GRAZING AND FORAGE PRODUCTION ON NATIONAL FORESTS 23 



be held in each natural management unit, during the period when 

 the unit can best be used, long enough for proper utilization of 

 the forage. The band can then be shifted in accordance with the 

 management plan to another natural unit in the same seasonal zone 

 and so be grazed through the units of each zone during the proper 

 season. When the forage in the next seasonal zone has developed 

 sufficiently to allow grazing there the band is moved into that zone 

 and again held in each natural unit of the zone only long enough 

 to utilize properly the forage of the unit. 



On cattle ranges it is essential to determine the carrying capacity 

 of each of the natural management units and to plan the movement 

 of the cattle so that each unit may be grazed during the proper 

 period by the number of cattle representing its carrying capacity. 

 The best basis for determining this carrying capacity and working 

 out the whole management plan is grazing reconnaissance data. If 

 this information is lacking, a careful examination must be made 

 of the range in order to determine as closely as possible the location 

 of the zonal and distribution units and the carrying capacity of 

 these units. 



Once the number and distribution of the cattle have been worked 

 out, it becomes essential to provide the mechanics for controlling 

 and moving the animals. Control may be obtained by salting, herd- 

 ing, or fencing, or a combination of two or all of these. 



Salt forms a very essential part of the rations of livestock and 

 because of the natural craving for it the distribution of salt on the 

 range offers one of the most satisfactory — as well as one of the mosc 

 economical — means of controlling cattle movements (1) . Salt should 

 be available where cattle first come on the range and should be 

 distributed in accordance with the quantity and development of 

 forage. No salt should be placed on or very close to areas such as 

 upper zones not yet in vegetational readiness or overgrazed por- 

 tions of the range, around watering places, on flats, in swales and 

 other natural congregating places, or near poisonous-plant areas, 

 recreational sites, and other places of intensive use. On the other 

 hand, salt placed on slopes and ridges and in the more remote por- 

 tions of the range has a great influence in drawing cattle to these 

 places and obtaining proper utilization of forage which otherwise 

 would not be grazed or at least would not be fully utilized. 



The number of cattle that should be grazed in a given unit and 

 the length of time they should remain there is the basis for deter- 

 mining the amount and time of salting. With correct salting and 

 stock distribution the forage and salt will be consumed by the time 

 the next zone is ready and the animals will move practically of 

 their own accord to the next higher zone where salt has recently 

 been placed and where sufficiently developed forage is available. 

 Salt should not be left on a unit of range after the forage has been 

 fully utilized. Surplus salt on the upper elevations should be gath- 

 ered and stored over the winter, since if left on the range it will 

 tend to draw stock to those places too early and will largely defeat 

 the effect of salt on the lower zones in keeping the animals there. 



Riding of course is essential to place cattle and salt properly on 

 the range and to give necessary attention to the stock during the 

 season. Also, some herding is ordinarily necessary to prevent 

 cattle from going up drainage bottoms, along more or less level 



