56 CIRCULAR 925, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
To provide for reasonable stability in winter grazing and to assure 
an adequate forage supply year after year, a basic stocking rate 
established at 75 percent of average forage production is recommended. 
This is approximately the level of stocking maintained at the Desert 
Experimental Range (fig. 23). On this basis, enough forage is pro- 
vided for sheep in most years without need for further adjustment in 
numbers or supplemental feeding. Only in years of drought or low 
forage production would it be necessary to reduce sheep numbers or 
to provide supplemental feed. 
C€POUNDS PER ACRE ) 
bd 
< 
m 
pt) 
> 
a) 
m 
N 
FORAGE PRODUCTION 
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WN AQ NY 
EI CW WCW 
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“44 ‘45 
Figure 23.—Forage production of moderately grazed range areas at the Desert 
Experimental Range, 1935-47. Utilization of the forage at 75 percent of the 
average provided a margin of safety in all but 3 years when production was ex- 
tremely low. 
Forage forecasts based on the previous 12-month rainfall make it 
possible for stockmen to foresee grazing seasons of short forage. It is 
then possible to provide additional feed or arrange for the adjustment 
of numbers before taking the sheep to winter ranges. 
In establishing stocking rates the plant composition of the grazing 
area and its present condition should be considered. Average grazing 
capacities of seven subtypes in two condition classes, expressed in acres 
required per sheep-month, are as follows: 
Fair to good Poor 
me condition condition 
Subtype: (acres) (acres) 
Shadiscalérass ss ee a oe eee ace ioe 
Shadseale-wintertat-erass®= 2 Set So See 2.3 3..f 
Black sagebrush-shadscale-grass______-_------------- 1.0 2.3 
Winterfat-small rabbitbrush-grass_____________--_-_- 2 2.8 
Littleleaf mountain-mahogany-black sagebrush-grass___ 2.8 4.3 
Wanteriat se ee ee i Se See ee 1.0 2.4 
Gray summer-cypress-Gardner saltbush-winterfat____-_- 1.9 2.6 
fo ihe ny 
