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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUEg :/ ^j 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 13! 
Washington, D. C. 
January, 1926 
NORMAL GROWTH OF RANGE CATTLE 
By A. B. Clawson, Associate Physiologist, Pathological 
Division, Bureau of Animal Industry 
CONTENTS 
Location of range - 1 I Average yearly gains 7 
Origin and management of the cattle 1 Variations in gains -. 9 
Individual cattle weights, 1916 to 1924.. _ 3 I Summary 11 
LOCATION OF RANGE 
In connection with the investigation of stock-poisoning plants 
carried on by the Bureau of Animal Industry, United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture, at the Salina experiment station, near Salina, 
Utah, since 1915, considerable information regarding the normal gains 
in weight made by cattle on the summer range has been obtained. 
There is little previous definite information regarding the growth of 
animals under these conditions. 
The Salina experiment station is situated on the Fishlake National 
Forest, in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah, at an altitude of approxi- 
mately 8,000 feet. It is in a cattle and sheep range country, which is 
fairly typical of this part of Utah. In fact, the pastures are a portion 
of the cattle range fenced off for the station's use. The sheep and 
horse range joins it along one side. Aspen groves, oak ridges, and 
small meadows make up most of the area under fence. 
The particular pasture which has been used for cattle has furnished 
ample forage for the number of animals kept in it, as is shown by the 
fact that the vegetation has improved from year to year since the 
station was established. Forage, too, is fully as varied as on the 
surrounding range. Water is ample at all times and of good quality. 
ORIGIN AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CATTLE 
Each year cattle have been obtained from local stockmen and 
placed in the pasture as early in the season as conditions would 
permit. In 1915 several different persons furnished animals, each 
lending a few head. Since then practically all the cattle have been 
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