Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-12-18
THREAT IS SEEN
OF OVERGRAZING

W UvENUnALlIVU
PRESENT HIGH PRICE OF SHEEP
AND WOOL HOLDS DANGER
TO STATE RANGES
Dangers Of overgra1ng OF native
ranges and pastures as q result OF pre-
sent high prices Of sheep and wool are
pointed out in q bulletin from the
northern Rocky mountain forest and
range experiment station.
The report. written by E. J. Wool
folk, points out that conservation
grazing increases sheep gains. reduces
damage to the range and accelerates
recovery after drouths.
"The present need for increased
marketing to meet wartime produc-
ton goals the report says, coupled
with prevailing high prices, provides
most favorable conditions for the sale
Of surplus sheep where ranges are
now heavily stocked as to cause dam
age. 1t should be remembered that a
severe drouth has occurred in the
northern great plains on an average
of five to seven years.
mo one can foretell next when the
drouth may strike. When it does.
heavy quidation-possibly at very
low prices-will be necessary on ranges
that are stocked heavily. Those whose
ranges are stocked conservatively will
be able to make necessary adjust
ments with less sacrifice, and the
range will recover more rapidly than
where too heavy stocking has been
the rule
c.~.;ru RT,de
The report is not the work of a
theorist. but the result of extensive
tests since 1896, when a sheep range
experiment station was established
through cooperation of the forest SER
vice, the federal bureau Of animal IN.
dustry and the Montana agricultural
experiment. station.
Equal numbers Of yearling RAM
bouillet ewes were run in three pas
lures, to create grazing conditions
designated as heavy, moderate and
light The grazing season usually ex-
tended from late March to late Nov
ember.
Yearling ewes gained 1.3 and 225
pounds more on the average per sea-
son, over the last five-year period, on
moderate and lightly stocked ranges,
respectively. than on heavily grazed
range. These gains may appear small.
but on a band of 1000 ewes they
would amount to 1900 and $3.50
pounds Of gain, which at eight cents a
pound, amounts to a premium of S1O4
to $50 for conservative stocking.
This increased gain in weight and
income, however, is regarded by the
experts as only minor factor in the
importance of conservative grazing
practices.
After six years of heavy grazing one
plot was found to have TO percent Of
the total area damaged-virtually
worthless annual grasses having re-
placed the grama grass, niggerwool,
little bluegrass and other valuable
forage crops.
Some Favorite Spots
Since the sheep were not herded on
any of the pastures they naturally had
their favorite spots and trampled and
grazed these area more than others,
but the damage to the moderately
grazed area was only AZ percent, and
on the lightly grazed pasture the dam
age was set at 81 percent.
After severe drouth, the grass
clumps in the moderately and lightly
grazed areas were found to be 81 to
AZ percent larger than on the heavily
grazed section, thus showing the
rapidity with which ranges will i'm
prove with favorable weather, under
conservation stocking.
From a business standpoint, the
experts found, 1t may be as costly to
undertake a range as 1t Is to overtake
one, although lightly grazed range
naturally will be in a far better con-
dition to recover after q drouth ends.
Deductions drawn from the range
tests are still subject to revision, but
a tentative stocking figure Of Sc Of
an acre per sheep month has been ar
rived at as one which will provide a
balance between satisfactory sheep
gains and the welfare Of the range
This would mean that dry year1ne
eve should have access to approx
mately As acres over the normal eight
month grazing season on land similar
to that in eastern Montana on which
the tests were conducted.
Peak Reached In 1884
In Montana livestock numbers
reached a peak In 1894, at which time
ranges were generally overstocked.
decline was noted until 1898, wher
the trend again turned upward. Sheer
alone numbered more than 4,000,0 O'
in Montana in January, 1884. Thi
was 20 percent greater than tn
average for 20-year period. By Jan.
uary, 1898, the number had dropped
to about 100000. By January, 1912
sheep were estimated to total $780, 0'
head.
While there are some individual
ranches with a safe margin of rang
and supplemental feed on which SOM
increase In sheep numbers are JUST
fled, the wisdom Of any material In
crease in total numbers in Montana
may well be questioned, the repor
concludes.
Lawmakers Will Haze