| Show WEST DESERT GIVES FEED FOR 3 MILLION SHEEP by prof A C esplin sheep and wool specialist desert arba area la is the winter range tor for to ewes in 1923 1924 the number was 2355 2356 and in sheep depend upon the open range rago for sus stis torance to nance drouth caused a reduction lu in plant growth of 26 25 to BO 50 per cent over the range area during tho the growing period ot of 1931 but no reduction of 0 sheep was made even more were driven to the open range because ot of forage shortage on farms and financial in buying teed feed the only relief given the situation Is the use bao by about 30 per cent of the operators of ono one fourth pound corn or cotton cake per ewo ewe pon po day eyen with this the dependence depend enca upon tile the forage plants Is above that of 1923 1924 when one fourth fewer sheep wore were grazed tho the outcome of this year with nearly owes whose fleeces of wool and lambs axe are depending upon the favors of climate Is significant in the agriculture of utah location of desert I 1 the west desi desart rt of utah from ava washington county on the th northwest which Is the estira west boondry with novaila jovada Jo vada la Is I in the sheep raise the lon lu in iron heaver millard jua b bland too de ae counties vat ob careful iv in september october november ane an december 19 31 Gen generally emily the teed feed both grasses and brouse has made only scanty growth local summer showers made teed feed in small areas adeas but the desert generalis r estimated at 60 to 75 per cent ceni of normal feeds on desert the feeds most depended upon aro are dwarf black sage cage artemisia nova very short growth but supplying considerable sid erable grazing common sage purple Arti artimisha fair growth especially in the valleys shad scale 4 triplex confert irolia fair growth but bui was extremely dry leaves and flow tell fell to the ground easily still it Is a major source of teed feed this year on the flat open desert areas white sage winter fats Eru otla la lanata only slight growth not taken readily in the early eairly season but should supply part baxt of feed in february greasewood Ver Is like common sage rage fair in valleys I 1 of little value on tile tho P alg 19 open flat i country several grasses not classified made fair growth on the big ald ridges and on the foothills ind and are heing being grazed heavily the absence of animal plants common on over grazed areas la is conspicuous RYOT ivo thy hlll common iti tumble table weed russian thistle la 13 on the open P desert it being plentiful only in the valleys near irrigated tracts turn in conditions the most moat favorable turn of conditions came in inthe the early november snow enow storm which covered the deserts with two to six inches of snow it vas fol lowed by other storms in Nove november nib and december which made the whole of tile the desert available to the sheep the areas receiving too much snow enow in december had already been grazed and will be again in february baty and march the flat areas often not accessible access able in november were corn CM plemely used this year the sheep have been spared the long dusty trail to the few water holes bo over used in 1928 and to date Is the saving baving factor in the years bust busi ness the thaw oc curing late in dec ember with a follow up of inore more sno SHOW w and reduced teed feed requirements by changing sub zero weather to mild weather herds of sheep receiving corn or cotton cake could come through the winter with a lower death loss should grow more and b etter better w wool ool and should produce more moe lambs than herds wholly upon forage |
