INCREASED CATTLE PRODUCTION. 11 



grazing out several miles, cows came to water in a weakened condi- 

 tion and drank until they dropped and later died. Where the 

 animals do not die, the inadequate water supply is reflected in the 

 retarded growth of young stock and in the decrease in the calf crop. 

 The poor cows frequently lose or desert their young calves, which 

 then either die or become so stunted in growth that they have little 

 chance of living through the winter. 



The question of water supply is a matter of range economics 

 influenced by local conditions, value of range, stock, and cost of 

 development. With present prices it seems safe as a business propo- 

 sition to advise, for the plains range of the Southwest, permanent 

 watering places on the basis of range for 500 head. This means a 

 distance between watering places of 5 to 6 miles. On the poorer 

 range of the foothills the distance will be greater. 



This distribution of permanent watering places will provide for 

 fairly even utilization, but will leave little opportunity for resting 

 the range during the growing season, especially around water, since 

 the animals will tend to graze the green feed near water first. Conse- 

 quently, the range will be overgrazed for perhaps one-fourth mile 

 from permanent water at best. Where soil and drainage are favor- 

 able, it will be economy to supplement the permanent watering 

 places with a number of tanks, each of a size suitable to the situation 

 and the range to be supplied. 



In the Southwest the rains are often very local. A small portion 

 of the range may get a good shower, whereas the range a few miles 

 distant may not receive rain during the summer. The cattle natur- 

 ally drift to where rain has fallen. When there is a tank to catch 

 the run-off, the stock will remain in the vicinity sometimes for weeks, 

 if the water holds out. Meantime, a shower elsewhere may freshen 

 the range and provide temporary water. 



With a system of well-distributed small tanks to supplement the 

 permanent watering places, the range around the permanent water 

 can frequently be rested during the growing season. At the same 

 time range away from the permanent water will be used to best 

 advantage; the stock will do better than when they must drift in, 

 even from 2-| to 3 miles, to compete with several hundred others at 

 a set of watering troughs; the cost of operating the pumps or engines 

 will be reduced; and, perhaps most important of all, the feed near 

 permanent watering places will be, to some extent, saved for use 

 during dry periods when the temporary watering places fail. 



This system of watering places is being developed rapidly on the 

 Jornada Range Reserve. There are now nine permanent wells, 

 varying in depth from 175 to 500 feet; 11 springs, five of which are 

 of considerable value ; one pipe line approximately 8 miles long, with 

 watering places every 2 miles; and 15 tanks which hold water from 



