RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGEMENT DURING DROUGHT. 71 



only under better methods of nonirrigated farming than are now 

 known. However, in the wettest years over most of the Southwest 

 there is sufficient moisture to raise a fodder crop, especially on areas 

 flooded by the run-off from nearby hills. Fodder raised in these 

 years and cut green and stored in a silo, if in sufficient quantity, 

 would constitute a valuable supply of reserve feed. Crops of the 

 sorghum group were raised successfully in the vicinity of the Jor- 

 nada Range Reserve in 1913 and 1914. A pit silo with a capacity of 

 250 tons was constructed at a cost of $300 on the reserve in 1915 

 for storing soapweed. Such a silo could also be used for storing 

 ensilage, and several of them located at strategic places on the range 

 and filled with feed would be an excellent assurance against losses 

 during drought. 



Feeding of roughages at best is an expensive proposition, and re- 

 quires care in order that costs may not become excessive. The great- 

 est care, perhaps, may be exercised in judicious planning to begin 

 feeding a small portion of the stock early enough to relieve the 

 range somewhat and thus avoid the necessity of feeding a large 

 number of stock later. A smaller number can be handled for a long 

 period much more economically than a larger number for a short 

 time. 



Handling poor cattle. — A great deal of the success and economy 

 in the results from measures taken to avoid losses depends upon the 

 way the cattle in poor condition are handled. Good results can not 

 be expected where poor cattle are left to compete with stronger 

 individuals for feed and water. Unwarranted rounding up, rough 

 handling, and constant moving are detrimental to cattle and should 

 be avoided ; but, as some handling is necessary in getting the animals 

 to feed and in grouping them for feeding, it should be done slowly 

 and carefully. 



The best results have been obtained on the Jornada Range Reserve 

 v^hen the poor cows were segregated from the stronger stock and 

 fed according to their requirements. In the spring of 1918 the poor 

 cattle were divided into several different lots, varying from very poor 

 cattle almost " on the lift " to stronger dry cows that subsisted on dry 

 range forage alone. Each lot was carefully watched and weaker 

 cows placed where they would receive more feed, or stronger cows 

 removed from the feed lot, as the case might be. This was accom- 

 plished by slow, careful working of the stock when they were at 

 watering places, thus avoiding rounding up or running them. When 

 it was necessary to move poor stock any distance it was done by slow, 

 careful handling with minimum ill effect. They would be moved 

 only short distances each day and then allowed to rest and graze, or 

 were fed. Constant riding and looking after stock made it possible, 

 in most cases, to note the condition of poor individuals in sufficient 



