36 BULLETIN 767, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
2. The admission of cattle to oak-brush ranges before grass has 
started practically compels the cattle to eat oak, as that is the only 
forage available. To make certain that there is no loss from oak 
brush at this time, it is important that an examination of the condi- 
tion of the range should precede the admission of cattle, rather than 
that they should be admitted on a fixed date, inasmuch as seasons 
differ markedly in the advancement of the vegetation. After the 
grass has started so that the cattle have an opportunity to get 
something in addition to the oak, there is little danger of oak 
poisoning. 
3. On the shinnery ranges, as on the oak ranges in Utah, the 
danger to cattle is from an exclusive diet of oak. The shinnery 
ranges can be used without loss provided a comparatively small 
quantity of other feed is available. 
4. The loss from oak on an oak range is estimated at from 2 to 3 
per cent. Considering the handling of range cattle from a cold- 
blooded business standpoint it may, under some circumstances, be 
more profitable to stand the loss rather than to provide the additional 
feed. It should be remembered in this connection, however, that 
underfeeding tends to injure cattle permanently and prevent normal 
gains in weight, so that the tendency among many stockmen to 
gamble on the chance of getting cattle through the winter and spring 
on short feed is liable to lead to disastrous results. 
• LITERATURE CITED. 
Barnes, Will C. 
1913. Western grazing grounds and forest ranges, pp. 268 and 278, illus. Chicago. 
Breeder's Gazette, The. 
1909. Oak leaf kills cattle. In The Breeder's Gaz., v. 56, no. 9, p. 362. 
Cornevin, C. E. 
1893. Des plantes veneneuses et des empoisonnements qu'elles determinent. 
p. 139. Paris. 
Glover, George H., and Robbins, W. W. 
1915. Colorado plants injurious to live stock. Col. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 211, p. 27. 
Harting, J. R. 
1901. In American Gardening, v. 22, p. 132. 
Lander, G. D. 
1912. Veterinary Toxicology. Chicago, p. 270. 
Mackie, W. W. 
1903. The value of oak leaves for forage. Cal. Agr. Exp. Sta, Bui. 150, 21 p., 10 pi. 
Mascal, Leonard. 
1662. The government of cattel. London, p. 243. 
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