INCREASED CATTLE PRODUCTION. 5 



Naturally, therefore, when stock were free to choose between the 

 two classes of range at all times of the year, the grama grass was 

 overgrazed. Further, the grama-grass forage usually was consumed 

 before January, when, if possible, it should have been saved for the 

 period of range shortage from January to the beginning of the summer 

 rains, usually in July. 



Mainly to provide for improving the overgrazed grama grass by 

 giving it an opportunity to grow and reseed itself, but in part to 

 reserve a supply of forage for the stock during the critical spring 

 months, the grama-grass range was fenced off from the summer range 

 and divided into pastures. 



An area of 34,545 acres, designated on the classification map as Pas- 

 ture 2, was" fenced in the fall of 1912. This area has been used mainly 

 for pasturing steers and poor cows taken from the main herd during 

 the period from January to July. Each season, during the main 

 vegetative growing period of three to four months following the 

 summer rains, beginning in 1913, the number of stock has been re- 

 duced to a little less than one-half the average carrying capacity of the 

 pasture. This reduced number is kept well distributed in relation to 

 the four watering places, in order to avoid as far as practicable having 

 any portion of the area grazed heavily. In this way the forage plants 

 are given a chance .to develop and produce seed. During the other 

 eight or nine months of the year, mainly after the vegetation has 

 matured, the pasture has been stocked to about 80 per cent of its 

 estimated maximum carrying capacity. Its full capacity has not 

 been utilized, partly as a means of preventing its being overstocked 

 while in course of improvement, but mainly with the idea of insuring 

 a supply of good feed for poor cows from January to July, or later, 

 in case of prolonged drought. 



Adjoining this pasture on the west is a large area of unfenced 

 public range, similar in character, but with a larger proportion of the 

 pure grama-grass type. If anything, therefore, it might be consid- 

 ered as a little better than the pasture area. Prior to the comple- 

 tion of the pasture fences in 1912 both areas were grazed throughout 

 the year, with a resulting overstocking during the growing season. 

 Both areas also had suffered as a result of prolonged drought, which 

 killed out a good deal of the grass. They were, therefore, near enough 

 alike in character and condition for purposes of comparison. Year- 

 long grazing has been continued on the outside range. It is believed, 

 however, that the area has not deteriorated appreciably since 1912, 

 because the seasons of 1913 and 1914 were more favorable than the 

 .average for plant growth. 



Table I compares the amount and character of the vegetation on 

 these two areas in 1916, after three years' light grazing of the pas- 

 ture during the growing season. 



