RAISTGE AND CATTLE MAl^AGEMEIirT DURING DROUGHT. 81 



and the latter in summer will serve the twofold purpose of giving 

 the grama grass the opportunity it requires to maintain itself on 

 the range and of securing the maximum use of the tobosa-grass range. 

 At the same time, it reserves a supply of range for use by the stock 

 during late winter and until rains occur in the early summer, a period 

 when stock on the range are always poorest. Where a range is all 

 grama grass or similar type of range, the desired result may be ob- 

 tained by deferring grazing on a portion of the range during the 

 growing season and using it late in the year, and then rotating the 

 system to each part of the range successively. 



Proper distribution of stock for full and even utilization of the 

 range may best be secured by adequate watering facilities, proper 

 salting of stock, and riding. Permanent watering places should not 

 be more than 5 miles apart on the range where the carrying capacity 

 of the range will justify it. Stock should have plenty of salt at all 

 times, and the salt should be placed where it is desired the stock 

 should graze. Riding after stock to keep them on the proper range 

 assists further in good distribution. 



Increased cost of production will best be oifset and returns from 

 the industry increased through improving the grade of stock, raising 

 a larger percentage of calves, and reducing the losses from the 

 various causes. 



The grade of stock may best be improved by use of purebred bulls, 

 culling the poorer grade cows, and replacing them with the best 

 grade heifers obtained as a result of the use of good bulls. Slightly 

 better bulls should be obtained every few years to continue building 

 up the herd. 



Twenty-two to thirty-three more calves per 100 cows than the 

 present average for southwestern range conditions have been ob- 

 tained over a period of four years where better care and attention 

 were given the breeding herd. Keeping cows and bulls in good 

 breeding condition, adequate distribution of bulls, segregation of 

 nonbreeding stock, especially during the breeding season, and breed- 

 ing no cows under 20 months or over 12 years of age, are mainly 

 responsible for the good results. Of these, the condition of the cows 

 and distribution of bulls are by far the more important. Having 

 a sufficient amount of winter range, supplemented with three-fourths 

 to one and a half pounds of cottonseed cake per day from approxi- 

 mately February until spring or summer rains occur, will keep cows 

 in shape to mother their calves properly and to breed again the fol- 

 lowing summer. Early weaning of her calf gives the cow the ad- 

 vantage of being dry longer before dropping the next calf. 



Employment of range riders to keep bulls distributed among the 

 cows is essential to secure proper bull service when stock are in com- 

 paratively large pastures. One rider can easily keep the bulls dis- 

 74514°— 22— Bull. 1031 6 



