a supply of forage
at all seasons of the year. The
losses in 1925, which were unusual
~ heavy throughout the southwest,
were only.7.S per cent on the Santa
Rita 'as compared with much
heavier loss on the outside unreg-
Hlated ranges.
~".e Various Sailing Methods
q, Various methods Of sailing have
also been tried out and it has been
found that practically no differ
ence has resulted in the consump-
tion of salt where it is placed close
TO water or at some distance. Fur
thermorc, the seasonal use of var
ious parts Of the range has been
very effectively controlled through
placing of salt on the parts of the
range where use was desired. Salt
placed as far as two and one half
miles from water has been fully
utilized and has drawn the stock
to the parts of the range remote
from water sufficient to obtain
proper use of the forage. Also
sailing temporarily watered ranges
during the period that water is
available has resulted in a much
more uniform use of the entire
area.
The value of improved livestock
and range management practices
as developed on the Santa Rita
Range Reserve is clearly demon
onstrated in the results attained
The application of established prin
eiples to. large areas of the grass
and browse ranges of the south
west undoubtedly would result il
improved conditions similar t.
those which have hppn obtained OF