INSPECTION OF RANGE AND FARM PASTURE ^^^ 



Acreage Required for Sheep. — The acreage requirements for 

 sheep were determined on National Forest range by Jardine and 

 Anderson.^ These determinations covered several years and 

 were made on the basis of fifty-six allotments on typical summer 

 range of all classes and types. An average of 2.5 gross acres, 

 or 0.79 forage acres, was required to support one ewe or two 

 lambs for an average grazing period of 72 days. These writers 

 conclude as follows: 



It would appear from close study of the tests conducted, and from similar 

 figures deduced from range reconnaissance surveys, that o.oi forage acres per 

 head per day is about right for range suited to sheep grazing. This would be 

 equivalent to about 0.03 surface acres per head per day, exclusive of range 

 having no value for grazing, or about 3 surface acres for a grazing period of 

 100 days. 



On an annual basis, then, 11 gross acres, or the equivalent 

 of 3.65 forage acres, would be required per year. 



The average yearlong acreage requirement for the support 

 of a cow unit on the National Forest range of 24 to 30 surface 

 acres, or 9.6 forage acres, and the yearlong requirement of about 

 II surface acres, or 3.65 forage acres, for a sheep, do not neces- 

 sarily bear any relation to each other. This is due chiefly to the 

 wide variation in the forage relished by these classes of stock. 

 Therefore, when a change is made on the range from one class 

 of stock to the other the carrying capacity of the area in ques- 

 tion should be reestimated for the class of stock to be grazed. 



PASTURE INSPECTION. 

 Inspection of Range and Farm Pasture. — There is no magic 

 about the production of forage or the harvesting of the pasture 

 crop by foraging animals However, to produce continuously 

 the maximum choice crop of forage that the lands are capable 

 of growing and to harvest it in such a way as to secure the largest 

 continuous economic returns possible is a matter that requires 

 much study and the close inspection both of the stock and the 

 forage resources. Observations as to the conditions of range and 



' Jardine, James T., and Anderson, Mark, " Range Management on the National 

 Forests." U. S. Dept. of Agr. Bui. 790, p. 28, 1919. 



