INCREASED CATTLE PRODUCTION. 13 



1. The stand of forage is rarely uniform over any considerable 

 acreage of range lands. 



2. Different amounts of forage are produced 011 the same area in 

 different years. 



3. Forage plants vary in power to resist grazing. 



4. Other things being equal, the carrying capacity of dry ranges 

 over a period of years is influenced materially by the extent of grazing 

 during the growing season of the vegetation. 



5. If there are not enough well-distributed watering places to 

 insure even distribution of the stock and even grazing over the 

 whole area, the range is depleted around water and undergrazed 

 away from water. This may reduce considerably the number of 

 stock the area will carry. 



6. The number of stock carried will depend somewhat upon the 

 condition in which the animals are kept whether merely carried 

 through the period, kept in good condition, or fattened. 



7. Reliable data are not available as to the comparative amount 

 of range needed for dry stock and cows with calves, or for yearlings 

 and mature stock. 



Where so many variables are involved, it is obviously difficult to 

 work out figures for carrying capacity which will insurs 100 per 

 cent efficiency in utilizing large areas of range. It is believed 

 possible, however, to work out figures for the more prominent 

 types of range which will serve as a safe guide in stocking a 

 given unit and in deciding the comparative value of different 

 range areas. 



Within the Jornada Range Reserve was found range varying from 

 that which will furnish yearlong feed for one mature animal on 

 about 20 acres to that which will barely support a mature animal 

 on, perhaps, 100 acres. Further, the different types of range are 

 somewhat intermixed. To determine the comparative grazing value 

 of the different types, a range survey was made of approximately 

 150,000 acres. As a result of this, the area has been divided into 

 eight more or less distinct types and an estimate made for each of 

 the stand of vegetation the stock will eat. This type classifica- 

 tion, along with pasture divisions and watering places, is shown in 

 figure 2. 



For each of the 13 pastures of the Reserve record has been kept 

 of the number of animal days' feed furnished each month and year, 

 and of the percentage of the vegetation left unused or the percentage 

 of overstocking. From these data and the data secured by the 

 classification and grading of the range, tentative figures of carrying 

 capacity have been worked out. They will, of course, be amended 

 when necessary to conform to results over a period of years. 



