RANGE AND CATTLE MANAGEMENT DURING DROUGHT. Coal 
TOTAL LOSSES ON THE JORNADA RANGE RESERVE. 
Losses from all causes among all classes of stock on the Jornada 
Range Reserve since July 1, 1915, were 1.9 per cent on a basis of the 
full year up to December 31, 1915, 1.5 per cent in 1916, 1.8 per cent 
in 1917, 3.5 per cent in 1918, and 1.5 per cent in 1919, or an average 
annual loss of 1.9 per cent. 
Reports received from stockmen in connection with the investiga- 
tions of live-stock production in the 11 far western States in 1914 
showed avarage annual losses for New Mexico as follows: Calves up 
to 12 months of age, 10.6 per cent; yearlings, 5.6 per cent; stock over 
2 years old, 5.8 per cent; an average of 7.2 per cent from all causes.?° 
The estimated losses for southern New Mexico since 1914 were: 
10 per cent in 1915, 12 per cent in 1916, 15 per cent in 1917, 35 per 
cent in 1918, and 5 per cent in 1919, or an average annual loss of 
16.7 per cent for the 5-year period. The Cattle Sanitary Board of 
New Mexico estimates the losses for the whole State to have been 25 
per cent of all the cattle in the State during the drought and severe 
winter of 1918-19. While these figures include some losses from 
other causes, they are principally due to starvation. 
The results on the Jornada Range Reserve to date in reducing 
losses from starvation, blackleg, and other causes justify the serious 
consideration of stockmen. This is especially true under the existing 
conditions of increased cost of range, labor, equipment, and supphes, 
and poor credit with high rate of interest on loans to finance the 
business. 
INCREASING GROWTH OF YOUNG STOCK. 
Young stock do not make much gain in weight on southern New 
Mexico and similar ranges from December until the time green grass 
comes in the following summer. Successive weighing of steers in 
November and December, when they are 18 months of age, and in 
May or June, at 24 months of age, show little or no gain in weight 
during the six-months period. This stunting makes young stock 
slow to respond in growth when green grass comes. As a result, 
yearling or two-year-old steers from these ranges are not fit to go to 
the feeders, but find their market mainly as stockers to go to north- 
ern pastures for one or two years’ maturity. As stockers for this 
purpose they do not bring a very high price in comparison with 
prices received for stock of the same age from other sections. 
The stunting of young stock is even more pronounced during 
drought. As has already been stated, yearlings from southern New 
Mexico during the drought of 1916-1918 were often 100 pounds 
under their average weight, resulting in heavy “cut back” by 
28 Barnes, Will C., and Jardine, James T., Meat Situation in the U. S., Part I, U. 8. 
Dept. Agr. Sec. Rept. 110. 
