INCREASED CATTLE PRODUCTION. 27 



was still rather tough, and the stock had difficulty in eating it. This 

 was due, in large part, to the fact that the ensilage machine used 

 would not chop the thick, tough leaves fine enough. Portions 6 

 inches long were not uncommon. A machine which would chop the 

 leaves into smaller pieces would improve the ensilage a good deal. 



The soap weed can be cut, hauled, and put into the silo at a cost 

 of $2 to 82.50 per ton, not including cost of the silo. It takes two or 

 more years after the first cutting for the plants to produce a growth 

 of leaves large enough for a second. It would not be practicable 

 therefore to fill a silo each year in the same place. This, of course, is 

 something of a disadvantage. 



Though the test has just begun, it seems probable that soap weed 

 may prove of considerable value as ensilage. Further tests will be 

 made to determine feeding value and secure more complete data on 

 costs and returns. 



PREVENTION OF BLACKLEG. 



During the month of May, 1915, more than 50 head of young steers 

 out of approximately 1,000 head in one pasture of the Reserve died 

 of blackleg. Prior to this time losses were rather heavy among the 

 weaned calves. A campaign for systematic vaccination of all stock 

 between the ages of approximately 5 months and 20 months was 

 started in the fall of 1915 and has been continued to date. 



The vaccination is done, for the most part, during the fall round-up 

 and again during the early spring. The idea is to vaccinate twice a 

 year as a preventive of blackleg, not as a cure. About 2,500 doses 

 of the Government blackleg vaccine were administered during 1916. 

 The vaccine was prepared carefully and administered carefully and 

 every reasonable precaution taken to insure thoroughness. The 

 area is large, however, and it is next to impossible to get all the ani- 

 mals for vaccination at the proper time. Consequently a small loss 

 is expected. The test, however, is a demonstration of what can be 

 accomplished under range conditions on a large scale. 



A loss of 27 head during 1916 was attributed to blackleg; but in 

 the case of at least three of these there was some doubt as to the cause 

 of death, since the animals were not found until several days after- 

 wards. This means a loss for the year of approximately 1 per cent of 

 the average number of stock between the ages of 5 and 20 months, 

 but less than 1 per cent of the total stock of susceptible age. On the 

 basis of the average number of stock on the Reserve during the year, 

 it is equivalent to a loss of a little over one-half of 1 per cent. One 

 stockman on range adjoining the Reserve reported a loss of 100 head 

 from blackleg during the first half of 1916 from approximately the 

 same number of stock as are on the Reserve. 



