INCREASING FORAGE YIELDS ON INTERMOUNTAIN WINTER RANGES 61 
On the basis of findings at the experimental range, condition of 
winter range areas has been grouped into four broad classes which can 
be identified by relatively few indicators. These classes are: Good, 
fair, poor, and-very poor. Knowledge of the extent of these condition 
classes on a range is essential to the application of proper utilization 
standards and stocking rates. 
Records obtained at the experimental range indicate that approxi- 
mately the following proportion of the herbage of major forage species 
can be eaten during the winter period without impairing their con- 
tinued productivity: For Indian ricegrass 75 percent, black sagebrush 
60 percent, winterfat 55 percent, and galleta about 45 percent. 
To provide for reasonable stability in winter grazing and to assure 
an adequate forage supply in most years, a basic stocking rate that 
will utilize 75 percent of average forage production is recommended. 
Grazing capacities of range subtypes in fair to good condition are 144 
to 244 times greater than for those in poor condition. On ranges in 
fair to good condition 1 to 3.5 acres are required per sheep per month, 
whereas on those in poor condition 2.3 to 5.7 acres are required. 
Studies at the Desert Experimental Range indicate that certain 
management practices are of benefit to both ranges and sheep. These 
include subdivision of large grazing allotments so that grazing use 
may be rotated from year to year, use of open herding and one-night 
bedgrounds, leaving the range early to avoid grazing during the late 
winter period when many of the major forage plants begin to grow, 
and providing water for sheep each day. 
DITERATURE CITED 
(1) Barnss, W.C. 
1926. THE STORY OF THE RANGE. U.S. Senate, 69th Cong., Ist sess. (Re- 
printed from Part 6 of the Hearings before a subcommittee of the 
Committee of Public Lands and Surveys.) 60 pp., illus. 
(2) BRoapDBENT, D. A., BLancH, G. T., anp THomas, W. P. 
1946. AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF SHEEP PRODUCTION IN SOUTHWESTERN UTAH. 
Utah Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 325, 65 pp.., illus. 
(3) Cook, C. W., ann Harris, L. E. 
1950. THE NUTRITIVE CONTENT OF THE GRAZING SHEEP’S DIET ON SUMMER AND 
wee RANGES OF UTAH. Utah Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 342, 66 pp., 
illus. 
(4) Crappock, G. W., AND Fors.inG, C. L. 
1938. THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE AND GRAZING ON SPRING-FALL SHEEP RANGE 
IN SOUTHERN IDAHO. U.S. Dept. Agr. Tech. Bul. 600, 42 pp., illus. 
(5) Espiin, A. C. 
1932. EFFECT OF FEED, WATER AND SHELTER UPON FLEECES OF UTAH EWES. 
Utah Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 240, 26 pp., illus. 
GREAVES, J. E., AND STopparT, L. A. 
1937. A STUDY OF UTAH’S WINTER RANGE; COMPOSITION OF FORAGE PLANTS 
ae USE OF SUPPLEMENTS. Utah Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 277, 48 pp., 
illus. 
(7) HocumutaH, H. R., FRanKuin, E. R., anpD Cuawson, Marion. 
1942. SHEEP MIGRATION IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN REGION. U.S. Dept. Agr. 
Cir. 624, 70 pp., illus. 
(8) HutcHines, SELAR S. 
1946. DRIVE THE WATER TO THE SHEEP. Natl. Wool Grower. 36: 10-11, 48, 
illus. 
(9) Kearney, T. H., Bricas, L. J., SHantz, H. L., McLane, J. W., ano Piz- 
MEISEL, R. L. 
1914. INDICATOR SIGNIFICANCE OF VEGETATION IN TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH. 
Jour. Agr. Res. 1: 365-417, illus. 
(6) 
