1918] ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 471 



gives certain preliminary results of work done by the Forest Service on the 

 Jornada Rantce Reserve of about 200,000 acres in southern New Mexico to 

 secure range improvement by natural revegetation, provision of stock-watering 

 places, and determining the carrying capacity of the range as means of pre- 

 venting overstocking. 



The great risk in the live-stock industry of the ranges is that during certain 

 years no rains come. In the past such seasons have wiped out the gains of 

 years. The most uncertain period is from February to the beginning of the 

 summer rains about July. It is advisable therefore to have forage in reserve 

 during this period. In good years the proportion of the number of steers can 

 be increased and in poor years they can be more rapidly sold without loss 

 than the breeding stock. As an additional safeguard in times of scarcity the 

 feeding of a concentrate, as cottonseed cake, should be provideil for. 



A pit silo of 20 tons capacity was filled with tobosa grass, Hilaria mutica, 

 in August and opened late in the winter. The results of attempts to feed it 

 indicate that it is not of economic value either as hay or silage. In another 

 silo 150 tons of silage was made of soap weed, Yucca elata. From the 

 preliminary feeding of 10 tons of this silage the indications are encouraging. 



As the result of efforts, during three years, in reducing the number of stock 

 during the growing season (July to October) to about half the number the 

 area will carry for the year, and not overstocking during tlie remaining eight 

 months, and making a better distribution of the watering places, the grnraa 

 grass range was improved 50 per cent on the Jornada Reserve. For the best 

 grazing of the range as well as the conservation of the forage the cattle should 

 not have to travel more than 2.5 miles to water. This means a watering place 

 for each 13,200 acres, an area that will carry about 500 head of cattle. 



During 1916 the Jornada Range Reserve had an estimated carrying capacity 

 of 41.45 acres per head. Where the grama grass makes up the bulk of the 

 forage from 20 to 30 acres are required per head. On flats, slopes, and foot- 

 hills it takes from 38 to 45 acres to support one head and on the mountain range 

 60 acres per head. 



From 500 selected cows fed about 50 lbs. of cottonseed cake an 81 per cent 

 calf crop was obtained compared to 69.2 per cent with the remaining cows 

 of the I'eserve and an estimated return of 60 per cent from cows on adjoining 

 unfenced range. Attention is called to the opportunity of increasing the calf 

 crop by keeping poor cows in thrifty condition, by avoiding overstocking the 

 ranges, and by using supplemental feeds when needed. 



The average loss of stock on the reserve for 1915 was 1.9 per cent, and for 

 1916, 1.5 per cent. The average losses for New Mexico are for calves 10.6 per 

 cent, yearlings 5.6, and older cattle 5.8. The small losses on the reserve are 

 attributed to vaccination against blackleg, keeping grass in reserve for poor 

 stock during the spring months, the feeding of a small quantity of cottonseed 

 cake, and the prevention of straying. 



The economical winter feeding of beef cows in the corn belt, J. S. Cotton 

 and E. H. Thompson (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 615 (1917), pp. 16, fig. i).— An 

 investigation carried out in the corn belt during three years shows that losses 

 in producing beef calves for feeders, when they occur, are usually due to the 

 high cost of maintaining the breeding cows. Attention is called to the im- 

 portance of feeding farm by-products to this class of animals. Corn stover 

 and straw may be utilized to a greater extent and special attention given to 

 balancing rations. 



In an inquiry covering 1,000 farms data on various phases of raising feeder 

 cattle were secured. On 478 farms the average cost of a calf at weaning 



49984°— 18 6 



