CHOPPED SOAPWEED AS EMERGENCY FEED. 5 



slightly in favor of the soapweed. Although soapweed is consider- 

 ably higher in crude fiber and ash than fresh green alfalfa, immature 

 corn ensilage, and fresh green timothy, the comparison in the amount 

 of ether extract (fat) protein, and nitrogen-free extract is favorable 

 enough to indicate that the soapweed is a valuable feed so far as this 

 is determined by chemical analysis alone. 



Steps were taken also to secure a machine which would chop the 

 plants finer, and several types of machines designed to cut the entire 

 soapweed plant into material more suitable for feeding were put on 

 the market early in 1918. One of these was installed at the Jornada 

 Range Reserve- January 13, 1918, and was there perfected to chop 

 the plants satisfactorily. 



SOAPWEED FEEDING ON THE JORNADA RANGE RESERVE IN 1918. 



As a result of the prolonged drought the range forage crop on 

 the Jornada Range Reserve in 1917 was far below normal. Conse- 

 quently little range forage was left by January 1, 1918, and it was 

 apparent that extensive feeding would be necessary to maintain a 

 large percentage of the cows suckling calves and the cows heavy with 

 calf. Accordingly, the feeding of chopped soapweed and cottonseed 

 meal was begun January 20, 1918, with the object of preventing loss 

 of cattle and maintaining the herd as cheaply as possible over the 

 critical period until range forage became available. Riders were 

 set to work gathering cows that were approaching a critical con- 

 dition, and the number in. the feed lot was increased daily. Soap- 

 weed feeding was still in progress June 15, 1918. 



During the first 70 days of feeding an unsystematic effort was made 

 to segregate the weaker cattle and feed them separately from the 

 rest. Where a large number of cattle varying in condition are fed 

 in one feed lot, the weaker ones are crowded away from the feed and 

 will not improve in condition as they should. 



Segregation was found to be important, and after the first 70 days 

 the work was systematized so that the poorer cows were placed in 

 a feed lot by themselves in small groups where they could receive 

 individual attention if necessary, and were fed a slightly heavier 

 ration than the main herd. After a short period of special attention 

 and of feeding on the heavier ration, many of the poorer cows im- 

 proved in condition and were put with the main herd on the lighter 

 feeding. 



It was found that the poorer cows when fed a daily ration of 25 

 pounds of the chopped soapweed and 3 pounds of cottonseed meal 

 gained sufficiently in strength and condition in from 20 to 30 days to 

 go into the main lot on a lighter ration. Stock in the main feed lot 

 were fed a ration of from 15 to 20 pounds of the chopped soapweed 

 and from 1 to 1| pounds of cottonseed meal. After from 35 to 40 



