The Bismarck tribune., 1937-07-20
C. o N T l N u E ID
~ from page one'
Says Overgrazing
Denuded Pastures

to the vegetation and afford plenty
of feed. ~
Pastures Overgrazed
Native pastures. grazed at q rate
of one steer to three or five acres
have failed to carry the steers the
full season. The pastures have been
overgrazed, the cattle do not show
the gains they should and native
vegetation is seriously damaged,
Sarvis points out.
From corrals at the top Of q pas
ture that sloped gently to the south
east, Saryis pointed out II fat
yearlings contentedly munching In
one Of three triangular fields. It
was one Of the fields where rotated
grazing studies have been conducted.
It covered 10 acres.
Dubbed spring, summer and fall
pastures, the cattle are allowed to
spend about six weeks in one pas
ture before being moved to another.
Cattle In these pastures will pick
up an average Of 275 pounds during
the approximately IS weeks they
spend there, Sarvis declared. That Is
normal gain for steer and under
the rotation system the pastures are
always in q normal condition when
the steers are turned into them.
There are exceptional years like 1884
in which the unprecedented drouth
showed that even this type Of pas
turing will not always carry IS steers.
Sarvis contrasted this type of
grazing with the average grazing on
the range under normal climatic con-
ditions. Failure to give the range rest
results In cattle showing maximum
gains Of only 235 pounds.
States Maximum
1T has been stated" says Sar-
Wis. that the maximum number Of
cattle that can be safely carried on
any square mile Of territory is the
number that the land will support
during poor season.
The above statement Is literally
true" he says. During years Of very
severe drouth, no system can be ex-
pected to furnish feed for the
normal number Of cattle. It would
not be advisable though, to
reduce the number Of cattle
in all seasons to meet an isolated
condition. It is considered advisable.
however, to regulate the number Of
cattle to fit an average season rather
than attempt to adjust the number
to fit the varying seasons.
HY1NAASa q - NJ ~ -
son below normal will mean close
grazing and reduced gains, while one
above normal will produce normal
cattle gains and the vegetation will
benefit by the lighter grazing. In
other words it Is better to regulate in
tensity Of grazing SO that during good
years the vegetation Is benefited in
stead of attempting to consume al
the forage by increasing the number
OF cattle. This Is more likely to In
sure the maintenance of the pasture
in q high state Of production.
1.-THE most efficient system Of graz
ing is one that will insure sufficient
forage during the entire season to
produce the greatest total gain, with
the least number OF cattle on the
minimum unit Of land, without per-
manent injury to the native vegeta-
ton. ~a.#
Shorter Periods Better
Continual close grazing early In
the season causes q reduced produc-
ton Of forage. Therefore the vege-
tation should have a period Of rest
and be allowed to mature q crop nor
mally before 1t Is grazed. Cattle
should be allowed to Craze different
units for shorter periods.
Grazing is necessarily q more OF
less destructive process" says
Sarvis, land unless reasonable pre-
cautions are taken its effects on .
given area are likely to become GU
mulative and cause serious deteriora-
ton Of the range"
That explanation, obviously. Is oae
of the major causes Of the plight In
which Western North Dakota finds It
self today. Continuous grazing since
1883 has left the prairies ripe for the
assault Of drouth which has only aS-
gravated the problem of restoration.
But what can be done with native
range that is now 30 per cent de-
ruded Of vegetation?" Mr.. Sarvis was
asked.
That's another story" he said.
Next: Steps that can be taken to
restore the range.
MAZE I'D vnllD