a4 BULLETIN 1031, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
thirds of the grazing capacity in 1915-16, which was near maximum; 
and second, that only in the same year, 1917-18, did the estimated 
range forage production fall materially below approximately two- 
thirds of production in 1915-16, and even then the excess was less 
than 1 per cent. The original plan, however, was to reduce other 
stock so as to keep total grazing well within forage production. 
Table 18 shows what was actually done. 
TABLE 18.—Permanent stock, steers, and total, compared with forage production 
by years. 
Perma- Steers. 
Ae Totalin | Forage 
percent- percent- | produc- 
Year age of Percent- age of | tionin 
total age of | grazing | percent- 
erazin Number.| grazing |capacity,| age of 
eae capacity,} 1915-16.'| 1915-16. 
fee 1915-16. 
1915 16 py tec SS eee SE by Lire Oe 60. 89 1,542 32. 99 93. 88 100 
IGE IGE by fas oer ent eal ol ili aL ie DN i Pe aN Ras ae 2 64. 05 831 17.78 81. 83 81 
IAS) Go) oe Se ens eee Oe Ney Mi Ss Spee Py ns See 67.13 477 10. 20 77.33 54 
ADESSO Deere eee er er cee Oe ee a ee ah eee 49. 42 None s||ao 4 eee aa 49, 42 64 
The last two columns of Table 18 show that the total number of 
stock was slightly in excess of the forage production in 1916-17, 
the first dry year, and 43.2 per cent in excess of estimated forage 
production in 1917-18. ; 
In disposing of steers the original plan was followed, but not 
soon enough. In the fall of 1915 it was evident that there would 
be considerable forage not needed by the permanent herd. Addi- 
tional yearling steers were purchased and held over and sold in the 
spring of 1916 at a fair profit. Although in 1916 the prospect for 
surplus forage was not so good, it still appeared that there would 
be more range than needed for the permanent herd. The natural 
increase of steers under 2 years old, about 750 head, was held over, 
but only a few additional steers were purchased. Most of these 
steers were sold in the spring of 1917. After the growing season of 
1917 it was evident that there would be a shortage of range forage 
for the permanent herd, and consequently all steers down to calves 
4 months old were sold. Removing the steers late in the fall, how- 
ever, and holding over a few surplus cows amounted to an average 
of 477 head of this surplus stock during the grazing year, July 1, 
1917, to June 30, 1918. 
Had the steers been sold in the spring of 1917 or earlier instead 
of holding them over until fall, much worry would have been 
avoided and the cost of supplemental feeding and losses would 
probably have been reduced. As it was, supplemental feeding, as 
given in Table 19, was considered advisable. 
