52 BT7LLETIX 1405, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRECDI/TUftE 



range the season should close when proper utilization of the old 

 growth has been obtained and soon enough for the forage plants to 

 make a satisfactory new growth. 



The grazing seasons giving the best results in the central Wasatch 

 region are : Oak-brush. May 20 to June 9 and October 1 to October 

 15; aspen-fir. June 10 to July 9 and October 1 to October 15; and 

 spruce-fir. July 10 to September 30. 



To insure proper seasonal use a thoroughly sound and practical 

 grazing-management plan should be developed in accordance with 

 the growth and development of the feed. Sheep, being under herd, 

 can readily be confined to seasonal zones during the best period for 

 use. Cattle ranges should be divided into distribution units so as 

 to make practicable the control of the stock. The control, distribu- 

 tion, and movement of the number of cattle which can use each unit 

 to best advantage is obtained by salting in accordance with definite 

 plans, by riding, by drift fences, or by a combination of two or all 

 of these. 



Removing the herbage closely four or more times in a season 

 results in a sharp decline in the forage yield and a marked shortage 

 of the life of the vegetation, with the possible exception of sod 

 plants. Very light cropping several times in the season, which 

 leaves each time sufficient leafage for the elaboration of ample plant 

 food, apparently, does not tend to jeopardize the forage yield. 



Grazing closely twice or even three times in a season, provided 

 the first grazing is late enough and the intervals are sufficient for 

 the vegetation quite to recover from each cropping, ordinarily does 

 not seriously affect the yield and vigor of the plant cover. Grazing 

 the range satisfactorily at time of vegetative readiness and again 

 in the autumn at the end of the summer grazing period is not a 

 detrimental practice. 



Frequent close cropping of the herbage of Xevada blue grass and 

 violet wheat grass following seed maturity each year for three years 

 resulted in excessive declines in yield and a later maturity in the 

 second and third year. Geranium showed no detrimental effect from 

 such treatment. 



Close removal of aftermath leaves the crown of the plant exposed 

 to the elements, decreases the humus added to the soil, and exposes 

 the soil to increased run-off and erosion. 



Browse species appear to make much the same physiological re- 

 sponse to severe cropping as herbaceous vegetation. Plants com- 

 pletely defoliated three or four times in a season are readily killed. 

 The removal of approximately half of the foliage four times each 

 season markedly weakens browse species and lowers their yield. On 

 most browse types, however, sufficient leafage remains when the 

 range has been properly grazed to permit the plants to function 

 normally. 



A reasonable amount of succulence in range forage appears to be 

 associated more or less directly with the gains made by the animals 

 grazed. The moisture content of the leafage of several typical 

 grasses averaged »9 per cent when they were cut four times in "a sea- 

 son, 41 per cent when they were harvested at the time of seed matur- 

 ity, and 51 per cent when they were cut twice in a season (6 and 10 

 weeks, respectively, after growth started). 



