The Winslow mail., 1926-12-20
FOREST EXPERT
GIVES HINTS ON
CATTLE FEEDING


southwestern stockmen for a
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 Service 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 grazed 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
to go to seed 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-
sentative stocking which gives
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 So 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 a much greater
cutback where similar practices
are not followed.
The marked increase i'll the calf
crop and in the Improvement OF
grade and market value of the
stock have been accomplished by use
of a sufficient number of pure
bred sires, culling of undesirable
( and aged COWS. careful selection of
| heifers for replacing culled stock,
maintaining stock in good thrifty
condition the year round, proven
ton Of inbreeding and proper salt
ing and stocking of the range.
The range management practiced
on the reserve has resulted in
greatly reduced losses from star
walton. Maintenance of the range
in good condition and conservative
stocking insure supply of forage
at all seasons of the year. The
losses in 1925, which were unusual
ly heavy throughout the southwest,
were only rs per cent on the Santa
Rita as compared with much
heavier loss on the outside unreg-
ulated ranges.
Various Sailing Methods
Various methods of sailing have
also been tried out and it has been
found that practically no differ
ence has resulted in the consump-
ton of salt where it is placed close
to water or at some distance. Fur
thermore, 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-
ciples to large areas of the grass
and browse ranges of the south
west undoubtedly would result in
improved conditions similar to
those which have been obtained on
taI no n obac Of tho rp-