32 • BULLETIN 7D0, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Each local case where control of cattle at the boundary of the 

 Forest is involved may have its peculiarities. In all, however, close 

 cooperation between forest officers and the owners of the stock is 

 imperative to secure good results. Forest officers should take the 

 lead and work out some plan for proper use of the Forest ranges. 

 Difficulty of adjustment should not stand in the way of action, be- 

 cause the construction of fences is always a possibility. 



CONTEOL BY EANGE UNITS WITHIN A TOEEST. ' 



With assured control of the number of. stock entering the Forest 

 and of the time that they enter, there still remains the big task of 

 control to secure distribution so as to equalize grazing, prevent stray- 

 ing and loss of stock, and minimize the riding necessary and keep 

 it at least within practical limits. Consequently, it is necessary to 

 divide the cattle range within a Forest, or, for that matter, any large 

 area of cattle range, into smaller units of management. What shall 

 be the basis of this division, all factors considered ? The importance 

 of this question and its bearing upon future management of the range, 

 and stock are not always appreciated. 



A number of important, somewhat conflicting, factors are in- 

 volved : 



1. To secure maximum production of stock on the range over a 

 period of years some form of deferred and rotation grazing is imper- 

 ative. Any plan for control of stock by units should provide, there- 

 fore, for deferred and rotation grazing eventually. 



2. The segregation of breeding stock from dry stock on the range 

 is an imiportant item in the production of beef and will help to 

 increase the calf crop. 



3. Frequently there is great range in altitude and consequently 

 great variation in the time at which different parts of the range on 

 a single watershed should be grazed. Consequently, as pointed out 

 in the paragraphs on period of grazing and natural reseeding, pro- 

 vision should eventually be made for dividing late spring and early 

 summer range from midsummer and late summer or early fall range. 



4. Boundaries of comparatively large units on ranges within the 

 National Forests can usually be chosen so as to take advantage of 

 natural barriers, high ridges, and streams and thus minimize the 

 fencing necessary to control the stock. On the other hand, distribu- 

 tion of stock is easier to obtain on small controlled units than on 

 large units. 



5. Individual owners of stock naturally prefer to run their stock 

 separate from that of other owners, and in many instances are pre- 

 pared to construct fences for this purpose. Units to take care of 

 individual permittees, however, interfere with proper management 



