64 B^LLETIX 1031, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICXJLTUEE. 



Constant use of the better methods should result in a calf crop 

 of not less than TO, or more nearly 80, calves per 100 cows each year 

 on the ranges of the Southwest, instead of the usual 50 or 60 calves 

 under present- methods. So great an amount as $3.87 per cow per 

 year for feed and provision of adequate winter and spring rano-e, 

 as well as the small additional expense for proper bull distribution, 

 are warranted when they affect calf crops so materially. Four bulls 

 per 100 cows are insufficient unless stock are handled in small lots 

 during the breeding season, and bull distribution is attended to by 

 range riding on large ranges. With expensive, high-class bulls, 

 fencing to control stock on small areas and riding to distribute bulls 

 will doubtless be found more economical than the use of more bulls. 



Segregation of breeding stock from nonbreeding stock is of im- 

 portance in obtaining better bull service and should not be lost sight 

 of in efforts to obtain more calves per 100 cows. In addition, it is 

 l^robable that heifers under 20 months of age should not be bred 

 under southwestern range conditions, as they usuall}^ skip the fol- 

 lowing year or require additional feed to prevent stunting. After 

 a cow passes 11 or 12 A^ears of age she usually begins to decline in 

 productiveness and there is danger of heavy expense in feeding her 

 through the spring, so that it is best to dispose of cows when the^' 

 reach this age. 



FUTtTiE PLANS FOR INXEEASING THE CALF CFvOP ON' THE JORNADA RANGE RESERVE. 



The results to date on the Jornada Range Reserve justify con- 

 tinuing the methods of management and even intensifying them. 

 In the future it is planned to increase feeding in the various herds 

 to where all stock will be in better breeding condition, and also 

 eventually to divide the range for the main herd so that the cows 

 will be confined in a smaller area during the main breeding season, 

 and in tliis way insure better bull service, as well as provide fresh 

 range for winter. The herd of approximately 500 head will be 

 handled much the same as previously, with more riding to keep bulls 

 distributed. The herd of less than a hundred head will be continued 

 in order to secure more conclusive data on the value of small herds. 



To determine the effect of breeding heifers to calve at 2 ^''ears of 

 age, 95 yearling heifers were placed in a separate pasture and bred 

 in 1919. Careful records will be made of the number of calves 

 dropped, rate of growth of calves and heifers, and cost of feeding 

 each year. They will be compared with a number of heifers not 

 bred to calve until 3 years of age. Records for the two herds will 

 be maintained long enough to obtain data as to the effect over a 

 period of breeding heifers to calve at 2 years, compared to breeding 

 them to calve at 3 years of age. 



