334 GRAZING CAPACITY AND PASTURE INSPECTION 



farm pastures almost everywhere constitute evidence of the 

 fact that many matters of first importance in continued forage 

 and livestock production are frequently overlooked in deter- 

 mining their future management. Accordingly, an outUne is 

 given of the more important considerations in inspecting the 

 range or farm pasture.^ 



1. If a grazing reconnaissance or even a rough field map has 

 been made of the pasture area in question, all data possible 

 should be recorded thereon, as such records are often invaluable. 

 It is especially important that such data as the following be 

 shown on the map: (i) Class or classes of stock grazed; (2) 

 date when the stock may be admitted in the spring; (3) inten- 

 sity of grazing over different parts of the area; (4) any changes 

 in the boundary or driveways to and from the area; (5) the 

 grazing capacity of each major forage unit; (6) location of 

 salting places, water, and necessary water development; and 

 (7) places where timber reproduction is injured by grazing, where 

 poisonous plants abound, where the range is especially in need of 

 reseeding, and where other improvements are needed. On 

 large range units, especially where cne surface is much broken, 

 a reliable map is almost indispensable to the judicious man- 

 agement of the lands and the stock. 



2. Is each range unit being grazed by the class or classes 

 of stock to which it is best suited? Lands which have been 

 used exclusively by cattle for several seasons are liable to be- 

 come weedy, such vegetation often replacing a large portion of 

 the grass feed. The grazing capacity of many a farm pasture 

 has been much improved for cattle by permitting a few sheep to 

 consume the weeds before they go to seed. Mowing the pasture 

 before the seeds of the weeds ripen is also a good practice. 



3. Are the lands being grazed uniformly or are some areas 

 overgrazed and others undergrazed? 



4. What is the grazing capacity of the types which are being 



^ In preparing this outline on range and pasture inspection use has been made 

 of the work on range inspection by Jardine, James T., and Anderson, Mark, " Range 

 Management on the National Forests," U. S. Dept. of Agr. Bui. 790, pp. 76-79, 

 1919. 



