- RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGEMENT DURING DROUGHT. cl 
only under better methods of nonirrigated farming than are now 
known. However, in the wettest years over most of the Southwest 
there is sufficient moisture to raise a fodder crop, especially on areas 
flooded by the run-off from nearby hills. Fodder raised in these 
_ years and cut green and stored in a silo, if in sufficient quantity, 
would constitute a valuable supply of reserve feed. Crops of the 
sorghum group were raised successfully in the vicinity of the Jor- 
nada Range Reserve in 1913 and 1914. A pit silo with a capacity of 
250 tons was constructed at a cost of $300 on the reserve in 1915 
for storing soapweed. Such a silo could also be used for storing 
ensilage, and several of them located at strategic places on the range 
and filled with feed would be an excellent assurance against losses 
during drought. 
Feeding of roughages at best is an expensive proposition, and re- 
quires care in order that costs may not become excessive. The great- 
est care, perhaps, may be exercised in judicious planning to begin 
feeding a small portion of the stock early enough to relieve the 
range somewhat and thus avoid the necessity of feeding a large 
number of stock later. A smaller number can be handled for a long 
period much more economically than a larger number for a short 
time. 
Handling poor cattle—A great deal of the success and economy 
in the results from measures taken to avoid losses depends upon the 
way the cattle in poor condition are handled. Good results can not 
be expected where poor cattle are left to compete with stronger 
individuals for feed and water. Unwarranted rounding up, rough 
handling, and constant moving are detrimental to cattle and should 
be avoided; but, as some handling is necessary in getting the animals 
to feed and in grouping them for feeding, it should be done slowly 
and carefully. 
The best results have been obtained on the Jornada Range Reserve 
when the poor cows were segregated from the stronger stock and 
fed according to their requirements. In the spring of 1918 the poor 
cattle were divided into several different lots, varying from very poor 
cattle almost “on the lift” to stronger dry cows that subsisted on dry 
range forage alone. Each, lot was carefully watched and weaker 
cows placed where they would receive more feed, or stronger cows 
removed from the feed lot, as the case might be. This was accom- 
plished by slow, careful working of the stock when they were at 
watering places, thus avoiding rounding up or running them. When 
it was necessary to move poor stock any distance it was done by slow, 
careful handling with minimum ill effect. They would be moved 
only short distances each day and then allowed to rest and graze, or 
were fed. Constant riding and looking after stock made it possible, 
in most cases, to note the condition of poor individuals in sufficient 
