RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGEMENT DURING DROUGHT. 77 



TOTAi LOSSES ON THE JORNADA RANGE EESEEVE. 



Losses from all causes among all classes of stock on the Jornada 

 Hange Reserve since July 1, 1915, were 1.9 per cent on a basis of the 

 full year up to December 31, 1915, 1.5 per cent in 1916, 1.8 per cent 

 in 1917, 3.5 per cent in 1918, and 1.5 per cent in 1919, or an average 

 annual loss of 1.9 per cent. 



Reports received from stockmen in connection with the investiga- 

 tions of live-stock production in the 11 far western States in 1914 

 showed avarage annual losses for New Mexico as follows : Calves up 

 to 12 months of age, 10.6 per cent; yearlings, 5.6 per cent; stock over 

 2 years old, 5.8 per cent ; an average of 7.2 per cent from all causes."^^ 



The estimated losses for southern New Mexico since 1914 were: 

 10 per cent in 1915, 12 per cent in 1916, 15 per cent in 1917, 35 per 

 cent in 1918, and 5 per cent in 1919, or an average annual loss of 

 16.7 per cent for the 5-year period. The Cattle Sanitary Board of 

 New Mexico estimates the losses for the whole State to have been 25 

 per cent of all the cattle in the State during the drought and severe 

 winter of 1918-19. While these figures include some losses from 

 other causes, they are principally due to starvation. 



The results on the Jornada Range Reserve to date in reducing 

 losses from starvation, blackleg, and other causes justify the serious 

 consideration of stockmen. This is especially true under the existing 

 conditions of increased cost of range, labor, equipment, and supplies, 

 and poor credit with high rate of interest on loans to finance the 

 business. 



INCREASING GROWTH OF YOUNG STOCK. 



Young stock do not make much gain in weight on southern New 

 Mexico and similar ranges from December until the time green grass 

 comes in the following summer. Successive weighing of steers in 

 November and December, when they are 18 months of age, and in 

 May or June, at 24 months of age, show little or no gain in weight 

 during the six-months period. This stunting makes young stock 

 slow to respond in growth when green grass comes. As a result, 

 yearling or two-year-old steers from these ranges are not fit to go to 

 the feeders, but find their market mainly as stockers to go to north- 

 ern pastures for one. or two years' maturity. As stockers for this 

 purpose they do not bring a very high price in comparison with 

 prices received for stock of the same age from other sections. 



The stunting of young stock is even more pronounced during 

 drought. As has already been stated, yearlings from southern New 

 Mexico during the drought of 1916-1918 were often 100 pounds 

 under their average weight, resulting in heavy " cut back " by 



28 Barnes, Will C, and Jardine, James T., Meat Situation in the U. S., Part II, U. S. 

 Dept. Agr. Sec. Rept. 110. 



