RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGEMENT DUKING DEOUGHT, 51 



division of winter and summer range by fencing for the SOO-h^ad 

 herd. Future plans provide for the division of this pasture into 

 summer and winter range. The benefits to the stock of this system 

 of dividing the range and grazing it have been to carry them through 

 the spring in much better condition and with less loss than on un- 

 controlled range, and it has had a desirable influence on the calf 

 crop. 



Where a range is not under control and is used yearlong, stock 

 naturally graze the range more closely within the first mile or two 

 of water first. Then later on, during winter and spring when the 

 stock was poorest, they have to travel farthest from feed to water, 

 this condition has often contributed to the heavy losses from star- 

 vation in the Southwest, especially where the distance between 

 watering places is over 5 miles. This was largely overcome on the 

 Jornada reserve by having a supply of fresh forage available near 

 water for use by stock during the critical part of the year. Handling 

 the cattle so that the more needy cows were placed on the winter 

 range first gave them the further advantage of not having to com- 

 pete with stronger stock. The latter were then left on the summer 

 range until later to utilize completely any forage that still re- 

 mained. The small winter-range pastures were held in reserve for 

 use later in the spring by the most needy cows, especially cows to 

 calve. Confining the breeding herd to less range during the main 

 breeding season facilitates distribution of bulls among the cows, 

 which is an important factor in increasing the calf crop. As is later 

 pointed out, this has had material influence in securing larger calf 

 crops in the special herd on the Jornada Range Reserve. 



The principle is equally applicable on ranges where there is less 

 pure sununer range in proportion to the amount of winter or year- 

 long range available. Should a unit have a considerable amount of 

 purely summer range but not enough to carry all the stock during 

 the season, grazing may be planned so that such range may be fully 

 used during the summer season and thereby reduce grazing on the 

 winter range sufficiently to allow the 30 to 50 per cent decrease in 

 stocking during the growing season for part of the winter or year- 

 long range each year. Following complete use of the summer range 

 the stock should all be shifted to the yearlong range, with a suffi- 

 cient amount held in reserve, for use by needy stock during winter 

 and spring. 



On a range unit that is all pure grama-grass or similar winter or 

 yearlong range, the desired purpose may be obtained by use of the 

 deferred and rotation system of grazing. Under this system the 

 range is divided into three or more parts and grazing reduced at 

 least 30 to 50 per cent of the yearlong rate during the growing season 

 on one or more parts for two years in succession, or until the area 



