FOREST AND RANGE RESOURCES OE UTAH 



47 



FENCES ON THE RANGE 



Fences are important in modern range management. Often they 

 are constructed above the spring range to prevent cattle from drift- 

 ing to the higher ranges too early. Bog holes and poison-plant areas 

 are often fenced to exclude cattle and sheep. Corrals are constructed 

 in which to handle the stock for various purposes, or to hold the 

 stock while they are being gathered for marketing, rounding up in 

 the fall, etc. Stockmen often find fences necessary to prevent tres- 

 passing of unpermitted stock. 



SALT ON THE RANGE 



Sheep will consume about iy 2 pounds of salt per head during 

 the summer season. Cattle and horses will consume approximately 

 2 pounds of salt per head per month from the time the green feed 

 begins until midsummer, and 1 pound per head per month during 



Figure 24. — A much-used bed ground. Note the trails, the overgrazing, and the 



poisonous sneezeweed 



the remainder of the year. This quantity is in excess of that placed 

 on most ranges, but experience has demonstrated that a liberal 

 use of salt is a profitable investment. 



SALTING CATTLE 



The craving of range cattle for salt can be used to bring about 

 better distribution of stock on the range, thereby obtaining 

 better utilization of the forage plants. Well-placed salt grounds 

 can frequently do more than several herders to distribute stock 

 properly. (Fig. 25.) Cattle naturally and necessarily go to the 

 watering places. They have also other natural congregating places, 

 such as flats, low passes between canyons, high basins, etc. The 

 forage about such places is fully utilized and often overgrazed. 

 Salt is not placed near water or on any of the natural congregating 

 places. The aim is always to place the salt where there is good 



