46 MISC. PUBLICATION 9 0, TJ. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



One big improvement is the discontinuance of repeated use of the 

 same bed grounds. Under the old method (which is still used by 

 some sheepmen) the sheep were driven to the same bed ground 

 night after night. As a result the range for some distance around 

 the bed ground was overgrazed and trampled. The bedding 

 grounds were dust beds. Poisonous plants took possession of the 

 abused areas. Erosion often formed gullies. Sometimes sheep 

 diseases and parasites spread from the bed grounds. (Fig. 24.) 



Under modern methods the sheep are usually quietly rounded up 

 where night overtakes them on the range. Thus no area is used as 

 a bed ground enough to injure it, and the sheep are less subject to 

 infections and are spared the evening and morning trailing from 

 the feed to the bed ground, or from the bed ground to the feed, 

 which is especially injurious to the lambs. 



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Figure 23. — Sheep need constant care 



Good herders trail the sheep about the range as little as possible, 

 allowing them to graze quietly and not too compactly bunched. 



THE FUNCTION OF A HERDER WITH CATTLE 



Cattle do not need the close attention and protection that sheep 

 do, yet the services of the herder are generally necessary. He pre- 

 vents the cattle from straying from the range on which they should 

 graze. He sees that the cattle drift to the areas where the feed 

 might waste, and prevents them from congregating on areas where 

 overgrazing might result. He prevents them from drifting to the 

 high range too early, and keeps them away from poisonous-plant 

 areas. Very often the herder is responsible for placing salt on the 

 range for use by the cattle. At the close of the grazing season, he 

 helps drive the cattle to the ranches or to the winter range. When 

 cattle are grazed yearlong on the open range the herders must round 

 them up to brand the calves or to cut out the beef steers for market. 



