RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGEMENT DURING DROUGHT. 3 



depends upon the duration of the drought and the manner of grazing. 

 A study on the Jornada Range Reserve in southern New Mexico dur- 

 ing the dry years of 1916 to 1918 showed that ungrazed range 

 depreciated approximately 40 per cent as a result of natural condi- 

 tions alone. The depreciation on grazed areas was according to the 

 grazing. Range grazed heavily throughout the year deteriorated 

 from 62 to 70 per cent in the stand of the best forage plants, while 

 ranges not grazed heavily during the main growing season deterio- 

 rated as much as 45 per cent. 



Many of the best ranges in the Southwest at the close of the last 

 drought were 75 to 80 per cent below their original carrying capacity 

 and will require several years of light stocking and careful manage- 

 ment to restore them to even a reasonable condition as regards their 

 carrying capacity. 



If the production of live stock is to continue profitably over the 

 vast area of the southwestern ranges the hazard of drought must 

 be minimized. Ranges must not be allowed to deteriorate as they 

 have in the past because of improvident grazing management, and 

 measures for their restoration after drought must be provided for. 

 The present losses of cattle must be cut down and the calf crops in- 

 creased to more nearly what they should be. The breeding herds 

 must be safeguarded against sacrifice sale and loss in time of drought, 

 and young stock must be kept growing. The solution of the problem 

 of stabilizing the production and reducing the hazards must take 

 into consideration all these phases, and at the same time be capable 

 of practical application to the every-day needs of the business. 



Stockmen of this region realize that existing conditions are un- 

 satisfactory. In a majority of cases, however, they are not in a 

 position to apply the remedy, since they do not own the lands and 

 can not regulate grazing upon them. If an individual stockman 

 reduces his herd to save feed for emergency, the surplus grass 

 tempts some one else to move his stock in and graze it. Supplemental 

 feeding as a remedy is limited because of prohibitive cost. 



Live-stock production in the southwest is dependent upon the 

 range forage as the primary source of feed, and any remedy for 

 existing conditions must, therefore, include a more conservative 

 and wiser use of the range. The first requirement is centralized 

 control which will regulate use of the range and prevent over- 

 stocking as well as insist upon better management plans for drought 

 periods. Supplemental feeding can then be undertaken as far as 

 good business will permit, and there will be opportunity for im- 

 provement of both stock and range. 



The need for changes in the management of both range and stock, 

 with adjustment especially to meet the trying conditions during 

 periods of drought, led to the establishment in 1912 of the Jornada 



