28 BULLETIN 588, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



TOTAL LOSS. 



The total losses on the Reserve from June 1, 1915, the time that 

 the department representatives began an active part in the campaign 

 against loss, until December 31, 1916, was 54 head of all classes, or at 

 the rate of 1.9 per cent annually. The total losses from January 1, 

 1916, to December 31, 1916, were 66 head, or 1.5 per cent. The 1916 

 losses included 13 cows, 2 bulls, 35 yearlings, 4 branded calves, and 

 12 unbranded calves. Possibly a few head were missed, so that the 

 total might be slightly higher, but not appreciably so. 



Reports received from stockmen in connection with the investi- 

 gation of live-stock production on western ranges in 1914 showed 

 average losses for New Mexico as follows: Calves up to 12 months of 

 age, 10.6 per cent; yearlings, 5.6 per cent; stock over 2 years old, 

 5.8 per cent. If these figures are approximately correct, and it is 

 believed that they are, the small losses at the Jornada Range Reserve 

 since June 1, 1915, show decidedly encouraging possibilities for reduc- 

 ing losses from starvation, blackleg, straying, and other causes. 

 Records for a period of years will be necessary for comparison with 

 the figures cited for New Mexico as a whole. The results at the 

 Reserve to date, however, justify serious consideration by stockmen. 

 Systematic vaccination is possible under range conditions. It should 

 be done as a preventive, and not as a cure after the disease is prevalent 

 in a herd. Much can be accomplished also in preventing loss from 

 starvation, even on the open range, though it can not be handled 

 with the same efficiency as on fenced areas. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



RANGE IMPROVEMENT BY NATURAL REVEGETATION. 



Primarily as a result of (1) reducing the number of stock during the 

 main growing season of about four months July to October to about 

 half the average number the area will carry for the year, (2) not over- 

 stocking during the other eight months, and (3) better distribution 

 of stock watering places, grama-grass range on the Jornada Range 

 Reserve has improved in three years at least 50 per cent, as com- 

 pared with similar adj oining unf enced range grazed yearlong. Obser- 

 vations to date indicate that range thus lightly grazed during the 

 main growing season has improved approximately to the same extent 

 as similar range protected from grazing the entire year. 



On fenced grama-grass ranges of the Southwest where the stock are 

 carried mainly on range feed throughout the year, light stocking 

 during the growing season is profitable. It will probably not reduce 

 the total animal-days' feed furnished on a given area during the year, 

 and will reserve feed for the critical period from February to July, 

 or later in case of- prolonged drought. 



