10 Miscellaneous Circular 48, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 



Range division lines are established to separate as far as possible 

 ranges used by different classes of stock. Cattle and horses generally 

 graze on the lower, more accessible grass ranges, whereas sheep are 

 able to utilize large areas of timbered and semitimbered weed and 

 browse range lying at the higher elevations. In some cases a range 

 may be used in common by cattle and sheep, the sheep often feeding 

 on the weeds which tend to crowd out the more palatable grasses 

 relished by the cattle. 



An interesting example of the solution of range problems is found 

 in the new method of herding sheep which is now in use on national- 

 forest ranges (fig. 7). Much of the antagonism to sheep in times 

 past was due to the fact that severe damage was caused to the range 

 by unnecessary trailing to and from bed grounds and close cropping 

 of the forage. Investigations by the Forest Service have proved that 

 this damage does not occur when sheep spread out over a consider- 



Fig. 7. — Open herding, illustrated in this picture, was first put into practice in 

 Montana on the Helena National Forest 



able area while feeding instead of being held in a close bunch. The 

 herder allows the sheep to graze during the day at will, and instead 

 of driving them to a bed ground at night, which causes unnecessary 

 damage to forage, camps wherever night overtakes the band. Not 

 only is feed conserved in this way, but the sheep do better than under 

 the old system, because when they leave the bed ground they are on 

 fresh feed and are better nourished. It is not uncommon for a pro- 

 gressive sheep herder to bring off lambs each weighing 5 to 10 pounds 

 more than those of his neighbor herder who insists on close herding 

 and driving sheep to the same bed ground many nights in succession. 

 The system of grazing on the national forests is directed by graz- 

 ing experts — men who combine practical knowledge of the range 

 livestock industry with scientific training. The local forest officers 

 work under and with them to apply the methods which the experts 

 prescribe. To open feeding grounds, roads and bridges are built, 

 driveways located, and the remotest corners of the forests ransacked 



i 



