34 BULLETIN 1001, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



gives rise to increased shipments of stock as well as seasonal dis- 

 placements of such shipments. Increase in feeding operations re- 

 sults in increased movements of concentrated feeds. Changes in 

 percentages of loss of animals as well as changes in the rate of increase 

 in the flocks and herds are also very suggestive. Reliable data and 

 estimates on these points are available from several sources. 



The following data, taken from the report heretofore mentioned, 

 are illustrative, and give as accurate measurements as were to be had 

 of the effects of one such drought: 



The annual reports of Secretary T. D. Allen, of the New Mexico Cattle Sanitary 

 Board, show that shipments for 1917 were 161.1 per cent of the average for the previous 

 seven years, while the estimated calf crop for that year was 15 to 20 per cent below 

 the normal average. For 1918 the shipments increased to 177.5 per cent and the rate 

 of increase fell off 5 per cent more. 



The records of Secretary Logan, of the Sheep Sanitary Board of New Mexico, tell 

 much the same story, though not quite so conclusively. Shipments of eheep out of 

 New Mexico were mostly restricted to stock sold, and the numbers fell off noticeably. 

 The average shipments out of the State for 1914 and 1915 was over 1,100,000 head, and 

 the shipments in (which are to be considered as purchases of breeding stock in normal 

 years) was slightly less than 10 per cent of this amount. In 1916 (the year the drought 

 began in Texas,*but a year of average rainfall in New Mexico) shipments out of the 

 State dropped to 885,000 and shipments in nearly tripled the normal expectation. 

 In 1917 outgoing shipments fell still further (780.000) and incoming (mostly Texas 

 stock) went up to 10 times the normal expectation. The 1918 shipments dropped to 

 615,000. Normally sheep shipments in this State occur between October 15 and 

 December 15, but during 1918 they occurred throughout the year. 



The normal lamb crop for the State is about 75 per cent of the number of ewes of 

 breeding age. For 1917 the best estimate for the State was 45 per cent, while for 1918 

 it was 35 per cent. Actual figures as to losses were not obtainable, but they were 

 probably large. It was the general belief that the lamb crop in the three southeastern 

 counties of New Mexico would not replace the ewes that died. 



Normally it has not been customary to feed concentrates to range stock in Arizona 

 or New Mexico, though a few men feed small quantities to weaklings occasionally. 

 No data as to total quantities of feed used during 1917-18 were obtainable in either of 

 these States, but men who had never fed their stock before in their lives were feeding 

 large quantities of concentrates and hay, although the prices of these feeds were two 

 and one-half times the normal. Many men saved their stock by chopping soap weed 

 or cactus at greatly increased expense for labor and machinery. (See bibliography, 

 sec. 8.) 



Individual records were obtained from 40 sheepmen and from 74 cattlemen who 

 were grazing animals in the land-grant area. Various expressions of opinion, estimates 

 and fact were obtained from them, some of which are shown in Table 6. (See also 

 fig. 6.) 



