IC-NRLF

THE HAUDLI1TQ OF SHEEP OXJ THE
NATIONAL FORESTS

U.S.D. A. Circular

HANDLING OF SHEEP
ON THE NATIONAL
FORESTS

LA MANIPULACION DE LAS

&VEJAS EN LOS BOSQUES

NACIONALES

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920

THE HANDLING OF SHEEP

ON THE NATIONAL

FORESTS

LA MANIPULACION DE LAS

OVEJAS EN LOS BOSQUES

NACIONALES

WASHINGTON

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1920

INTRODUCTION.

The information contained in this
book has been prepared by officers of
the United States Forest Service at the
request of the sheep owners who graze
their sheep within the NationalForests.
It is important, both to the man who
hires you and to yourself that you read
this book carefully, keep it with you
for reference from day to day, and do
your very best to handle the sheep in
your charge according to the instruc-
tions given herein.

(2)

THE NATIONAL FORESTS.

The National Forests are the prop-
erty of the United States Government.
They were created for two purposes.
One is the production of timber; the
other, the regulation of streamflow by
maintaining a normal growth of trees,
shrubs, grasses, and weeds. The graz-
ing of live stock is regulated on the
National Forests for the primary pur-
pose of protecting the forests and
watersheds, secondarily, because the
Government recognized the grass as a
valuable resource which should be pro-
tected and made to produce the maxi-
mum amount of animal food for the
benefit of the stockmen, as well as all
of the people.

Forest and watershed protection
must be accomplished by regulated
grazing. This means that the total
number of stock upon the National
Forests must not be greater than the
rang'e will properly support and that
the grazing seasons must conform to
the cycle of plant growth. The latter
is necessary because the removal of the
forage too early will result in weaken-
ing the parent plant and prevent the
production of fertile seed, thus making
it possible for the plants which are not
good feed to take the place of those
which are removed by live stock before
they have a chance to grow and ma-
ture seed.

•"The 'number 'of stock wnicli a forest
range permanently will support will
depend almost altogether upon the
methods of handling the stock on the
range. If sheep are properly handled
they will make better gains and do less
damage to the range than if they are
improperly handled.

For five years the Forest Service
carried on experiments on one of the
National Forests, to determine the dif-
ference in the growth and weight of
lambs and in the amount of range re-
quired for sheep grazed in a pasture,
as compared with sheep herded on for-
est range of exactly the same kind. It
was found that the sheep in the pas-
ture required from 25 to 40 per cent
less range, depending upon the sea-
sonal growth of forage, than was
needed for the sheep which were
herded on the open range outside the
pasture. It was also found that the
lambs in the pasture weighed on an
average of 8 pounds more than the
lambs in the band which was herded
on the open range. The sheep in both
bands were of exactly the same age
and same grade. Further experiments
proved that if sheep are allowed to
graze openly, instead of being bunched
up and herded close together; if they
are bedded where night overtakes
them, instead of being driven back to
the same bed ground night after night ;
it* they are allowed to go to water two
or three times each week, instead of
being driven to water every day
whether they are thirsty or not; if
dogs are not allowed to disturb the
sheep while they are feeding or find-
ing a suitable bedding place; in other

words, if the sheep are permitted to
graze with the greatest possible free-
dom that can be allowed without dan-
ger of loss from straying and wild
animals, almost the same results can
be secured as if they were in a pas-
ture. Losses from coyotes, as a rule,
will also be much less than when
sheep are returned to the same bed
ground for several nights in succes-
sion.

The Forest Service wishes to make
the National Forest ranges produce
year after year the greatest possible
amount of mutton, beef, wool, and
hides. If the annual production is to
be kept up the stock must be so han-
dled as not to injure forage plant
growth, except to feed off the annual
crop. When stock are not handled
carefully they damage the range. If
they are shaded day after day in the
same place on the creek bottoms
they soon kill out all plant growth
and nothing but dust or gravel beds
remain. The Forest Service can not
allow such injury to the range and
in such cases must prohibit further
grazing on such areas until the plant
growth is restored. In closing such
areas to grazing, the allotment is of
course reduced in size and the number
allowed on the forest for the sheepman
on whose range the damage is done
must be cut down. This works to the
disadvantage of both the owner and
the herder. The fewer sheep the owner
has on the forest, the less money he
makes. The fewer bands the owner
can put on the forest range the fewer
jobs for herders.

Ordinarily the best herder brings in
the best lambs ; the fattest lambs come
from the bands which are handled best.
The less sheep are driven and run
about the fatter they will get. Every
time a herder puts the dog on the sheep
he is running off just so much mutton.
In Idaho, in Utah, in Wyoming sheep
are not dogged to water. Water is
just as plentiful here, and when the
sheep get thirsty they will go to water
themselves. When a herder dogs his
sheep to water he runs just so much
mutton off and the sheep tramp out a
large amount of feed.

The ideas which have been found to
result in fatter lambs and better range
elsewhere in the West are given here-
with.

Do not drive your sheep, especially
with dogs, any more than you abso-
lutely have, to. Start them out in the
morning slowly and then let them feed
undisturbed. Keep your eye on the
leaders and if they trail too fast check
them. Plan on feeding toward shade,
away from the creeks, for the warm
part of the day during hot weather. If
they shade up leave them alone. Do
not force them down to water. Thou-
sands of sheep in the West on ranges
much drier than those on the National
Forests are not watered oftener than
every three or four days. In some
parts of the West sheep are not
watered for weeks at a time.

Don't use the dog on the sheep un-
less you have to. Even a pig would
not get fat if he was constantly
chased by dogs. Keep your dog for a
companion and to give warning of the
presence of predatory animals.

Look over your range ahead of' t*Ke
sheep and plan how you are going to
use it. Figure out about what day you
will want your sheep to be on water
and allow them to graze toward it so
that they will arrive at the time you
wish them to get' there. Take your
new piece of range on the; way out
from water ; not on the way in. Sheep
should not be allowed to come to water
over a new piece of range. They tramp
out too much feed.

If you allow the sheep to feed quietly
and do riot dog them they will not need
water as often as if they are constantly
driven about and the less they travel
the more fat they will put on. On the
average they lose more fat in being
driven to water than the water puts
on. If left to themselves sheep do very
little damage to the range by tramp-
ling. If you let your sheep tramp out
the range your allotment will have to
be cut down and the driving will keep
your lambs thin.

Move your bed up to the place you
figure your sheep will reach in the eve-
ning. As evening comes on circle your
band quietly, turning the stragglers
into the bed ground. Do not drive your
sheep to a bed ground. Bed them
where night overtakes them. Bedding
in one place, too often damages the
range and this will mean that the for-
est ranger will have to close this piece
of range and cut down your number of
sheep.

Ordinarily an hour on the creek is
plenty for all sheep to water. Do not
stay longer. Your sheep will tramp

out the feed and you will lose your
range.

The ranger wants to be your friend.
It is his job to see that you handle
your sheep so they do not damage the
range. He will help you with advice
and suggestions if you wish him to. If
you herd your sheep properly he will
have the supervisor give you a card of
thanks and recommendation stating
that you are a good herder. If you do
qot handle your sheep properly he will
have to report to the supervisor that
you are a poor herder. If you are
given a card of recommendation — keep
it. Whenever you want a job herding
sheep show the card. Your Govern-
ment card will show everyone that you
are a good herder and will help you get
a job anywhere.

Following are the main points to be
kept in mind:

1. Use your dog just as little as
possible.

2. The less you drive your sheep the
fatter the lambs.

3. When you must take your sheep
to water, allow them to graze in and
do not use the same trail all the time.

4. Feed to water over range already
used. Save your new range for feed-
ing out from water.

5. The use of one bed. ground more
than three times will mean a 10 per
cent cut in your number of sheep.

6. Do not shade on the creeks. An
hour on the creek is enough for water-
ing the sheep.

7. Keep your best range with the
nearest water for the hottest part of
the summer.

8. Help prevent *f 6rest fires'. > '> '

9. Keep the streams pure — the moun-
tains clean.

10. If you do not understand, ask the
ranger.

GREAT FIRES FROM LITTLE
CAMP FIRES GROW.

Remember. — The period which you
spend on the National Forest ranges
with your stock is the dry season,
when there is extreme danger to the
timber, forage, and watershed values
from destruction by fire. Help to pro-
tect and save these values by being
careful with your camp fires.

You do not want the stock under
your care to come out in poor condi-
tion at the end of the season because
the best part of the feed upon your
range has been burned off, nor do you
want to have a lot of hard work hold-
ing the stock on the short ' range you
will have left if a fire gets away from
you.

You do not want to give the im-
pression that the grazing of live stock
on the National Forests works injury
to the forest lands, or that stockmen
and their employees have no regard
for the public interest. You do not
want to subject yourself to the trouble,
expense, and humiliation of arrest be-
cause of carelessness in leaving a fire
burn unattended.

Avoid all these difficulties by observ-
ing the following simple rules : Do not
leave your camp fires burning when
you are absent. Build them in safe
places in the open. Thoroughly ex-
19663—20 2

Ungulsh * them with water and

eartfft when you leave.

Many costly fires have been started
by a lighted match, cigarette stub, or
pipe duffel carelessly dropped in dry
material to smoulder along until the
winds fanned it into flames. Be
careful.

You can furnish a fine example of
good citizenship and public spirit by
putting out any small fires you may
discover, and reporting any smoke you
see to the nearest forest officer.

BEWARE DISEASE.

The carcasses of animals that die
close to streams must be removed at
once and buried or burned. The For-
est Service has made this rule to keep
our streams pure and protect persons
drinking water from the streams from
getting disease by drinking impure
water. The carcasses of animals that
die from contagious disease must be
burned. If an animal dies from an
infectious disease, such as blackleg,
anthrax, glanders, etc., the germs re-
main in the dead body, and other
healthy stock may catch the di sense if
they are near it. Some of your own
herd may die by catching disease in
this way. The best way to burn a
carcass is to dig a hole about 2 feet
deep and big enough to hold it, then
'make several small ditches sloping into
the hole. This will make a draft and
your fire will burn much better. Next
pile wood in the hole, roll the carcass
onto the pile and burn it. The dirt
which was taken from the hole can be

thrown back to cover up what is left
of the carcass.

SALTING.

Place your salt where the forest
ranger tells you to. He wants you to
put it where it will do your stock the
most good and keep the range in the
best condition. Do not salt along
streams or at the watering places, or
any place where the stock naturally
congregate. Place the salt where stock
will have to travel from water and the
best feed to get it. They will thus
avoid trampling out of the choice range
and pick up lots of good feed that
would otherwise go to waste.

La Manipulation de las Ovejas en
los Bosques Nacionales.

LA INTRODUCTION.

Los oficiales del Servicio de los
Bosques de los Estados Unidos han
preparado este libro a peticion de los
duenos, las ovejas de qtiien pastan en
los bosques Nacionales. Es importante
al hombre que le alquila £ Vd. y & Vd.
mismo que Vd. lee ciudadosamente
este libro. Guardela contigo para refe-
renda de dia en dia. Esme'rese a mani-
pular las ovejas que son en la custodia
de Vd. segtm las instrucciones aqul
dentro.

LOS BOSQT7ES NACIONALES.

Los bosques Nacionales son la pro-
piedad del gobierno de los Estados
Unidos. Tienen dos prop6sitos. Uno
es la produccion del bpsque ; el otro, la
regulacion de la corriente del rfo por
mantener una producci<5n normal de los
arboles, los arbustos, las hierbas y los
hierbajos. El pasto del ganado se re-
gula en los Bosques Nacionales para
proteger los bosques, el pasto y el agua.
Secundariamente, porque las hierbas
son un recurso valeroso. El Gobierno
reconocio que el pasto es un medio pre-
cioso que se debe proteger. Debe pro-
ducir la cantidad maxima de all-
(13)

mento para el beneticio de los gana-
deros y de los pueblos.

La proteccion de los bosques, el
pasto y agua se deben proteger por
pasto regular. El numero total de los
ganados en los Bosques Nacionales no
debe ser m&s que el pasto puede man-
tener y la estaciOn debe conformar a
la acrecencia de las plantas.

Est6 es necesario porque la remo-
cion del forraje demasiado temprano
resultara. en debilitar la planta ma-
terna y impedir la producci6n de la
semilla fe"rtil. Asf las plantas que no
son buen alimento pueden suceder las
plantas que son removidas por las
ganaderfas antes que pueden crecer y
nmndurar las semillas.

El niiniero de ganado que una exten-
siCn de pasto sostendra permanente-
mente depende del me'todo de manipu-
lar el ganado en la extension de pasto.
Si las ovejas se manipulan propia-
mente haran ganancias mejores y
haran menos dano al pasto que si se
manipulan impropiamente.

Hace cinco afios el Servicio de los
bosques mantiene los experimentos con
los Bosques Nacionales para determinar
las diferencias en la acrecencia y el
peso de los borreguitos y en la cantidad
de pasto que las ovejas necesitan para
pastar en un pasto cercado como las
ovejas que comen en la misma clase de
pasto abierto. Se hall6 que los borre-
guitos necesitan de veinte y cinco a
cuarenta por ciento menos extensi6n
de pasto conforme al crecimiento del
forraje que se necesitaba para las
ovejas que se reunio en hatos en un
pasto libre. Se hallo tambie"n que las
ovejas en el pasto cercado pesaron

16

ocho libraV tea's" que* lafe' 'oveftas ' en*
hatos que se reuni6 en un pasto
libre. Las ovejas de los dos tuvieron
la misma edad y fueron del mismo
grado. Experimented, adem&s, demos-
tran que si las ovejas se permiten
pastar dispersas en lugar de hatos
compactos, se majadan cuando es de
noche en lugar de ser rechajadas & la
misma regi6n para dormir todas las
noches, si se permiten ir a beber dos o
tres veces por la semana en lugar de
ser impelidas al agua todos los dfas
que tienen sed que no tenga sed si los
perros no se permiten turbar las ove-
jas cuando comen o buscan buen es-
pacio para dormir, y en efecto si las
ovejas se permiten pastar con la max-
ima libertad que puede ser sin riesgo
de destrucci6n por los animates sal-
vajes y de descarriar, casi las mismas
resultas se obtendr&n como se estuvi-
eran en un pasto. La destrucci6n por
los coyotes ordinariamente serftn menos
que si las ovejas vengan al mismo es-
pacio para dormir todas las noches.

El Servicio de los Bosques quiere
que los bosques nacionales producen
todos los anos la maxima cantidad de
carne de carnero, de carne de vaca, de
lana, y de cueros, etcetera, todos los
anos. Para conservar la producci6n
anual, el ganado se debe llevar &
pastar de manero que no dane la
produccion de las plantas a excep-
cion de dar la produccion anual. Si Vd.
no manipula el ganado cuidadosamente
dafiaran el pasto. Si van debajo de
los arboles todos los dfas en el mismo
espacio en el fondo del riacho destmi-
r&n todas las plantas y nada quedara

**E*1 oficiarquierV ser uh'amigo de Vd.
Es su obra a ver que Vd. manipula bien
sus ovejas, y no dana el pasto. Le
asistira & Vd. con aviso y sugestiones
si lo quiere. Si Vd. reuna el ganado en
hatos propiamente una carta de gracias
le hara dar & Vd. por el inspector y
una recomendaci6n que dice que Vd. es
un pastor bueno. Si Vd. no manipula
sus ovejas propiamente informal el
inspector que Vd. es mal pastor. Si
una tarjeta se le da a Vd. guardela.
Cuando Vd. quiere una obra de reunir
el ganado en hatos monstrara la tar-
jeta. Su tarjeta monstrara a todas las
personas que Vd. es pastor bueno y le
asistira obtener un enipleo en todns
partes.

Acuerdese estas puntas.
» I. No debe usar mucho el perro.

II. Sus ovejas engordaran si no se
impelen mucho.

III. Cuando van las ovejas al agua
no use el mismo camino cada vez.

IV. Cuando las ovejas van a agua
no se debe usar el pasto ya usado. El
pasto nuevo se debe guardar.

V. El uso de la misma majada mas
que tres 6 cuatro veces signiflca diez
por ciento menos en su numero de
ovejas.

VI. No debe permitir que las ovejas
vayan a los arboles que estan en el
riachuelo. Una hora en la banda del
rlo es bastante para dar de beber al
ganado.

VII. El pasto que se debe guardar
debe tener agua por la parte mas ca-
liente del verano.

VIII. Ayude Vd. & precaver los in-
cendios de bosques.

IX. Conserve Vff.'fa* liiripieza'de 16s
riachuelos, y la hermosura de los
montes.

X. Si no comprende pregunte al
oficial.

LOS INCENDIOS GRANDES DE LOS
PEQUENOS FUEGOS PROCEDEN.

; Aviso! El perfodo que Vd. pasa en
los pastes de los Bosques Nacionales
es la saz6n mas arida del ano. Ex-
tremo es el riesgo de la destrucci6n por
los incendios de los a,rboles, del forraje,
y de los cursos de agua. Ayude Vd. &
defender y & conservar estas ventajas
por cuidado con el fuego.

iQuiere Vd. que el ganado que es en
su custodia llegue al fin del saz6n en
condicion inferior & causa de incendio
del forraje?

iQuiere Vd. mucho trabajo arduo &
retener el ganado en los pastes insufi-
cientes que resultaran si Vd. permita el
fuego a escapar?

iQuiere Vd. que se crean que el
apacentamiento del ganado en los
Bosques Nacionales dana los terrenes
arbolados. o que los ganaderos y sus
empleados no tienen consideraci6n por
el bien del publico?

iQuiere Vd. exponerse a la pena, los
gustos, y la mortificacion de arresto &
causa de negligencia en dejando
descuidado un fuego?

Evite Vd. todas estas dificuldades
con seguir estas reglas simples :

No deje Vd. arder sus fuegos cuando
Vd. sea ausente.

Construyalos Vd. en sitios seguros,
& campo raso.

.; .•;.'.-;; 20 . •••.

Apagelos Vd. (emtfo* con agua y
cubralos Vd. con suelo cuando Vd.
marche.

Muchos incendios calamitosos han
trafdo su origen de pajuelas encendi-
das 6 de puntas de cigarillos, 6 de
las cenizas de pipas, que han sido
echadas descuidadamente en material
seco. Estos incendios han ardido
lentamente hasta que los vientos han
aventadolas en llamas. jCuidado!

Vd. puede dar buen ejemplo de la
ciudadanfa patriotica con apagar
cualesquiera incendios pequenos Vd.
encontre, y con dar noticia de cual-
quier humo al pr6ximo oficial de los
bosques.

GUARDESE VD. DE LA PESTI-
LENCIA.

Los muertos de los animates que
mueran cerca de los riachuelos se
deben desviar sin retardo, para ente-
rrar 6 quemarlos. El Servicio de los
Bosques ha establecido esta regla a
fin de guardar la limpieza de nuestros
riachuelos y de defender la gente de
pestilencia & causa de beber agua im-
pure. Se deben quemar los muertos
de los animales que mueran de la
pestilencia. Cuando un animal muere
de infecci6n, lo que la morrina negra,
el ftntrax, 6 el muermo, etc., los mi-
crobios persisten en el muerto, y el
ganado sano puede inficionarse si
acercase. Unos de su propio hato
pueden morir de tal infecci6n. El
6ptimo modo de quemar un muerto es
como sigue:

En primer lugar, cave Vd. un hoyo
de dos pies de profundidad y bastante

largo. DespueV/' lm^a» Vtf. ''klgunaS
cortas zanjas, inclinadas hacia el hoyo.
Esto hara un corriente de aire de
suerte que su fuego ardera m£s bien.
Despu^s, apile Vd. lena seca en el hoyo,
rode Vd. el muerto sobre la hoguera,
y quemelo. El suelo llevado fuera del
hoyo se puede volver sobre los restos
del muerto.

EL SURTIMIENTO DE SAL.

Ponga Vd. su sal dondequiera que
el Guardamonte ordene. El quiere Vd.
pongalo donde en sumo grado bene-
ficiara su ganado de Vd., sin daiiar el
pasto. No ponga Vd. la sal cerca de
los riachuelos ni a los aguaderos, ni
donde juntese naturalmente el ganado.
Pongalo Vd. en tal lugares que el
ganado este precisado a andar afuera
del agua y del pasto m&s bueno. De
este modo evitara hollar el pasto ex-
celente y coger& mucho pasto bueno
que por otra parte se gastarfa.

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