RANGE MANAGEMENT ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 35 



Proper salting of cattle alone can not be expected to correct all of 

 the natural faults in distribution of cattle on a range, but, everything 

 considered, salting offers the greatest possibilities for bringing about 

 immediate improvement throughout cattle ranges within the National 

 Forests. This is due in part to the feasibility of working out and 

 putting into application improved salting plans without delay. 

 While water often is not to be had where it is desired, the proper 

 location for fences is uncertain, and both water development and fence 

 construction involve great expense compared with salting. There is 

 no more immediately important grazing work, therefore, to which a 

 forest officer may devote his time than securing proper salting of the 

 cattle on range units under his supervision. 



Amount of salt. — Cattle should have from 1 to 2 pounds of salt 

 per month while on the range, ordinarily 2 pounds per month while 

 the vegetation is succulent and 1 pound per month during the re- 

 mainder of the season. 



Kind of salt. — Crystal sack salt, compressed salt, and rock salt are 

 used for cattle on the range. Stockmen differ in opinion as to which 

 of these kinds is best for the cattle and most economical. Crystal 

 sack salt, usually called stock salt or coarse salt, as distinguished 

 from dairy salt or fine salt, appears to be gaining in popularity. It 

 can be distributed so that many cattle can get salt at one time, while 

 a large block of rock salt may be monopolized by one cow for an hour 

 or more. Care must be exercised, of course, to prevent cattle exceed- 

 ingly hungry for salt from having free access to such salt troughs. 



Salt containers. — Sack salt fed to cattle on the range is generally 

 placed in long troughs, in wooden boxes, on rocks, or on the ground. 

 The practice of using salt logs or salt boxes is rapidly growing and 

 no doubt will be general within a few years. Where logs are avail- 

 able on or near the salting place selected, the log-trough container 

 is the most economical and most satisfactory, all things considered. 

 A log large enough so that the top will be about 30 inches above the 

 ground is best for cattle. The animals will then feed from both 

 sides ; more animals can feed at one time than at a smaller log ; and 

 there will be less crowding and less chance for the salt to become foul. 

 Where logs are not readily available, salt troughs made of lumber 

 are used extensively. Where transportation is not difficult troughs 

 can be made in town or at the ranch when labor is not occupied at 

 other work. This is sometimes an advantage over log troughs, which 

 must be made on the range when other work may be pressing. 



Figures 1 and 2 show sketches of salt logs and salt troughs which 

 have given good service. 



