The Progressive Rancher Magazine

In 

this 

Issue... 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Assoc........... pgs. 3-5 

Back to Basics, by Ron Torell........pg. 6-9 

Parallel Universe: Part Two: When Two 

Worlds Collide – Ranchers ARE 

Environmentalists..................... pgs. 10-11 

UCD Vet Views by John Maas........ pg. 13 

May you have 

the gi ft o f Faith 

the blessing o f Hope 

and the peace o f 

His Love 

NCA Convention....................... pgs. 18-19 

Eye on the Outside:................... pgs. 21-22 

Great Basin Wildfire Forum:.... pgs. 23-24 

Range Plants for the Rancher.......... pg. 25 

Horse Snorts & Cow Bawls............. pg. 26 

Living on Yesterday’s Wealth... pgs. 26-27 

NVSRM ................................... pgs. 28-29 

Dr. Margaret Winsryg, Ph.D..... pgs. 32-33 

Merry Christmas 

and Happy New Year! 

The 

Progressive 

Rancher 

Martin Black Horse Training........... pg. 35 

The Progressive Rancher 

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2 December 2009 The Progressive Rancher 

www.progressiverancher.com

I 

’m sure that most of you have heard about Secretary 

of Interior Salazar’ s proposal addressing 

the current wild horse and burro problem and providing 

better management of our western rangelands on which 

these horses presently roam. 

Secretary Salzar recognizes that these wild horses, with 

no natural predators, need to be better managed; not only 

for their own health and welfare, but for that of the land. He 

recognizes that our western rangelands can no longer continue 

to withstand the increased pressure being placed upon 

it by the ever-increasing wild horse and burro population. He 

understands and agrees with the concerns of the Government 

Accountability Office (GAO) over the steadily rising costs of 

today’s wild horse program and the increased burden being 

placed upon the American taxpayer. He knows that, with 

these ever expanding herd numbers and increased holding 

and management costs’ there is currently no light at the end 

of the tunnel. 

To respond to these challenges, Secretary Salzar is thinking 

out side of the box. He’s searching for better solutions. He 

is looking at new approaches to the problem. Approaches that 

he says “will require bold efforts on the part of the Administration 

and Congress.” But they are approaches that I think 

are realistic and well worth pursuing. 

As part of his new plan, Secretary Salzar proposes to 

establish new wild horse preserves across the Nation, particularly 

on the productive grassland of the Midwest and in the 

East. He recognizes that our western rangelands, with their 

susceptibility to the extremes of draught & wildfire can not 

continue to be relied upon to carry the brunt of the ever increasing 

wild horse and burro numbers. He goes on to say that 

these new Eastern & Midwestern preserves would be located 

on lands acquired by the BLM or in partnership with various 

wild horse advocate groups. These “non-producing” herds 

of wild horses could be showcased to the American public 

and serve as natural assets to support tourism and enhance 

economic viability. 

I applaud Secretary Salzar’s strong grasp of the problem 

and his bold and far-sited solution of “sharing” these wild 

horses with out Midwestern and Eastern neighbors. For in my 

mind, they are Icons of our “Eastern” heritage. 

Think about it. 

When the settlers migrated westward and crossed the 

great salt flats of what is now Utah, they followed the Humboldt 

River west along what became known as the California 

trail. And, they came close to starving to death for lack of 

wild game. If you are a western history buff as I am, and have 

researched the journals of our pioneering forefathers you will 

know that nowhere do they mention vast herds of deer, elk or 

antelope roaming the arid deserts and rangelands of what is 

now Nevada. Nowhere do they write of siting nomadic Indian 

tribes mounted on colorful ponies, driving large horse herds 

along with them. But they did mention aboriginal poverty 

and starvation. 

Why no mention of “wild horse herds?” Logic says they 

didn’t exist at that time. Before settlement, there were no 

herds of wild horses or even large populations of wild game 

for that matter. 

So let’s think about this for a moment. If there were no 

wild horse herds roaming our rangelands, when our forefathers 

migrated westward settling this arid land of which few 

people wanted: Where did they come from? 

Perhaps they were settler escapees pioneering out on 

their own. Or maybe they were castaways of the gypsy cattle 

and sheep men that flooded our rangelands with livestock in 

the early 1900’s and then went out of business. Or, could they 

have been prospector’s burros, released or abandoned? Maybe 

they were the product of the releasing of seed stock by the 

bono fide ranchers that settled our western rangelands. 

A combination of all of the above, I would think. And, if 

so: Then in reality the wild horses and burros of today actually 

came from the “East.” 

So, what can be more fitting than what Secretary Salzar’s 

now proposes: The returning of our wild horses back to their 

place of origin where they can as he states: “create a lasting 

conservation legacy for these iconic animals.” The Wild 

Horse, a product of eastern settlement and westward migration, 

is indeed an “Icon of the East.” 

Think about it! 

And that’s got me thinking even further. If the wild 

horse, being decedents of Easterners migration westward, is 

a symbolic icon of the East, then what is the symbolic icon 

of the West? 

Could it be that the actual “Icons of the West” are the 

decedents of the pioneers that had the foresight, grit and 

fortitude to lay claim to these vast & arid western rangelands 

of which so few wanted to settle? Perhaps the true symbolic 

icons of the West are the current care takers of our rangelands, 

both private & public . . . . . the Western Rancher. 

Think about it! 

On another note: By the time this goes to print the 74th 

annual Nevada Cattlemen’s Association convention will be 

history and I will have passed the gavel to your new President: 

Ron Cerri. 

Ron and his wife Denise operate a family ranch near 

Orvada. Ron and his family have been active members of the 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association for numerous years. Ron has 

worked his way up through the officer ranks. He has Chaired 

the Livestock Issues Committee, sits on the N1 Grazing 

Board and is an active member of the Public Lands Council. 

Ron has worked closely with me these past two years and is 

up to speed on all the issues at hand. I expect a very smooth 

and seamless transition. I believe he will make an excellent 

President. 

So, please join me in welcoming Ron as our new President. 

Let’s offer him all our support. 

And to my fellow Cattlemen, I would like to use the rest 

of the space in this, my last commentary as NCA president, to 

thank you for the opportunity you have given me to represent 

you and to act as your spokesmen. Your trust, I have not taken 

lightly. I know I have been vocal at times and I have ruffled a 

few feathers. But I believe that everything I did and said was 

in the best interest of our association and our industry. 

With that, I say . . . . . . . . Thanks (And Such.) 

UPDATE 

Da n 

Gr a l i a n 

See President Ron Cerri’s Update on Page 3 

Nevada 

Cattlemen’s 

Association 

President 

www.progressiverancher.com 

The Progressive Rancher December 2009 3

UPDATE 

Ro n Ce r r i Nevada Cattlemen’s Association President 

y name is Ron Cerri and it is 

M my honor to represent the 

members of the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 

as President for the next two years. Many of you 

already know me, but for those that don’t, I am 

a third generation rancher in Orovada, Nevada. 

My wife Denise and I have three children. Our 

son Jeff works with us on the ranch, and daughter 

Jacque and her husband Zach and children 

Bailey and Connor also live on the ranch. Our 

youngest daughter Stacey lives in Boise, Idaho 

where she attends school. Our children are all involved 

in the family ranching business, right down to 

our granddaughter who tagged her first heifer this fall! 

I see a multitude of challenges that our industry will be 

faced with in the next two years. For example, the continuing litigation 

from groups opposed to public lands grazing, the feral horse and burro 

issue, and the ever-increasing need for agricultural water by urban areas. 

With the decision on the sage grouse listing coming up in February, the 

threatened and endangered species act is always an issue. The economy 

is on everyone’s mind. There is a real possibility of the need to raise 

taxes, not only on a state level, but on a national level as well. 

One of the newest things to come along is the current administrations 

push for development of renewable energy such as wind and solar. 

There are federal stimulus funds available for these projects with the 

requirement that there must be a plan developed and in place by December 

of 2010. Many view Nevada as a vast empty wasteland, ideal 

for these projects. Those of us that live here and love the land are aware 

of the challenges ahead that we will face. While we all can agree that 

our nation needs to break our dependence on foreign oil, these are currently 

multiple use lands and we must make others aware of the effects 

of implementing these renewable energy plans. 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association’s Executive Director, 

Meghan Brown, has been doing a fine job of developing 

a relationship with our leaders and their staffers. 

Our congressmen and legislators are interested in 

hearing our views and developing a dialog to discuss 

these issues. NCA also has committees in place that 

address the different aspects of our industry and 

your involvement is crucial to protect your rights 

and interests. I urge anyone interested in serving on 

these committees to contact the Elko Office at (775) 

738-9214 or any of the committee chairs. Please call 

any one of the officers or chairpersons whenever you 

have something you would like to discuss. As those that 

have served in this position before me, I will strive to represent 

all members of the livestock industry, as will the officer’s 

team and committee members and chairs. I am always—well almost 

always!—available to visit with anyone who has any concerns about the 

Association or the industry. I can be reached at (775) 272-3386. Our officer 

and chairperson’s contact information is available on NCA’s Website 

at www.nevadacattlemen.org. I encourage everyone to visit our Website 

to see what our organization is doing for you. 

I would like to invite everyone, whether you have five cows or five 

thousand, to become involved in the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association. It 

is our goal to try to reach out to as many Nevada livestock producers as 

possible. We hope to accomplish this with the help of some of our allied 

industries. Our Allied Industry Committee Co-chairs John Keithley and 

Tracy Vigil are working with NCA to plan some get-togethers in various 

locations to hear producer’s concerns and discuss how Nevada Cattlemen’s 

Association can assist them. Whether you are an NCA member or 

not, I would like to hear from you and hope that you will attend. 

In closing, I would like to remind everyone of an old cowboy 

quote—You’ll never break a horse if you stay sittin’ on the fence! 

Nevada 

CattlewomeN 

Raffle Tickets: $ 25 each or 5 for $ 100 

Tickets available at the NV Cattlemen’s Assoc. Office, 

285 10th Street, Elko • 775-738-9214 

First Place: Your choice of any or all of the following: 

Silencer Chute Dealer 

Art Leetch 

308-215-0258 cell 719-598-0777 fax 

adleetch@yahoo.com 

Free 

use of a 

Silencer 

Chute 

for a year and 

15% off purchase price 

SHIP'S CYCLE 

1375 Mountain City Highway • Elko, NV 89801 

(775)738-8236 

$3,000 off a Wilson Trailer at 

Ship’s Cycle, Elko 

Elko, Nevada 

775-738-5816 

$500 off a Custom-made 

Tip’s or J.M. Capriola’s Saddle 

Plus $4,000 cash or can be put towards any of the above items 

Second Place 

$500 gift certificate from Les Schwab Tires 

Good at one of three locations: Elko, Winnemucca or Fallon. 

Third Place 

$400 gift basket from 

Nevada Cattlewomen 

• $200 Stockman’s Supply, 

Elko 

• $200 Pinenut Livestock 

Supply, Gardnerville 

Fourth thru Tenth Place Credit at: 

• $200 IFA, Elko 

• $200 Rose Feed / Walco, 

Winnemucca 

• $200 Big-R / Fallon 

• $200 C.A.L. Ranch, Elko 

Drawing will be held February 20, 2010 at the conclusion of the Fallon Bull Sale 

Proceeds to benefit Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and the Nevada Cattlewomen 

• $200 Accelerated 

Genetics 

A.I. Bull Semen, Elko 



Review 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 

By Meghan Brown, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director 

The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 74th Joint Annual Convention concluded 

successfully. For three days members joined together in educational 

forums, Cattlemen’s College sessions, Joint policy meetings, social events, and Award 

Banquets. 

Each year our members join together to set policy and the direction of the association, 

and this year was no exception. This year 150 members traveled to Reno and participated 

in these important meetings. Issues such as wild horses, estate tax, youth education, animal 

welfare, water rights, wildlife, and federal land management were discussed and policy was 

set forth. For copies of the new resolution please contact the NCA office at 1-775-738-9214. 

The new resolutions will also be printed in the NCA monthly publication, Sage Signals. To 

become a member of the association or to learn more about membership and the association 

please visit our webpage www.nevadacattlemen.org or call the office. The membership is 

the backbone of the association, and without the strength of our membership we cannot 

tackle the issues we face as an industry. 

This year we joined with California for many of our meetings, Cattlemen’s College, 

and social events. The first of the joint meetings was Pfizer Cattlemen’s College. The 

theme of this year’s meeting was “The Story of Beef” continuing on that theme was the 

first session teaching the basics social media. Daren Williams the spokesperson development, 

media relations, public affairs and organizational communications functions for 

NCBA presented to the membership the basics of spokesperson training. With the changing 

elements of media there are more outlets for miss information regarding agriculture 

and animal production to be published. Websites such as facebook, twitter, and myspace 

redefine communication between friends and strangers. Daren explained how to spread our 

message and our story. Each and every producer has story to tell, and people want to hear 

where their food comes from, and we should be telling that story. 

After learning about how to tell our message and story, Daren talked specifically about 

Twitter and Facebook. He spoke about the specific tools that each site has to communicate 

not only with friends, but with strangers. He showed examples of how other advocacy 

groups and individuals use these tools from #agchat on Twitter to HSUS of Facebook. Some 

examples were given to help encourage members to participate in these communication 

mediums. 

The second day of convention was filled with policy meetings. New and renewing 

policy was heard, along with updates from state and federal agencies. Issues such as water 

rights, wildlife, wild horses, grazing permits, brand department, animal health, and litigation 

were discussed during the meetings. Look for more updates regarding these issues in 

upcoming articles and issues of the Sage Signals. 

Along with the Cattlemen’s College, several other joint sessions were held. These 

meetings discussed issues such and animal welfare and rights, public land issues, federal 

programs, and membership. Members of both Nevada and California joined together to 

learn about common issues and potential solutions. Meetings and conventions such as these 

bring individuals together and create unique opportunities for discussion and commitment 

for the future. Discussions during these joint meetings lead to interactive dialog between 

members with no regard to state boundaries. 

During the general membership meeting of the NCA the Nominating Committee announced 

their picks for the officer team. It was proposed to the general membership that 

the officer’s lineup for 2010-2011 would be Ron Cerri, President; JJ Goicoechea, President 

Elect; Ron Torell, First Vice President; Jon Griggs, Second Vice President. It was voted 

on and approved unanimously to accept the Nominating Committee’s recommendation 

for the 2010-2011 officer line up. Look for future articles highlighting the new leadership 

of NCA. 

Each year we look not only to our producer members to support the association; we 

also turn to our associate members to help sponsor events, meals, and meetings during 

convention. Without the help, dedication, and support of our allied members events such 

as convention would not be possible. I would like to thank the sponsors who helped to 

make this year’s convention a success: Animal Health Express, Utah Wool Marketing, 

Allflex USA INC, Intermountain Beef, Boyd and Audrey Spratling, Newmont Mining, 

American AgCredit, Eureka Vet Clinic, Dow Agro Sciences, USDA-NRCS, Winnemucca 

Publishing/Nevada Rancher, Pinenut Livestock, Kafoury Armstrong, Pfizer 

Animal Health, McMullen McPhee, Western Video Market, Maggie Creek Ranch, 

Edward Jones, United Rentals, and John Ascuaga. The Association thanks these allied 

members of Nevada Cattlemen’s Association who help to make events like this possible. 

We appreciate all your support and dedication to our producers and members. 

For more convention highlights and award banquet recipients please see the Convention 

Highlight. 

Best Regards, 

Meghan 

L I V E S T O C K F I N A N C I N G 

The 

Progressive 

Rancher 

ONLINE 

Current and Past 

Issues Available 


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2/18/2009 9:58:01 AM 


Back to Basics 

Cooperative Extension - Bringing the University to You 

Ron Torell, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Livestock Specialist 

We have all followed the U.S. Government 

funded “Cash for Clunkers” program 

designed to encourage consumers to trade in their low 

performance gas guzzler vehicles for more fuel efficient 

new models. The Cash for Clunkers program stimulated 

the economy, put auto workers back to work and saved 

fuel. This was all done at the taxpayers’ expense. 

I propose we implement a “Cash for Gummers” program. 

We could model the eligibility criteria to the already 

established requirements for Cash for Clunkers. Only poor 

performing animals or cattle in the gummer stage of production 

would qualify. All qualifying animals would be 

required to be harvested then replaced with a yearling or 

first-calf heifer with a stacked pedigree or EPD package. 

Funding could be accomplished in the same manner as the 

Cash for Clunkers, just add the cost to the National Debt 

leaving it up to our grandkids to pay for. 

All kidding aside, it seems that each fall every ranch 

has a few gummers or pet cows, that in spite of poor performance 

or a history of producing outlier calves, avoid the 

terminal trip to McDonalds. It is irrelevant why you give 

these cows a free pass, be it sentimental, color pattern of 

the animal or an experience the owners had with the pet 

when she was a calf; each animal on your ranch should 

be viewed as an economic unit. Sentimental reasons cost 

you money that most producers can ill afford in the current 

economic situation. 

The premise behind the economic unit is “It takes the 

same amount of annual inputs to feed a good one as it does 

a marginal or poor producing cow.” University of Nevada 

Cooperative Extension enterprise budgets (UNCE Fact 

Sheet 07-08) shows average annual cow carrying costs for 

Northeastern Nevada, including fixed as well as variable 

cost, to be approximately $500 per head per year. Cattle Fax 

data supports this figure and lists similar but varying input 

costs for other regions of the United States. 

Generally the worst offenders of the pet cow syndrome 

are those ranches who can least afford it, the one-truckload 

operator who runs 200 mother cows. These operations can 

barely make a truckload of steers with no cutbacks. For 

Northeastern Nevada, their load will vary in weight from 

425 to 525 pounds. The reason for this variation in weight is 

due to the age of the calf (strung out calving season) and the 

fact that first-calf heifers, old cows and mature cows in the 

prime of their production cycle are all contributing to the 

pool. The pet cows and gummers on these operations often 

produce outlier calves that are frequently cut back from the 

load due to weight, lack of muscling or color pattern. 

Larger operations have the economy of size on their 

side relative to marketing. They can market one truckload 

of lightweight calves, multiple loads of medium weights 

and one load of heavies. Many of the larger operations can 

even put together a load of outliers. The smaller operator 

does not have this flexibility, thus the need to eliminate the 

pet cows producing outliers is paramount. 

Cash for Gummers 

I have heard every excuse for keeping the pet cow: 

“We have the grass.” “It only costs me $30 to put up my 

hay.” “The ranch always supported a milk cow or two” 

“She is bred.” “She was a 4-H cow.” How much is that pet 

cow really costing you? Put a calculator to it. Factor in the 

reduction in your ability to market a uniform truck load 

of calves. Factor in the reduction in price you receive for 

the outlier calves that have to be hauled to the sale yard 

(remember to include fuel and other associated costs in getting 

one or two animals to the yard). Factor in the missed 

opportunity of the resources dedicated to the pet cow that 

could be dedicated to a good cow. Be honest with yourself 

and include the actual carrying cost, fixed and variable, not 

the fabricated costs you come up with to justify keeping 

that pet cow around. 

Bottom line: If you must have a pet cow around make 

sure she is a good producer with a name like Schlitz, Shag 

Nasty or Shovel Head for these names imply a range cow 

that works for a living. Stay away from poor producing cows 

with names like Flower and Daisy for these cute names 

imply a sentimental free pass. If your ranch resources will 

only allow you to run 200 momma cows, make them 200 

good ones. First and foremost, remove the outliers. Sign up 

those poor producing, breachy homebound suckers that are 

always in the wrong place all the time for the government 

funded Cash for Gummers program. 

That is enough of my rambling for this month. My 

hopes are that I not only brought a chuckle to your day but 

perhaps a bit of wisdom relative to your culling and replacement 

program. As always, if you would like to discuss this 

article or simply want to talk cows, do not hesitate to contact 

me at 775-738-1721 or torellr@unce.unr.edu. 

Cow Size and Efficiency 

Keith Long, New Mexico, using the Cornell 

University model for cow efficiency, presented 

some interesting data at the 2003 Beef 

Improvement Federation (BIF) Conference in 

Lexington, KY. He compared the annual forage 

requirements of cows differing in size (frame 

3, 1027 pounds vs. frame 7, 1320 pounds) but 

equivalent in body condition score (5) and in 

milk production (18 lb/day at peak lactation). 

The frame 3 cow would have a predicted annual 

forage requirement of 5.47 T. of DM and would 

be predicted to wean a steer calf weighing 511 

pounds. The frame 7 cow’s predicted annual 

forage requirement would be 6.89 T. of DM and 

she would be predicted to wean a 573-pound 

steer calf. Based on these predictions, a herd 

of 126 frame 3 cows could be run on the same 

amount of forage as a herd of 100 7 frame cows. 

The 126 frame 3 cows would wean 64,386 

pounds calf and the 100 frame 7 cows would 

wean 57,300 pounds of calf. Using mid-May, 

2003 Amarillo, TX auction prices, 511-pound 

steers were worth $98.20/cwt while 573-pound 

steers were worth $92.00/cwt. The difference 

in gross income would be $10,500 greater for 

the frame 3 cowherd. Keith indicated that the 

herd of smaller cows would likely be better 

matched to the limited forage environment of 

the very arid southwest. He went on to suggest 

that the abundant forage resources of the 

middle and eastern U.S. could accommodate 

the larger cows. Keith concluded by saying that 

one size does not necessarily fit all and that 

questions still need to be answered regarding 

cows efficiency: 1) Is a biologically efficient 

cow necessarily a more profitable cow, and 

are efficiency and profitability correlated at all 

levels, or is it a threshold; 2) What will selection 

for cow efficiency do to other traits of economic 

importance? An example of the latter could be 

the market acceptability of frame 3 calves that 

would be projected to reach Choice grade at 

about 1,025 pounds and their heifer mates at 

approximately 825 pounds. Based on current 

carcass weight specifications, frame 3 cattle 

would appear to be an extreme lower limit. At 

a dressing percentage of 63 percent, frame 3 

steers would be expected to produce 645-pound 

carcasses, while frame 3 heifer carcasses would 

weigh only 520 pounds. The bottom line is that 

moderately sized cows, frame score 4 and 5, 

appear to be the most efficient size and will be 

most likely to meet market acceptability. 

Source: Long, K. 2003. 35 th Annual Beef 

Improvement Federation Conference and Research 

Meeting, May 28-31, Lexington, KY 



OFFICE: 775-423-7760 

JACK PAYNE Cell: 775-217-9273 

Alt: 775-225-8889 

bardell McKay Cell: 702-379-2390 

Email: sales@nevadalivestock.us 

Full-Service Cattle Sales & Marketing serving the Fallon, Nevada and Outlying Areas. 

Sales Results from November 16, 2009 Special Feeder Sale 

Seller City # Head Desc. Type Weight Price CWT 

John Uhalde Ely 6 BLK PAIR 1197 $1,090.00 

John Uhalde Ely 23 BLK PAIR 1101 $1,075.00 

Bob McKay McGill 15 MIX PAIR 1412 $1,045.00 

Wood Hills Ranch Reno 19 MIX STR 357 $127.50 

Wood Hills Ranch Reno 16 MIX STR 438 $117.50 

U U L S - NV LLC Wells 9 BLK STR 349 $124.25 

U U L S - NV LLC Wells 22 BLK STR 450 $117.00 

Toby Rollins Caliente 10 MIX STR 409 $120.00 

Toby Rollins Caliente 15 BLK STR 534 $109.50 

Kenny & Tammy Lee Fallon 5 BLK STR 390 $119.50 

Kenny & Tammy Lee Fallon 4 BLK STR 481 $108.50 

Crawford Cattle Co. Winnemucca 13 BLK STR 414 $118.75 

Vincent Padilla Austin 14 MIX STR 420 $118.00 

Vincent Padilla Austin 10 BLK STR 545 $107.75 

Schellbourne Ranch Ely 13 RD STR 422 $117.50 

Schellbourne Ranch Ely 3 RD STR 308 $110.50 

Randy Stowell Fallon 8 BLK STR 446 $113.50 

Randy Stowell Fallon 2 MIX STR 485 $108.50 

Harry Brown Austin 12 MIX STR 448 $112.75 

Harry Brown Austin 17 CHAR STR 512 $110.25 

Troy Eldridge Ely 20 BLK STR 467 $112.00 

Troy Eldridge Ely 7 BLK STR 495 $110.00 

Darryl Crutcher Winnemucca 2 MIX STR 363 $110.50 

Steve Hall Winnemucca 7 MIX STR 483 $110.00 

T Quarter Circle Ranch Winnemucca 9 BLK STR 358 $110.00 

T Quarter Circle Ranch Winnemucca 22 MIX STR 460 $106.00 

Dave Goicoechea Loyalton 2 BLK STR 475 $110.00 

Dave Goicoechea Loyalton 11 BLK STR 615 $97.75 

Secret Pass Livestock LLC Ruby Valley 11 MIX STR 370 $110.00 

Secret Pass Livestock LLC Ruby Valley 4 RD STR 391 $106.00 

Secret Pass Livestock LLC Ruby Valley 3 MIX STR 412 $104.50 

Mori Ranches Tuscarora 17 MIX STR 528 $109.75 

Bartell Ranch Orovada 1 CHAR STR 385 $109.50 

Bartell Ranch Orovada 2 MIX STR 340 $105.00 

Woody Bell Paradise Valley 2 MIX STR 465 $109.00 

David Kern Paradise Valley 13 MIX STR 461 $108.25 

Roy Risi Fallon 9 MIX STR 443 $108.25 

Bob Corbari Jordan Valley 15 MIX STR 491 $107.00 

Bob Corbari Jordan Valley 2 MIX STR 450 $103.50 

Finlayson Ranch Winnemucca 19 MIX STR 567 $106.75 

Finlayson Ranch Winnemucca 4 MIX STR 464 $102.50 

Tyson Torvik Fallon 3 BLK STR 490 $106.00 

Snowball Ranch Eureka 2 RD STR 455 $105.00 

Snowball Ranch Eureka 3 RD STR 495 $102.00 

Mike Gottschalk Lovelock 15 WF STR 474 $105.00 

Ted DeBraga Fallon 8 BLK STR 556 $104.50 

Casey Robertson Elko 1 BLK STR 315 $104.00 

Stix/Lee Fallon 5 MIX STR 427 $102.00 

Buttus Ranch Winnemucca 3 MIX STR 568 $101.75 

Floyd Goins Fallon 16 MIX STR 544 $101.50 

Arlemont Ranch Co. Dyer 4 RD STR 371 $100.00 

Arlemont Ranch Co. Dyer 18 RD STR 514 $97.75 

Troy Eldridge Ely 12 BLK HFR 340 $116.75 

Troy Eldridge Ely 13 BLK HFR 418 $106.50 

Crawford Cattle Co. Winnemucca 13 BLK HFR 378 $114.00 

Wood Hills Ranch Reno 21 BLK HFR 339 $110.50 

Wood Hills Ranch Reno 3 RD HFR 348 $100.50 

Vincent Padilla Austin 20 BLK HFR 429 $108.00 

Randy Stowell Fallon 7 BLK HFR 332 $106.75 

T Quarter Circle Ranch Winnemucca 34 MIX HFR 370 $103.75 

U U L S - NV LLC Wells 30 MIX HFR 442 $102.00 

U U L S - NV LLC Wells 5 BLK HFR 342 $100.00 

Toby Rollins Caliente 5 BLK HFR 401 $101.50 

Finlayson Ranch Winnemucca 4 BLK HFR 380 $101.00 

Harry Brown Austin 23 MIX HFR 448 $100.00 

Bob Corbari Jordan Valley 14 MIX HFR 433 $99.00 

Steve Hall Winnemucca 2 BLK HFR 433 $99.00 

Don Osterhoudt Round Mountain 6 BLK HFR 438 $98.35 

Roy Risi Fallon 8 BLK HFR 430 $97.50 

Mori Ranches Tuscarora 1 BLK HFR 455 $96.00 

Kenny & Tammy Lee Fallon 19 MIX HFR 368 $95.00 

Tyler Peel Fallon 4 MIX HFR 428 $94.00 

TOTAL HEAD COUNT 2,290 

Lite heifers were higher than last month. Lite steers were off slightly. 500 to 600 lb steers were steady to $1 

higher. Next feeder sale is scheduled for December 14th and we are expecting over 2,000 head again. 

Sales Results from October 19, 2009 Special Feeder Sale 





Bench Creek Ranch Fallon 62 MIX STR 456 $128.00 




UC Cattle, LLC Orovada 15 BLK STR 402 $128.00 

UC Cattle, LLC Orovada 5 RD STR 463 $118.25 

Arlo & Sheila Crutcher McDermitt 11 BLK STR 410 $127.50 

Arlo & Sheila Crutcher McDermitt 23 MIX STR 500 $109.50 

Janine & Stewart Avery Winnemucca 3 BLK STR 365 $127.00 

Janine & Stewart Avery Winnemucca 7 MIX STR 458 $114.00 

Janine & Stewart Avery Winnemucca 9 BLK STR 548 $105.00 

Logan Nuttall Fallon 18 BLK STR 429 $127.00 

Regular Sale 

Every Wednesday 

Small Barn at 10:30 a m 

Cows at 11:00 a m 

Feeder Cattle at 1:00 p m 

Cafe Open on Sale Days 

Stop By and Have a 

Homestyle Burger 

Special Feeder Sales 

in Conjunction With Our 

in-House Video Sale 

December 14, 2009 

January 18, 2010 

February 15, 2010 

Sales Start at 1:00 p.m. 

Our Special Monday Feeder 

Sales Were A Huge Success 

Last Winter & Spring. 

We hope that the addition of our own inhouse 

video will help these Sales be even 

Bigger and Better. We Will Be Selling Truck 

Loads of Feeder Cattle, Pairs & Bred Cows 

Hay Auctions 

December 4, 2009 

February 5, 2010 

Sales Start at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time 

For More Information or to Preview Available 

Lots go to www.nevadalivestock.us. 

Call Us For Your Trucking Needs and We 

Can Give You An Estimated Freight Quote 

Thank You to all of our 

Consignors & Buyers 

Nevada Livestock Marketing 

also will be Custom Feeding and 

Backgrounding cattle this fall. 

Today’s cheap hay prices are 

allowing us to feed your calves 

at very reasonable rates. 

Sales Results from October 19, 2009 Special Feeder Sale 


Logan Nuttall Fallon 15 MIX STR 553 $106.00 

Home Ranch, LLC Orovada 6 CHAR STR 418 $126.00 

Home Ranch, LLC Orovada 27 BLK STR 538 $110.50 

Home Ranch, LLC Orovada 4 BLK STR 418 $119.00 

Ed Brun McDermitt 6 CHAR STR 326 $126.00 

Ed Brun McDermitt 26 MIX STR 410 $123.50 

Ed Brun McDermitt 20 MIX STR 504 $107.00 

Richard Allegre Fallon 10 BLK STR 477 $115.00 

Richard Allegre Fallon 14 BLK STR 580 $103.00 

Irvin C. Baldwin Fallon 5 BLK STR 438 $113.00 



Dennis & Sharon Brown Winnemucca 4 BLK STR 473 $111.50 

Dennis & Sharon Brown Winnemucca 2 BLK STR 565 $101.50 

Stone Cabin Ranch LLC Tonopah 21 CHAR STR 468 $111.00 

Stone Cabin Ranch LLC Tonopah 17 CHAR STR 538 $100.00 

Gary Wade Alamo 1 BLK STR 498 $111.00 

Gary Wade Alamo 1 MIX STR 680 $88.00 

Robert Garfield McDermitt 2 BLK STR 465 $110.00 

Robert Garfield McDermitt 2 MIX STR 560 $97.50 

Tex Northrup McDermitt 2 MIX STR 423 $110.00 

Domingo Segura Fallon 12 BLK STR 477 $109.75 

Domingo Segura Fallon 10 MIX STR 622 $96.50 

Van Norman Ranches Inc Tuscarora 2 BLK STR 505 $109.00 

Van Norman Ranches Inc Tuscarora 8 MIX STR 602 $95.50 

Van Norman Ranches Inc Tuscarora 13 MIX STR 798 $88.25 

Dave Stix Fernley 2 BLK STR 393 $106.00 

Harry Brown Austin 18 MIX STR 553 $105.50 

Harry Brown Austin 4 CHAR STR 680 $93.50 

Jack Warn Winnemucca 2 BLK STR 548 $103.50 

Jack Warn Winnemucca 3 MIX STR 718 $88.50 

Jim Sloan Fallon 3 MIX STR 517 $103.00 

Jim Sloan Fallon 8 MIX STR 608 $97.50 

Trevor Wade Alamo 3 MIX STR 462 $101.00 

Jeff Goings Fallon 2 BLK STR 423 $101.00 

Gene Heckman Winnemucca 9 MIX STR 548 $100.50 

Gene Heckman Winnemucca 8 MIX STR 679 $91.75 

Mike Withers McDermitt 7 CHAR STR 582 $100.50 

Juanita Heinzen Fernley 2 BLK STR 565 $100.00 

Juanita Heinzen Fernley 5 BLK STR 724 $87.00 

Maureen Weishaupt Fallon 5 BLK STR 595 $97.50 

Anheuser Busch Beverage Olancha 68 BLK STR 668 $97.10 



Miller Investments Winnemucca 26 BLK STR 622 $96.50 

Diane Powers Winnemucca 2 RD STR 585 $96.50 

Corkill Bros Inc Fallon 10 BLK STR 590 $95.50 

Corkill Bros Inc Fallon 23 MIX STR 642 $93.50 

Tim Nelson Reno 13 BLK STR 667 $94.50 

Robb Goings Fallon 3 BLK STR 727 $90.00 

Mike Nuttall Fallon 5 BLK STR 710 $89.00 

Diane Van Norman Tuscarora 1 MIX STR 798 $88.25 

Ted & Dorothy Payne Jordan Valley 12 MIX STR 771 $87.00 

Lyle DeBraga Fallon 15 BLK STR 814 $86.50 

Marcia DeBraga Fallon 2 MIX STR 788 $84.00 

Pete Marvel Paradise Valley 1 RD STR 825 $83.00 

Pete Marvel Paradise Valley 2 BLK STR 753 $80.50 

Wes Viera Fallon 5 BLK STR 842 $83.00 

Fidel Carricaburu Battle Mountain 2 MIX STR 758 $81.50 

Fidel Carricaburu Battle Mountain 2 MIX STR 935 $76.00 

Mori Ranches Tuscarora 1 BLK STR 860 $78.50 

Scott Nygren Fallon 13 BLK STR 1035 $75.00 

Jeri Van Norman Tuscarora 1 BRN STR 983 $73.00 

Jersey Valley Cattle Co. Winnemucca 2 BLK STR 1173 $68.00 

UC Cattle, LLC Orovada 24 BLK HFR 410 $109.50 

Bench Creek Ranch Fallon 28 MIX HFR 392 $107.75 

Logan Nuttall Fallon 10 BLK HFR 406 $107.50 

Tex Northrup McDermitt 7 MIX HFR 470 $106.50 

Randy Stowell Fallon 8 BLK HFR 369 $106.00 

Janine & Stewart Avery Winnemucca 7 BLK HFR 452 $104.00 

Arlo & Sheila Crutcher McDermitt 27 MIX HFR 448 $102.50 

Stone Cabin Ranch LLC Tonopah 18 CHAR HFR 426 $100.00 

Gene Heckman Winnemucca 2 MIX HFR 403 $100.00 

Richard Allegre Fallon 20 BLK HFR 478 $99.50 

Ed Brun McDermitt 16 MIX HFR 486 $97.50 

Home Ranch, LLC Orovada 9 BLK HFR 510 $96.50 

Trevor Wade Alamo 7 BLK HFR 482 $95.00 

Dennis & Sharon Brown Winnemucca 4 BLK HFR 510 $94.50 

Jack Warn Winnemucca 7 BLK HFR 545 $94.00 

Mike Nuttall Fallon 22 BLK HFR 511 $94.00 

Diane Powers Winnemucca 4 MIX HFR 498 $93.50 

Coy Stowell Parowan 1 RD HFR 305 $93.50 

Miller Investments Winnemucca 20 BLK HFR 603 $88.25 

Juanita Heinzen Fernley 6 BLK HFR 646 $87.00 

Dave Stix Fernley 2 RD HFR 488 $85.00 

Jeff Goings Fallon 5 BLK HFR 519 $85.00 

Don Bowman Fallon 2 MIX HFR 433 $85.00 

Don Bowman Fallon 5 MIX HFR 592 $81.50 

Harry Brown Austin 4 MIX HFR 691 $83.00 

Clay Hendrix Fallon 9 MIX HFR 565 $83.00 

Polly Payne Jordan Valley 1 MIX HFR 702 $81.50 

Peavey & Hoots Deeth 29 MIX HFR 843 $81.50 

Ted & Dorothy Payne Jordan Valley 21 MIX HFR 765 $81.00 

Double Horseshoe LLC Winnemucca 10 MIX HFR 633 $80.00 

Double Horseshoe LLC Winnemucca 3 BLK HFR 830 $77.00 

Van Norman Ranches Inc Tuscarora 20 MIX HFR 916 $77.75 

Steve Hall Winnemucca 2 BLK HFR 848 $77.00 

Tony Kopas Fallon 5 MIX HFR 859 $75.20 

Crawford Cattle Company Winnemucca 7 BLK HFR 946 $73.00 

Scott Nygren Fallon 8 BLK HFR 896 $72.00 

TOTAL HEAD COUNT 2,122 

Light steers were in strong demand for California grass (thanks to some early rains). Yearlings were up, but not enough. Fat market 

and corn futures still very shaky. 

Look for Weekly Market Reports at www.nevadalivestock.us 



Back to Basics 

Cooperative Extension - Bringing the University to You 


Steve Foster, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Educator, Pershing County 

Gary McCuin, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Educator, Eureka County 

Corry Parsons, Oregon State University Extension Agent 

Make Hay When the Sun Shines 

There wasn’t a lot of sun shining in much of the Great Basin and Intermountain 

west during the month of June 2009. Instead, unseasonably wet weather 

delivered as much as four inches of moisture to many hay fields during harvest. The 

result is thousands of tons of rain-damaged or late maturity harvested beef hay on the 

market at reduced prices. In this issue of Back to Basics let’s discuss rain-damaged 

hay. 

Discoloration and bleaching is the least of our concerns relative to rain-damaged hay. 

In addition to hay harvested and bailed with high moisture content posing the threat of fire 

in the stack due to spontaneous combustion, rain-damaged hay can lose quality in several 

ways including mold, loss of protein and energy, as well as damage from excessive heating 

after harvest. Reduction in quality is dependent upon many factors such as how far into 

the curing/drying process the hay was when the rain was received, how much rain was 

received, and for how long the rain persisted. 

Drying conditions after rainfall stops also impacts quality. Plant respiration will 

take place until it dries to less than 30 percent moisture. Re-wetting the hay will re-start 

the respiration process which uses carbohydrates (lowering energy value). We often have 

to mechanically turn hay to expedite the drying process. This mechanical process often 

causes leaf shatter and loss of leaves, which in turn results in reduced quality. 

Wet hay promotes microbial activity and growth which in turn results in lower quality 

and potentially moldy hay. Certain molds, when fed to livestock, can cause abortions 

in cattle and can cause other health risks including reduced fertility in bulls. Avoiding the 

purchase and feeding of moldy hay is always the wisest choice; however, that option is not 

always possible. 

Researchers at Iowa State University provide a general guide for feeding rain-damaged 

hay, yet go on to state that these guidelines should not replace testing of hay. The Iowa 

researchers suggest that newly cut hay receiving a light rain probably loses little quality. 

Nearly dry hay that receives a light to severe and extended rain may suffer significant 

quality loss. Dry matter loss can be up to 5 percent per inch of rain, while digestibility can 

decrease up to 10 percent. The most significant loss will be in energy. Protein will also 

decrease, however, not as significant as energy. Vitamin A content will also decrease. 

An Oklahoma State publication points out that mild and long-term rainfall, such as we 

saw last spring, will leach more soluble carbohydrates and nutrients than intensive shortterm 

rainfall. Up to 50 percent of the dry matter removed might be soluble carbohydrates. 

This loss of carbohydrates equates to a loss of Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) also known 

as energy. 

One year ago beef hay was priced at over $200 per ton. This year we can buy all we 

want for less than half that amount. Caution is warranted when purchasing severely raindamaged 

hay and utilizing that hay in a beef cow ration. Every hay field is different and the 

loss of quality is variable. There is no way to establish value or balance a ration until you 

know what nutritive value is contained in the hay at time of feeding. Thus, the best advice 

is to spend the $30 to $50 and have hay tested at a commercial laboratory prior to purchasing 

and feeding (see sidebar stories: Pricing Rain-Damaged Hay (What is it Worth?) and 

Incorporating Rain-Damaged Hay into Winter Beef Cow Rations). 

That is enough of our rambling for this month. As always, if you would like to discuss 

this article or simply would like to talk cows do not hesitate to contact Torell at 775-738- 

1721 or torellr@unce.unr.edu; Foster at 775-273-2923 fosters@unce.unr.edu; McCuin at 

775-237-5326 mccuing@unce.unr.edu; Parsons at 541-523-6418 or cory.parsons@oregonstate.edu 

Incorporating Rain-Damaged Hay into Winter Beef Cow Rations 

Gary McCuin, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Educator, Eureka County | Steve Foster, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Educator, Pershing County 

Ron Torell, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Livestock Specialist | Cory Parsons, Oregon State University Extension Agent 

The authors cannot overstate the importance of 

analyzing the nutrient quality of hay, especially when 

considering purchasing or incorporating rain-damaged 

hay into your winter feeding rations. Knowing forage 

quality allows us to balance least cost rations for animals 

of various ages and groups of animals in various biological 

cycles of production. Additionally, we can determine 

what supplements or the quality of hay needed to round 

out the total ration. If supplementation is accomplished 

through least cost analysis of the feedstuffs, you may 

reduce cost, and increase performance and profitability. 

Feed analysis will also reveal which groups of 

animals should (or should not) receive the lower quality 

feeds. For example, hay that has been damaged by excessive 

precipitation may produce mold. Moldy hay can be 

toxic, depending upon the type of mold, and has usually 

lost most of its nutritional value. Moldy feeds may make 

cattle go off feed and/or become depressed and occasionally, 

can cause abortions and death. Inhalation of certain 

molds can also cause respiratory disease. Older cattle 

have a higher tolerance to molds than younger cattle 

so obviously eliminating the feeding of moldy hays to 

younger stock and minimizing the amount of moldy hay 

fed at one feeding will lessen the risk. 

According to research done at the University of 

Tennessee, (Feeding Moldy Hay to Beef Cattle, James B. 

Neel, Professor, Department of Animal Science), the effect 

of the moldy hay can be reduced by feeding a higher 

quality hay and grain or commercial supplement. Severely 

moldy hay should be diluted to no more than 30 percent 

of the ration in order to reduce the risk of mycotoxicosis 

and reduced performance. Hay with limited heat damage 

and mold should be diluted to 40 percent to 60 percent of 

the total ration. Do not force cattle to consume moldy hay 

without other forage being available. 

In the absence of a forage analysis, assume that the 

quality is poor and feed only to mature animals. Try to 

avoid feeding low quality hay to weaned calves, lactating 

cows and cows during late pregnancy. Even with these 

precautions, a nutritional supplement will probably be 

necessary when feeding rain-damaged or over mature 

hay. 

Nutritional supplements come in all shapes and sizes 

and range from commercially produced tubs, blocks, or 

pellets, to natural feedstuffs known to be relatively high 

in protein or energy such as high quality hay, soybean 

meal or corn. Choosing which type is best for your operation 

will vary according to individual circumstances. 

In many cases a variety of supplement products will best 

meet your cattle’s needs. 

Remember, not all feed ingredients are equal in 

nutrient value or price. Therefore, get your hay analyzed 

so you know what you are dealing with. Use this information 

to your economic benefit to determine the best value 

that meets your operational and livestock’s needs. For 

more information on comparing feed ingredients go to 

http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/other/AlfalfaFor- 

BeefCows.xls and utilize the interactive spreadsheet developed 

by University of Nevada Cooperative Extension 



Pricing Rain-Damaged Hay 

(What is it worth?) 

Steve Foster, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Educator, Pershing County 

Gary McCuin, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Educator, Eureka County 


Cory Parsons, Oregon State University Extension Agent 

Whether you are selling, purchasing or feeding rain-damaged hay it is important to 

know what you are dealing with. The best and most appropriate way to accomplish this is 

to compare price per pound of nutrient, not price per ton of feed. This is when an accurate 

forage/hay sample and analysis will earn/save you valuable dollars. 

Feeds should not be compared by cost per ton, as this is very misleading. When nutrient 

shopping, you are normally interested in protein and/or energy. So when you are comparing 

feeds for specific nutrients, the following guidelines assist in determining the best buy. Don’t 

get caught paying high prices for ingredients used as fillers. 

First, determine the dry matter content of the feeds to be compared. Do this by multiplying 

2,000 pounds by the percent 

of dry matter contained in the feed as 

determined by laboratory analysis. This 

will give you the total pounds of dry 

matter in one ton of feed. For example, 

if a hay sample is 87 percent dry matter, 

multiply 2000 pounds of as fed hay by 

87 percent (0.87) dry matter content which results in 1740 pounds of actual dry matter. 

Next, determine the total pounds of a nutrient in those 1740 pounds of dry matter. Do 

this by multiplying 1,740 pounds by the percent of the nutrient contained in that feed. For 

example, if the hay is analyzed at 19.55 percent crude protein on a dry matter basis, multiply 

1,740 pounds of dry matter x .1955 (19.55% crude protein) = 340 pounds of crude protein. 

This leaves 1,660 pounds of water, 

other nutrients and filler contained in 

one ton of as-fed feed (2,000 pounds 

– 340 pounds of crude protein = 1,660 

pounds). 

Finally, determine cost per pound 

of actual protein. Do this by dividing 

the ton price of as-fed feed (most feeds are priced as-fed and by the ton) by the pounds of 

actual protein contained in that ton of as-fed feed ($100/ton ÷ 340 pounds of crude protein 

= 29.4¢/lb). 

In the example above, $100/ton as fed hay with a protein content of 19.55 percent (dry 

matter basis) has a price comparison 

shopping value of 29.4¢ per pound of 

crude protein. 

Factors other than price should also 

be considered when shopping for feed 

ingredients. They include but are not 

limited to: 

• Convenience/feed ability— 

feeding blocks or tubs vs. hay or pellets 

• Transportation cost of getting feed to the ranch and storage facilities at the ranch 

(it will probably cost the same to transport a load of good hay as it will a load of 

junk hay) 

• Cost of feeding the product 

• Availability of the product 

• Consumption amount required to balance the ration 

• Other nutrients required to balance the ration 

• Waste 

• Salt and mineral content 

• Competition when fed (bunk space) 

• Opportunity to medicate feed 

• Worn and broken teeth on blocks 

Remember, not all feed ingredients are equal in nutrient value or price. Therefore, get 

your feed analyzed so you know what you are buying or selling, and sharpen your pencil 

to determine the best value that meets your needs. For more information on comparing 

feed ingredients go to http://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/other/AlfalfaForBeefCows. 

xls and utilize the interactive spreadsheet developed by University of Nevada Cooperative 

Extension. 

Thursday, January 7 th 

at Shasta Livestock 

in Cottonwood, CA 

Catalog Deadline: 

December 21st at 9am sharp 



By Julie Kay Smithson, property rights researcher, London, Ohio 

propertyrights@earthlink.net http://www.propertyrightsresearch.org and http://propertyrightsresearch.blogspot.com 

Some wise person once said that, before you can know where 

you’re going, you’ve got to know where you’ve been. Historic 

ranches garner awards, their roots soaking up the fertility of the 

soil, the lifeblood of judicious water use and the bounty to be had 

from an eagerness to try new things. From crops to livestock, new ways to grow 

both may mean trying entirely new concepts. Ranching in the New West means 

embracing experience while leaving the door open for new techniques. Ranchers 

put their all into their ranches, and it shows. The line of distinction—between 

optimum habitat for people, livestock and wildlife, and poorly managed, or nonmanaged, 

federally controlled land – shows who the real stewards of the land 

and water are: ranchers. 

The Purdy Ranch – Picabo, Idaho 

Beavers and the Downcut Riparian: Copper Creek, on the 10,000-acre 

Purdy Ranch has been in the same family since the mid-nineteenth century. 

About that time, beavers were trapped out for their pelts. By the 1970s, 150 

years later, the creek sported the regular symptoms of watershed disease—soil 

compaction, sagebrush invasion, intense storm water downcutting. Rancher and 

conservationist Bud Purdy began a combined, deferred grazing plan (keeping 

cows out of the riparian during critical times) with seeding and brush control. 

At first, he tried constructing dams to reduce channel erosion, but 70 percent of 

them would not hold against flood peaks. Lew Fence (Wood River Conservation 

and Development Council) and Dale Roberts (Soil Conservation Service) 

suggested beavers, because beaver dams hold water better than human equivalents, 

and a colony of beavers build and re-build dams for free (or, at least, for 

inner bark). The successful results: The water table rose, 33 beaver dams were 

built in five years, the pool area exceeded 6 acres with correspondingly more 

wildlife, riparian area, longer flow seasons and some small trout. Noteworthy 

is the combination of deferred grazing, beavers and the “Beaver Committee,” a 

unique interagency group that transplants “problem” beavers (beavers that chew 

up semi-rural apple orchards), relocating them to livestock-raising watersheds. 

The new co-evolution of ranchers and conservationists usually requires new, 

less formal public/private institutions like the Beaver Committee. – Source: 

“Co-Evolution of Ranching & Conservation Communities” (excerpt) by Peter 

Warshall, Originally published in Whole Earth magazine, Issue 90: Summer 

1997, Page 70. http://74.125.93.132/search?q=cache:ANL2ktz5jOMJ:www.questiaschool.com/read/5000483624%3Ftitle%3DCoEvolution%2520of%2520Ranc 

hing%2520%2526%2520Conservation%2520Communities+2002+%22Bud+P 

urdy%22+%22Picabo,+Idaho%22&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&lr=lang_en 

On August 20, 2002, Bud Purdy was honored for his efforts to improve 

grazing land management on privately owned grazing lands by the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS State Conservationist Richard 

Sims recognized Purdy for his contributions as a member of the National 

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Steering Committee. The USDA Honor 

Award, which Sims presented to Purdy, is the most prestigious honor bestowed 

by the Secretary of Agriculture. “The honor award is a tribute to Bud for his 

commitment to meeting conservation needs of private grazing lands,” said Sims. 

“As a member of the national steering committee, he has volunteered hundreds 

of hours of his personal time to increase public awareness of the values of the 

nation’s private grazing lands. His ability to work effectively with all levels of 

public and private organizations has been critical to the success of the Grazing 

Lands Conservation Initiative. We also value his expertise as a member of the 

Idaho Grazing Lands Steering Committee.” Purdy represents the Society for 

Range Management on both the national and state Grazing Lands Conservation 

Initiative steering committees. Source: http://www.id.nrcs.usda.gov/news/ 

newsreleases/idaho_ranch.html 

Maddux Cattle Company, Chase 

County, Nebraska 

On October 17, 2009, southwestern Nebraska rancher Jack Maddux, of the 

Maddux Cattle Company in Chase County, received the 32nd annual Golden 

Spur Award, naming him the nation’s top rancher. ‘”More than bringing prestige 

to an individual, the award spotlights the humanistic and scientific contributions 

of the livestock and ranching industries,” says Robert D. Josserand, chairman of 

the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, which nominated Maddux for the award.’ 

Source: Nebraska Farmer, October 26, 2009. http://www.nebraskafarmer.com/ 

story.aspx?s=32593 The ranch, homesteaded in 1886, is very productive, successfully 

running red Angus 123 years later. 

“Great ranches are not made of the dirt, water, wind 

and grass that comprise their environment. They are 

formed and sustained by the character of the people 

attached to them.” – Charles P. Schroeder, executive 

director of the National Cowboy and Western 

Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

The XXX Ranch, Tarrant County, Texas 

“I want to assure you that among the cattlemen, there is a great deal of 

pride and a little competitive spirit to see who can be the best wildlife manager. 

... I just wish, very much, that the working environmentalists—and I guarantee 

you there is no more dedicated environmentalist than the farmer or rancher who 

lives on that land, makes his living from it, works with it all year long, year after 

year, and wants to leave it better than he found it—were more recognized by the 

nominal environmentalists, who would rather talk about it than do it. ... Some 

have blamed greed of early ranchers for degradation of rangelands, when almost 

invariably it was lack of knowledge that led to decline. The science and art of 

rangeland management has been developed only in the past 50 years. With this 

knowledge—provided by SCS (Soil Conservation Service) technicians through 

locally governed Soil and Water Conservation Districts, using information 

developed by federal and state experiment stations and the ranchers and technicians 

themselves—dedicated ranchers voluntarily made tremendous strides in 

brush suppression, grazing management, and restoration of rangelands during 

the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Progress has been slowed in the past 20 years by reduced 

technical assistance available for grazing lands and by the increase of production 

costs over prices received that has reduced capital available for needed improvements. 

During recent years, brush encroachment, especially by juniper, has 

taken over abandoned cropland fields and continued to invade rangelands. ... it is 

astonishing that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says that endangered species 

recovery plans are exempt from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

process. It is hard to believe that anyone would consider a recovery plan not to 



Part Three: When Two Worlds Collide – 

Ranchers ARE Environmentalists 

be a major federal action, and I hope that policy statement will be carefully 

investigated by congressional staff for legitimacy.” – Source: Excerpted (pages 

84, 85, & 218, from a statement by John L. Merrill, Burnett Ranches; Professor, 

Texas Christian University; Member of the National Steering Committee for 

the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). “Full text of ‘Department 

of Agriculture’s activities related to the yellow-cheeked warbler: hearing before 

the Subcommittee on Department Operations and Nutrition of the Committee 

on Agriculture, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, second 

session, September 16, 1994, Cleburne, Texas.’” http://www.archive.org/ 

stream/departmentofagri00unit/departmentofagri00unit_djvu.txt It should be 

noted that John L. “Chip” Merrill had, at that time, directed the ranch management 

program at TCU for the past 33 years, since 1961, as well as being a 

past president of the International Society for Range Management, a long-time 

member of the Wildlife Society, professional member of the Society of American 

Foresters, and a director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers 

Association. Though the Internet mentions many accolades he’s received, he 

prefers to continue learning rather than rest on his considerable laurels, still at 

the helm of the XXX Ranch in Tarrant County, Texas. 

The Adams Ranch, Meade County, 

Kansas, and Beaver County, Oklahoma 

“Biological Control Demonstration Project: Adams Ranch, Meade County, 

Kansas. The landowners are demonstrating biological control of tamarisk 

using goats. Approximately 100 head of goats were confined for feeding in 

a 10-acre plot infested with tamarisk. The project offered much information 

on appropriate stocking rates, predation, viability, and feeding habits of the 

goats.” – 10-Year Strategic Plan for the Comprehensive Control of Tamarisk 

and Other Non-Native Phreatophytes. The project continued for a second year, 

but the goats didn’t consume the tamarisk to the point of its demise, and the 

trial was halted. Source: http://www.kwo.org/Reports%20&%20Publications/ 

Rpt_Tamarisk_10-Year_Plan_FINAL_120805_sm.pdf (Page 19 of 39 pages; 

2.98 MB) 

“We’ve been raising cattle on this land since 1890. 

We have to be good stewards or we’d go out of 

business. It’s not our livelihood; it’s our life! We 

spend thousands of dollars getting rid of noxious 

weeds and we have more of the desirable grasses.” 

– Rancher Judy Adams. 

The Three Circle (000) Livestock LLC – 

Carbon and Albany Counties, Wyoming 

“The 2nd Annual NACD/NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) 

Olin Sims Conservation Leadership Award was presented to Wyoming 

rancher Ralph Brokaw on February 3rd, 2009, during the National Association 

of Conservation Districts (NACD) annual meeting in New Orleans. Brokaw 

was chosen for his outstanding leadership and service in conserving natural 

resources. … The Brokaw family ranch, the Three Circle (000) Livestock LLC, 

located near Arlington, Wyoming, is a testament to his passion for healthy 

lands. His commitment to natural resource conservation management makes 

him a leader and example in his community and throughout Wyoming. Bobbie 

Frank, Executive Director of WACD (Wyoming Association of Conservation 

Districts), said, “I am sure I speak for all of our Conservation Districts in congratulating 

Ralph on receiving the Olin Sims Leadership Award. It is a very 

deserving award for the work Ralph has done for natural resource conservation 

efforts in Wyoming, the region and at the national level. This award will hold 

significant meaning to Ralph I am sure, given that it is in memory and honor of 

his best friend and longtime mentor, Olin Sims.” Established in tribute to the 

late NACD President, Olin Sims, the award recognizes outstanding conservation 

leadership at the state and local level. The award is presented annually 

to an individual, based upon superior service to the conservation community 

in promoting conservation on private lands. Sims, a rancher from McFadden, 

Wyoming, lived a life distinguished by years of volunteer service to conservation. 

“Olin was a true conservationist who was equally committed to practicing 

conservation and advocating for it,” said NACD President, John Redding. “This 

award epitomizes the conservation leadership and integrity that was his life and 

highlights the leadership of other conservationists who assume the mantle of 

conservation leadership into the future.” Source: http://www.conservewy.com/ 

temp/brokaw.pdf Ralph also received the 2002 Landowner of the Year from the 

Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for his outstanding commitment to wildlife 

habitat, including rotational grazing, riparian areas, managed hunting, etc. 

Baker Ranches, Inc. – Nevada and Utah 

Dean Baker, eastern Nevada rancher and longtime Nevada Cattlemen’s 

Association member—as well as being on the Board of Directors, the Executive 

Committee, a Second Vice President, and on various other boards & 

committees—was named Nevada’s Outstanding Rancher of the Year in 2003, 

as well Cattleman of the Year the previous year. Baker Ranches, Inc., run by 

Dean, his wife, Barbara, and sons Craig, David and Tom, plus veteran buckaroo 

Lee Whitrock, straddle the Nevada-Utah border. Of its 12,000 acres, 2,000 are 

in barley, alfalfa and corn, and the ranch also runs about 2,000 head of cattle, 

and sells high-quality alfalfa hay to California dairies and Las Vegas area horse 

owners. “ ... Nominees for Outstanding Rancher of the Year are evaluated on 

their conservation planning and resource management objectives, as well as any 

innovative or unique management practices.” Sources: http://www.saveourwildhorse.com/PDF/Blm-Press/BLM2003/Release2004-08-12_Nov-2003.pdf 

(Page 1 of 7 pages; 80.06 KB) “The U.S. Bureau of Land Management agencies 

in both Nevada and Utah have honored Dean for his management of grazing 

allotments on the public domain.” – Baker Ranch: A Success Story, March 28, 

2005. The Nevada Agricultural Foundation http://www.nvagfoundation.org/ 

NAF/news/article.cfm?id=158. Dean Baker and sons received the outstanding 

stewardship of public lands award from Bureau of Land Management in 1996. 

Producer Livestock Marketing Board of Directors and chairman 2000-2004. 

Nevada State Tax Commission 1996-2004. 

Multi-generational ranch families have always hit the ground running, 

their dedication helping to feed the world. Ranchers already walk the walk, as 

evidenced by countless hours of physical and mental work. To talk the talk and 

explain what they already know so well, is difficult for an independent, selfreliant 

people, but learning to do so will build a communication bridge that will 

keep them and their world alive and well for another two hundred years. 

“And to protect and care for all His creations, 

God made ranchers.” – Beverly Merritt, Merritt 

Ranch, Lincoln County, New Mexico. 



SPONSORS 

Profitable strategies to highlight 

Cattlemen’s Update 

ELKO – The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension will hold its annual 

Cattleman’s Update from Jan. 4-8 in various Nevada communities and through interactive 

video. 

The workshops, also sponsored by the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and 

Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, Pfizer 

Animal Health and the Nevada Cattleman’s Association, will focus on beef cow management 

strategies that help ranchers improve their bottom line while maintaining quality. 

The featured speaker for the three-hour workshops will be Dr. Tom Geary, a USDA 

Animal Scientist who will discuss nutritional and reproductive management of beef cows. 

Dr. David Thain, a veterinarian with Cooperative Extension, will discuss animal health 

strategies for beef cattle and UNCE beef specialist Dr. Ben Bruce will discuss range 

management strategies that help boost profits. Ron Torell, a UNCE livestock specialist, 

will discuss management strategies of beef cows that pay and adhere to the standards of 

the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program. Incoming Cattlemen’s Association president 

Ron Cerri will also speak briefly on current issues affecting the beef industry in Nevada. 

At most locations, a local veterinarian will be on hand to discuss animal health issues of 

community concern. 

“I encourage ranchers to bring their entire crew to the program, including spouse and 

working-age children, and anyone who wants to learn more about management strategies 

for beef cattle that pay and are BQA friendly,” Torell said. 

Torell said the information presented will help Nevada ranchers remain successful in 

“a global market which is currently experiencing turbulent economic times.” 

“Business as usual will not keep your operation above water in the future,” Torell said. 

“Sound management is the key to survival and the information presented here may help 

you stay afloat through this tumultuous period.” 

Here are the dates, times and locations for the workshops: 

2010 

Cattlemen’s 

Update 

*Compressed video sites are tentative. Call Ron Torell at (775) 

738-7291, Dr. Ben Bruce at (775) 784-1624 or Dr. David Thain 

at (775) 784-1377 for site confi rmation. 3-hours of Continuing 

Education credits approved for licensed veterinarians. 

University of Nevada Cooperative 

Extension 

University of Nevada College of Agriculture, 

Biotechnology and Natural Resources 

USDA-RMA Risk Management 

Agency 

January 4-8, 2010 • Statewide 

$20 per ranch registration at the door covers materials and refreshments. 

Management Strategies That Pay 

$20 per ranch registration at the door 

covers materials and refreshments. 

Monday, January 4, 2010—Reno 

Washoe County Extension Office 

10:00 a.m. Registration; 10:30 a.m. Program 

*Compressed video sites: 

Lovelock Extension Offi ce 

Eureka Extension Offi ce 

Caliente Extension Offi ce 

Tonopah Extension Offi ce 

Logandale Extension Offi ce 

Klamath Falls, OR Extension Offi ce 

Monday, January 4, 2010– Fallon 

Multi-purpose Building 

6:00 p.m. Registration 6:30 p.m. Program 

Refreshments by Churchill County Cattlewomen & 

Lahontan Valley Vet Clinic 

Tuesday, January 5, 2010—Ely 

White Pine County Convention Center 

5:00 p.m. Registration; 5:30 p.m. Dinner 

6:30 p.m. Program 

Dinner sponsored by Carter Agri-Systems, 

Intermountain Farmers, First National Bank 

of Ely, Gale Oil & Tire-LG Supplements, White 

Pine Veterinary Clinic, Stockmen’s Supply, 

Eureka Vet Services, Pfizer Animal Health, 

Global Animal Management/ Tri-Merit 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Assoc. 

Pfizer Animal Health 

Lahontan Valley Vet Clinic 

Intermountain Farmer’s Assoc. 

Walco International 

Pinenut Livestock Supply 

Humboldt & Churchill County Cattlewomen 

Snyder Livestock 

Fort Dodge Animal Health 

Ivesco Animal Health 

American AgCredit 

Neff Mill 

Wednesday, January 6, 2010—Elko 

Elko Convention Center 

12:30 p.m. Registration 1:00 p.m. Program 

Social following program sponsored 

by Fort Dodge Animal Health, Intermountain 

Beef Producers, Ivesco Animal Health, 

Novartis Animal Health, American AgCredit, 

Neff Mill and Anipro 

Thursday, January 7, 2010—Winnemucca 

Humboldt County Extension Office 

10:30 a.m. Registration 11:00 a.m. Program 

12:00 Noon Lunch 

Lunch sponsored by Rose Feeds and Livestock 

Supply and Humboldt County Cattlewomen 

Friday, January 8, 2010-Western Nevada 

Wellington Community Hall 

10:00 a.m. Registration 10:30 a.m. Program 

12:00 Noon Lunch 

Lunch sponsored by Pinenut Livestock Supply 

Hall sponsored by Snyder Livestock 

“This material is based upon work 

supported by USDA/CSREES under 

Award Number 2007-49200-03892.” 

Intermountain Beef Producers 

Nevada Department of Ag 

Novartis Animal Health 

Anipro 

Tri-MeritGAM 

The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Opportunity/Affi rmative Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, national origin, veteran status, physical or 

mental disability, sexual orientation, in any program or activity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. 

• Monday, Jan. 4, 10 a.m. Washoe County Extension Office, Reno. (Interactive 

video sites: Eureka Extension Office; Caliente Extension Office; Tonopah 

Extension Office; Logandale Extension Office, Lovelock Extension Office and 

Klamath Falls, Ore., Extension office. All sites are tentative. Please call Dr. Thain 

for verification at 775-784-1377. 

• Monday, Jan. 4, 6 p.m. Multipurpose Building, Fallon. (Refreshments sponsored 

by Churchill County Cattlewomen and Lahontan Valley Veterinary Clinic.) 

• Tuesday, Jan. 5, 5 p.m. White Pine County Convention Center, Ely. (Dinner 

compliments of local sponsors.) 

• Wednesday, Jan. 6, 12:30 p.m. Elko Convention Center, Elko. (Social hour 

follows, compliments of local sponsors.) 

• Thursday, Jan. 7, 10:30 a.m. Humboldt County Extension Office, Winnemucca. 

(Lunch sponsored by Rose Feeds and Livestock supply and Humboldt 

County Cattlewomen.) 

• Friday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m. Wellington Community Hall, Wellington. (Lunch and hall 

sponsored by Pinenut Livestock Supply and Snyder Livestock.) 

Other program sponsors include Intermountain Farmer’s Association, Stockman’s 

supply, Pinenut Livestock Supply, Rose Feeds and Livestock Supply, American AgCredit, 

Neff Mill, Snyder Livestock, Intermountain Beef Producers, Ivesco Animal Health, Fort 

Dodge Animal Health, Anipro, Norvartis Animal Health, TriMerit-GAM, Nevada Department 

of Agriculture, Lahontan Valley Veterinary Clinic and Churchill and Humboldt 

County Cattlewomen. 

A $20 per-ranch registration fee at the door includes the popular “Red Book” and refreshments. 

For more information, contact program coordinators Ron Torell (775) 738-1721 

or torellr@unce.unr.edu, David Thain (775) 784-1377 or Ben Bruce (775) 784-1624. 

AGENDA 

Karen Hinton, Dean/Director 

University of Nevada Cooperative 

Extension 

Welcome & Impact Assessment of 

UNCE Agriculture Programs 

Dr. Tom Geary, USDA-ARS Research 

Animal Scientist 

Nutritional & Reproductive 

Strategies of Beef Cows That Pay 

and Are BQA Friendly 

Dr. David Thain, UNCE Veterinarian 

Animal Health Strategies of Beef 

That Pay and Are BQA Friendly 

Ron Torell, UNCE Area Livestock 

Specialist 

Management Strategies of Beef 

Cows That Pay and Are BQA Friendly 

Dr. Ben Bruce, UNCE Livestock 

Specialist 

Range Management Strategies That 

Pay and Are BQA Friendly 

Ron Cerri, Nevada Cattlemen’s Beef 

Association President 

Current issues affecting the industry 

Local Veterinarian 

Issues of Local Concern 

January 4-8, 2010 

Statewide 



UCD VET VIEWS 

John Maas, DVM, MS, DACVN, DACVIM, Extension Veterinarian, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 

Beef Quality Assurance: What’s The Weakest Link? 

We have been conducting quite a few Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs over 

the past year in California. These have been put on to certify producers for the first time 

as well as for re-certification to comply with national guidelines to re-certify on a three 

year basis. The programs are always a two-way street with many good points and comments 

brought up by attendees. A number of topics were discussed that warrant emphasis 

in this column. Therefore, this month we will discuss some factors that affect the immune 

response of the calves when we vaccinate them as part of the BQA programs we all put in 

place. A large part of BQA is prevention of disease so the animals do not have to be treated 

after weaning, shipping, or in the feedlot. Vaccination against the common diseases is an 

important part of disease prevention. For vaccination and the animal’s immune response 

to work appropriately a number of steps (links in the chain) have to all work together. First 

we need to present an appropriate antigen (vaccine) to the animal via injection or intranasal 

inoculation. The vaccine antigen has to have been properly stored and mixed before 

presentation. Secondly, the animal’s immune response has to respond to the vaccine to 

produce protective immunity. Many factors are important in the proper working of the immune 

response; but, two of the most important are trace mineral nutrition and parasitism. 

So what are some of the weak links in the chain of protecting cattle from disease and what 

can we do about them? 

Can storage conditions affect vaccines? 

Definitely! Most vaccines should be stored at 35-45º F. The recommended storage 

conditions are on the vaccine label. Vaccines should be stored at the recommended temperatures 

from the time they are manufactured until the time you use them chute side. 

Overheating vaccines can cause obvious problems, as the proteins in the vaccine will 

breakdown (denature) and will not produce the desired immune response. Worse than 

overheating, freezing vaccines will decrease their effectiveness even faster. So the recommended 

storage conditions of 35-45º F is a strict range on both ends. Both modified 

live vaccines and killed vaccines are affected by improper storage temperatures. Almost 

all killed vaccines contain an adjuvant that aids in the immune response, as do some live 

vaccines. High or low storage temperatures cause these mixtures to separate and lose their 

effectiveness to prevent disease. 

What about refrigerators and their effectiveness? 

It turns out that many of the refrigerators we use for storing cattle vaccines and drugs 

are cast-offs from some other use and may not be functioning properly. A survey by Dr. 

David Thain at the University of Nevada, Reno found 25% of ranch refrigerators failed to 

maintain temperatures to keep vaccines in the safe range and most of the failures had to do 

with freezing the vaccines (temperatures as low as 10º F for extended periods). Many of the 

old refrigerators we use tend to freeze items stored in the back near the coils and overheat 

items stored near the front or in the door because the rubber seals no longer work. Additionally, 

some of the older refrigerators cannot insulate well enough when placed outside in the 

winter and the vaccines simply freeze inside the refrigerator. 

How can I tell if my refrigerator is working correctly? 

You can buy a thermometer which records minimum and maximum temperatures and 

place it in your refrigerator for several days. Put it in different locations to be sure you don’t 

have cold spots or hot spots. These thermometers can be purchased for less than $20. They 

are made in both electronic form and magnetic form (the high/low thermometers we use to 

record daily temperatures). Simply go on the web and type in recording thermometers and 

browse the various offerings until you find one that suits your needs. Leave a thermometer 

in your storage refrigerator and monitor it from time to time. 

What affects the immune response of the calves? 

Many things will affect the calves’ ability to respond to vaccines or disease challenges. 

These include the presence of the BVD virus in the herd, stress, previous vaccination history, 

the products used, parasites, nutrition, and vaccine handling. The storage of vaccines 

was discussed above, as an important part of vaccine handling. Cattle that are parasitized 

do not respond normally to vaccines. Also, calves deficient in trace minerals such as selenium 

(Se) or copper (Cu) respond poorly to vaccines and infectious diseases. 

Why do parasites affect the immune system? 

Most parasites have complex life cycles and depend on evading the host’s defenses 

to be able to survive. Part of this evasion is to affect the host’s immune system, so there is 

not a large reaction against the parasites. Therefore, most parasites make chemicals that 

decrease the animal’s ability to make a full immune response. While this helps the parasite, 

it harms the host in terms of handling other infections. 

How do you minimize the parasites’ damage? 

Having a good comprehensive parasite control program for the entire herd is the first 

step. Deworming the cow herd before they enter clean pastures will help keep the parasite 

load low in the herd and keep the number of parasite eggs on the pastures to a minimum. 

The use of effective products will also have a positive impact. Your veterinarian can advise 

you on the use of appropriate products and the timing of use in your herd. 

What are the best dewormers to use? 

Again, your veterinarian can best advise you on this topic for your herd’s particular 

situation. However, I recommend using the brand name products at this time. There have 

been a number of situations in the recent past where generic ivermectin products have 

been associated with significant parasitism, i.e., the generic ivermectin were used and 

clinical problems remained. If you have any indication that a dewormer did not work have 

your veterinarian investigate the problem and analyze fecal samples to determine if patent 

parasitic infections are present. 

How do trace minerals affect the animal’s immune system? 

Many trace minerals and vitamins are now referred to as “antioxidants”. As part of 

their antioxidant function they are very important in the immune system. In California, 

most of the beef cattle are deficient in either Se or Cu (or often both) unless they are supplemented. 

These minerals are very important in the calves’ immune system for a normal 

response to vaccines and to ward off diseases such as pneumonia. Also, neither Se nor Cu 

are well transferred to the calf via milk, so near weaning the calves are often at their lowest 

level in terms of Se and Cu—at greatest risk for deficiency. 

How do I know if my calves are deficient? 

A few blood samples taken from your calves at or near weaning will tell the story. 

They can be analyzed for the trace minerals and will reflect how well your supplementation 

program is working. There are a number of effective ways to supplement Se and Cu and 

your veterinarian can help you work through the options that will work best for you. 

What’s the bottom line? 

With regard to handling vaccines—make sure your refrigerator and vaccine storage 

system is working. Be sure to store your vaccines and other animal health materials according 

to label instructions. For vaccines this is usually between 35 and 45º F. For parasite 

control—use brand name products recommended by your veterinarian at an appropriate 

time to make sure calves to be vaccinated are not heavily parasitized. With regard to trace 

minerals—have a good supplementation program that includes occasional monitoring of 

calves’ blood levels to be sure the program is working efficiently. Strengthen these weak 

links and combine them with good BQA practices and your calves will be healthier with 

minimal disease problems. 

Garcia 

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BEEF CHECKOFF NEWS 

News From the Nevada Beef Council: CHECKING-IN ON YOUR BEEF CHECKOFF 

Spotlight on Foreign Marketing 

The Beef Checkoff Program utilizes checkoff dollars for promotion, research, consumer 

information and industry information programs in international markets, with the 

purpose of developing, maintaining and increasing worldwide acceptance and sales of 

U.S. beef and beef products. This includes country-specific programs aimed at expanding 

market penetration, gaining new market access, addressing global consumer issues and 

building trust in the image of the U.S. beef industry. In 2008, beef and beef variety meat 

exports amounted to $3.62 billion, up 38 percent from 2007. 

Seminars Highlight U.S. Beef 

“Rediscovering U.S. meat with Chef Adam Levin” was the theme of two recent seminars 

organized by the United States Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and the Association 

of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). USMEF is a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Program. 

The events were held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Singapore through support 

from the Beef Checkoff Program. 

In Ho Chi Minh City, USMEF hosted about 50 chefs from the Saigon Professional 

Chef Guild. Beef cuts such as hanging tender, bottom sirloin flap, outside skirt and bone-in 

short ribs were highlighted in the beef dishes. 

In Singapore, USMEF showcased the versatility of these cuts in addition to the traditional 

beef loin cuts. The seminar attracted about 40 participants from hotels and restaurants 

in the region. Following the event, USMEF hosted an American barbecue dinner 

reception featuring chuck short ribs, chuck tender, chuck roll, short plate and top blade 

muscle. 

New Opportunities in Taiwan 

The Beef Checkoff Program is working closely with chefs at leading hotels and restaurant 

chains in Taiwan to promote cutting, preparation and presentation of alternative cuts of 

U.S. beef, with emphasis on how to develop varied cuisine with the U.S. product. 

The effort comes as Taiwan’s foodservice operators face the ongoing challenge of a decline 

in restaurant traffic due to sustained weakness in the country’s economy. As a result, 

chefs are feeling increased pressure to develop new menu ideas that will meet customer 

demand for special items at more competitive prices. 

Two chefs well-versed in this cuisine cooked U.S. beef using traditional cooking methods 

– such as slate barbecue, poaching and stewing – designed to optimize the tenderness 

and juiciness of the U.S. beef cuts. Master Chef Mr. Eddie Chen from National Kaohsiung 

Hospitality College demonstrated creative Western beef dishes with aboriginal ingredients, 

in an effort to create new, economical menu ideas. 

Beef In Japan Grows In Popularity 

While access for U.S. beef remains limited in Japan, consumers in the former top 

export market are more ready than anytime in recent years to chow down on American 

steaks and beef bowls, according to surveys conducted by USMEF. 

Over the past three years, the number of consumers who feel “extremely safe” or 

“somewhat safe” in consuming U.S. beef have more than doubled from 12.1 percent in 2006 

to 30.1 percent in August 2009, according to surveys commissioned by USMEF. 

Change in The Air 

Some of Japan’s most prestigious hotels are the sites of some current U.S. beef promotions, 

funded in part by the beef checkoff. The hotels are renowned for their service and 

quality – and for a reluctance to change. But representatives of USMEF persuaded them 

to offer high-quality U.S. beef on menus that once exclusively featured their domestic 

Wagyu beef. 

As a result of USMEF’s aggressive promotion and positive relationships in the industry, 

several leading hotels have recently begun to conduct U.S. beef menu promotions and 

related events. This development will not only have a huge impact on the entire Japanese 

food service industry, but is also attracting considerable attention from Japanese media. 

Checkoff Revenues Maximized 

Through Matching Funds 

During the last fiscal year, for every dollar invested by the U.S. agriculture industry 

through various commodity checkoff funding, USMEF has turned it into $3.13, matching 

it with $1.21 of federal funding (principally Market Access Program and Foreign Market 

Development funds), $0.07 of non-checkoff funding (mainly USMEF membership dues) 

and $0.85 of third-party contributions (primarily matching funds provided by international 

retail and food service organizations that USMEF partners with on in-market promotional 

activities). 

U.S. beef consumption is expected to grow 5.5 percent, increasing 1.5 billion pounds 

between 2008 and 2018. Beef consumption in the rest of the world is predicted to increase 

15 percent, with totals for 2018 being 17.2 billion pounds higher than in 2008, representing 

tremendous opportunities for U.S. beef in the global market. 

Visit USMEF’s web site, www.usmef.org, for reports on the activities of the U.S. Meat 

Export Federation, including many beef checkoff programs managed by the organization, 

and extensive information about international meat trade. 



Letter to the Editor 

Fumes From The Farm: 

The Making of a Radical 

By Hank Vogler 

Just returned from the Cattlemen and Woolgrowers Convention. Saw a lot of friends, 

made new friends, and was happy to see many of my dear friends. Cussed, discussed, and 

saw disgust with many issues. Therefore to me it was a good convention. No issue is solved. 

Different ideas are expressed and after the catharsis we all go home better for having attended. 

After having spent a lifetime on committees, boards, discussion groups and review 

teams, I was always hopeful that my core belief of the greatest accomplishment of man 

was surplus production agriculture, would be best served by me championing that cause. 

To me, all things great in this world started to happen when an individual could produce 

more than he could consume and trade or sell that surplus for just compensation. It took 

us from hunter-gatherers to modern skyscrapers. All of modern history started when agriculture 

began. We no longer need to get up before daylight and check snares, dig roots, 

hunt animals, fend off predators, and hope that by dark we find enough to eat so we can 

start all over again the next day in a quest not to starve to death. Thank God, I look silly 

in a loincloth anyhow. In my lifetime, we no longer have to milk the family cow, feed the 

chickens, and slop the hogs and tend the garden, and then go to work. No, now we argue 

about who has to go to the grocery store. No inventor, no intellectual, no philosopher, no 

teacher, no scientist could have the time to contemplate the universe without the time to 

think about something besides starvation. All compliments of Agriculture. Now in almost a 

surreal cruel old mother goose story, we have lost sight of that greatest of accomplishments. 

Mother Goose wrote about the goose that laid the golden egg. After making everyone in the 

village fat and sassy with those golden eggs, the villagers began to want more and more. 

They wanted power and became greedy, and were jealous, and each one had a better idea of 

how to get more power and have more influence. The conclusion was to kill the goose and 

all the golden eggs would be theirs. Didn’t work in the fable. Won’t work now. 

I am a member of the board of Agriculture, the sheep representative. Surprise surprise, 

not a lot of choices for that position. We, by 

charter are to champion Agriculture. For 

those involved in it, water and agriculture, 

and soil, and the sun and the seed are a little 

hard to separate. We made a strong water 

policy statement. Still why would any one 

be surprised. Yes, we may have crowded 

the line on other agencies. Yet with Agriculture, 

you can’t take the water without 

consequences to the seed and the soil. Duh! 

We know that. I really think that to not to 

do are fiduciary duty to protect Agriculture, 

then we may as well hang up the board and 

go away. It is just hard not to crowd the line 

especially when you know that history will 

judge the perpetrators of the pipeline crime 

to Coyote Springs and then Las Vegas if any 

water is left, harshly. Being on the right side 

Call or Stop By! 

Wishing you a a very 


So n n y Da v id s o n 

2213 N. 5t h St. 

El ko, NV 89801 

775-738-8811 

800-343-0077 

www.edwardjones.com 

doesn’t always mean that you get your way. After the pipeline starts and as is well documented, 

there is not enough water to fill it, more and more branches will be built on that 

line. The legislators will be in no mood to go look to desalinization after spending several 

billion on a pipeline to create the world’s largest man made disaster. I possess the double 

recessive mutant gene to be involved in agriculture. It is simple for me. I maybe see things 

different. I still maintain my core. The roots of civilization is agriculture. You cannot make 

the civilization stronger by digging up and destroying the roots! 

As a result of this wild crazy stance, I have been labeled as a bomb throwing radical. 

If that is what it takes, then thank you. It is a great honor. I wish not to be a go along get 

along guy if it means to abandon agriculture and the people in it. Farmers and ranchers 

have my respect and admiration. Only those of us who have pursued that vocation truly 

know the feeling Or disease, mutant gene, or the satisfying feeling of creating things with 

our skills.. My resume has no value to me now. Why would I need to enhance it? I may 

not get an invite to the right cocktail parties. I may not be one of the elite. I may not know 

the right people in power. Yet. I’ll bet you that I will not have to wear a mask to look in 

the mirror. If it is easier to dismiss your critics with a gesture and a flippant comment, that 

old Hank is just a radical, Good on Hank. I will serve my charter and that is to protect my 

fellow travelers. William Jennings Bryant once said. “Burn a city to the ground and it will 

spring back up as if by magic. Destroy Agriculture and grass will grow in the streets of 

every city that man has made”. 

COWBOY LOGIC 

“If you aim at nothing, 

you will hit it every time.” 

Courtesy PCC Update 



Interior, Agriculture Secretaries to Purchase 5,026 

Acres of Western Land with High Conservation Value 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Agriculture Secretary 

Tom Vilsack today announced that their agencies would acquire seven parcels of high 

value conservation land, totaling 5,026 acres in Colorado, Montana and Nevada for $11.7 

million. The largest is a 4,573-acre property within the Canyons of the Ancients National 

Monument in Colorado. 

The acquisitions are authorized by the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act of 

2000, which established a special land conservation fund to purchase private “inholdings” 

in western states from willing sellers whose acreage is surrounded by or next to lands 

managed by Interior’s Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 

National Park Service, and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service. 

“These land purchases are a very worthwhile and much needed investment,” said 

Secretary Salazar. “The properties being brought into public ownership are remarkable 

for their extraordinary natural, scenic, recreational, cultural, and historical value. Their 

acquisition will benefit the American people now and in the future.” 

“Conservation of forests and wildland areas of national significance will provide important 

environmental and recreation benefits for generations of Americans,” said Vilsack. 

“Today’s announcement is an important step toward this shared goal and an example of 

how the FLTFA program succeeds by enabling close cooperation between USDA and the 

Department of Interior.” 

Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey, noting that the Federal Land Transaction 

Facilitation Act is set to expire next year, said, “By using revenues from Federal land 

sales to acquire private inholdings from willing sellers, this law is a great tool for conserving 

America’s signature landscapes for future generations. The Obama Administration has 

recommended that Congress extend the law so that more Americans may benefit from these 

types of fiscally responsible, targeted land acquisitions.” 

The purchases are funded from already completed Federal land sales. Under the Federal 

Land Transaction Facilitation Act, the Bureau of Land Management is authorized to 

sell fragmented or isolated parcels of public land that are difficult to manage, as well as 

lands that may have residential or commercial value, and then use the proceeds to support 

land-conservation purposes. 

In addition to the property for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in 

Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management would acquire three other parcels, including a 

37-acre property within the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail corridor in Montana 

and two parcels totaling 7 acres within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area 

in Nevada. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would acquire 280 acres within the Red Rock 

Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana. The U.S. Forest Service would purchase 

two Nevada properties in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The property on the 

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest totals 123 acres is just east of the Tahoe Basin with creek 

frontage and a portion of the federally designated Pony Express National Historic Trail. 

The property within Spring Mountains National Recreation Area is a 

5- acre parcel adjacent to the Mount Stirling Wilderness Study Area. The property 

contains Horseshutem Spring, a unique water feature in the area that supports many plant 

and wildlife species. 

The Canyons of the Ancients property accounts for about 25 percent of the private 

lands inside the Monument and contains 25 documented sites of cultural importance, 

including Jackson’s Castle and the Skywatcher Site, a 1,000-year old Ancestral Puebloan 

solstice marker. The property is believed to contain more than 700 other as yet undocumented 

sites of cultural importance. 

Since 2007, the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture have approved 

more than $66.8 million under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act for land acquisition 

by BLM, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and the U.S. Forest 

Service. This funding enabled the acquisition to date of 28 parcels (16,700 acres). 

Letter to the Editor 

By Dean Baker 

Judge Robison’s recent ruling overturning the State Water Engineer’s approval of 

water applications filed by SNWA in Dry Lake, Delmar and Cave Valleys has resulted in 

many differing opinions of what the ruling means. 

Some believe that this ruling better represents the intent of those who originally created 

the water laws in Nevada. These laws were to protect the lands and futures of Nevada. 

The Nevada Board and Department of Agriculture was created in the early 1900’s to 

protect agriculture within the state. Agriculture has been and remains an important part of 

the economy of the state of Nevada. 

History tells the story of why agriculture is important. When the forty-niners were 

crossing Nevada to get to the gold country of California, there are accounts of livestock 

dying of hunger and stories of humans eating dogs, horses and oxen to survive. Today if 

these wagon trains came across the same trails the livestock would have all the forage they 

needed to live and there is now abundant wild life to furnish the miners with meat. This is 

because of agriculture in Nevada which has taken the barren land and created fields and 

wetlands across the state. The irrigated fields are a haven for deer, elk and antelope. 

The real point, however, is that now rural Nevada produces cattle that provide 

40,000,000 pounds of beef to the American public. Along the historic trails near Winnemucca, 

potatoes are grown for Pringles potato chips. Alfalfa grown in Nevada goes to 

dairies in California as well as Nevada and is of a higher nutritional value and requires less 

water per ton than alfalfa grown in the Imperial Valley. This is because of the cooler higher 

elevations in northern Nevada. 

The Nevada Board of Agriculture has taken the position that the Dept of Agriculture 

should be involved in the takings of agricultural water by urban areas. The Board of Agriculture 

has looked at the many areas where taking the water from rural food-producing 

Today’s Water Laws 

Nevada to construct highly water consumptive urban areas. The conclusion should be that 

the water being considered for pipelines to the cities will create two green spots in Nevada 

creating a dust bowl in the remainder of the state. 

Water and food are infinitely more valuable than a bushel basket of $1,000 bills if you 

can only have one or the other. The value of food and the protection of agriculture is viewed 

differently in the rest of the world. Europeans who starved during World War II believe it 

is very important to protect their food production. 

There is a strong tradition in both Utah and Nevada that it is acceptable to lower the 

underground water aquifer to allow development above ground. Las Vegas is the urban 

example of this principle while Diamond Valley is the agricultural, rural example. 

The water laws of Utah and Nevada were largely created because of agricultural use 

of the water. Today, the laws are being interpreted to deny that the land, plants and animals 

are not a factor in water decision making. Every change of water use has an environment 

impact. Large removal of water from an aquifer can easily create impacts on the ground 

for thousands of years to come. 

The use of water by agriculture in Nevada has not only been productive but also protective 

of the environment. The view that water need not be connected to the land above 

or along the water source is viewed incorrectly by the Board of Agriculture. Water is an 

asset connected to the land. Technology has required changes in water use, development of 

productive lands and changes in irrigation systems. These types of changes should not be 

viewed as making it acceptable to take large amounts of water at one time and transporting 

it hundreds of miles away. 

Judge Robison’s ruling suggests that the movement of water in pipelines should be 

examined more carefully. 



Rolly Lisle Family 

Benefit 

Rolly Lisle was badly injured November 5 

in a motorcycle accident. The proceeds of 

this Rodeo, Dinner, and Auction will go to 

the Lisle Family for medical and recovery 

expenses. Please join us and be a part of 

this important event December 11 & 12. 

$50 p e r m a n p e r ROPING EVENT 

$100 BRONC RIDING 

ADMISSION: $10, 

KIDS 12 AND UNDER FREE 

AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE the items below and many more. 

• Custom-tied rope halter 

• Lion hunt 

• 2010 breeding to DW 

He Be A Playgun 

• Bill Black hackamore 

• AQHA yearling colt 

• 30 days horse training 

• Jewels 

• Cowboy & Cowgirl 

Santa Stockings 

loaded with goodies 

• 30 days horse training 

• Bit 

• Turquoise/silver 

jewelry piece 

• 3-day CaliforniaTrophy 

Boar Hog Hunt 

for two people 

• Lots of Rawhide 

• Handmade quilt 

• Set of training videos 

• Silver conchos 

• Chaps 

• Monel stirrups 

• Handmade jewelry 

• Handmade barnwood 

head and footboard set 

• Horse gear 

• Western Photos 

• 4 x 4 Livestock Feeder 

• Base price of pair of 

custom made boots 

• Breeding to JP Little 

Elmer Chex 

• Hand-painted 

carousel horse 

RAFFLE: 243 rifle, tack, jewelry. Tickets $5 each or 5 for $20 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT 

JESS JONES: (702) 378-0247 

OTHER QUESTIONS CALL KYLA: (805)801-1764 

9:00 am: Sign In 

10:00 am: Team 

Branding & 

Horse Roping 

Eliminations 

6:30 pm: Calcutta 

7:00 pm: Main 

Performance 

Ad donated by the Stitzel Family 



John Carpenter 

Dan Gralian, John Carpenter, 

and Dave Armstrong 

Dan Gralian, Harvey Barnes, Walter Leberski, John Eade, 

and Ed Depaoli 

Floyd Slagowski 

Dan Gralian, Floyd Slagowski, JJ Goicoechea and Mrs. 

JJ Goicoechea - Floyd Slagowski’s grandaughter 

Merideth Trindle an Angie Taylor 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Convention 

Awards Banquet 

Thank you for this wonderful honor, I’m so proud of the accomplishments 

of The Progressive Rancher Magazine. 

- Leana Stitzel 

Leana Stitzel and Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Photos 

Dan Gralian 

and 

Leana Stitzel 



The final event of convention each year is the Awards Banquet. This annual event 

honors individuals in our industry that have gone above and beyond to represent what our 

industry stands for. This year we had five award recipients. 

The first award of the evening was presented to Walter Leberski. Walt was recognized 

for his dedication to the industry and longtime commitment to not only to resource issues, 

but producer concerns as well. Harvey Barnes presented Walter with a hat and certificates 

from Congressman Heller, Senator Reid, and Senator Ensign. 

Another milestone award is the 100,000 mile award. Each year this award is given to an 

individual that has spent a lifetime in the saddle. This year’s recipient was Floyd Slagowski. 

Floyd’s life was rich with family, adventures, and service to his country. He traveled many 

many miles in his lifetime, from hunting adventures, to ranch work, to military service. 

There are few individuals that can lay claim to 100,000 miles on horseback, and we are proud 

to recognize those that do. 

Angie Taylor presented the CattleWomen of The Year award. This year it was given to 

Meredith Trindle, who served as state President this year. Meredith worked hard this year as 

president traveling and participating in events statewide and nationally. She was recognized 

for her dedication and support to the mission of the CattleWomen. 

Each year a Cattlemen of the Year is presented to an outstanding individual who represents 

our industry, Nevada, and the elements that make a great cattleman. This year the award 

was given to John Carpenter. John has served in the Nevada State Assembly for more than 20 

years and served in government for more than 30 years. His dedication to rural Nevada, agriculture, 

and the cowboy way is unwavering. Each year in the Assembly he would represent 

our voice, issues, and concerns. Dave Armstrong from American Ag Credit presented John 

with their traditional gift of a new hat. With humility, John accepted the award and wore his 

hat with pride. We thank John for his years of service to the livestock industry. 

The final award of the evening was the President’s Award. This award is chosen by the 

President of the association and given to someone who has impacted the industry in a positive 

way. This year Leana Stitzel was chosen for the award. Her creative passion for the industry 

has produced a magazine based upon an educational format, which has created stewardship 

in the livestock industry. Leana’s ability to connect universities, associations, producers, 

and businesses has resulted in professional communication within our industry. President 

Gralian presented Leana with a custom leather padfolio which included a certificate of recognition 

from the US House of Representatives, a Senatorial Certificate of Congratulations, 

and United States Senatorial Certificate of Commendation. 

Boyd Spratling presented Dan Gralian with the Presidents Buckle and thanked him 

for his hard work over the past two years. Countless hours and issues have come before the 

association and ultimately the president. With pride and dedication, Dan has addressed the 

issues and helped lead the association into the future. We thank Dan for all his hard work, 

tough issues, and commitment to the members of NCA. 

Concluding the evening was the passage of the gavel to Ron Cerri as the new President 

of NCA. Ron looks forward to representing the association and all ranchers on both state 

and national issues. He is proud and humbled with the great responsibility the members have 

entrusted him with. 

— By Meghan Brown, NCA Executive Director 

Dan 

and 

Lyn 

Gralian 

The passing 

of the gavel 

Boyd Spratling, 

Dan Gralian, 

and Ron Cerri 

Denise 

and 

Ron 

Cerri 



7th Annual 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association & Fallon Livestock Exchange 

SILVER STATE CLASSIC 

Calf and Yearling Sale 

Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. 

This sale is sponsored jointly by the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. 

Where Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. will give back a portion of the commission for each head consigned by a 

Nevada Cattlemen’s Association member, to the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association! 

EXPECTING OVER 2,000 HEAD!! 

For more information, 

call Dan Gralian at 775-468-0400 or Monte Bruck at 775-867-2020. 

Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc. would like to take 

this opportunity to say Thank You to all the consignors 

and buyers alike for their support over the last year. 

We wish everyone a 

Happy Holiday Season filled with fun and joy! 

SHIP'S CYCLE 

From all of us at Ship’s Cycle 

Merry 

Christmas 

and 

ThankYou 

for your business and 

friendship. 

May all the joys of the 

season be yours! 

See you & your friends at ringside! 

2055 Trento Lane 

7 Miles West of Fallon, NV on the Reno Highway 

For more informations, Call Today... 

Monte Bruck, Manager • 775-867-2020 Yard 

1375 Mtn. City Hwy. 


(775)738-8236 



By Joe Guild 

Like the dust cloud created by a galloping 

herd of horses on a hot summer afternoon, 

the misunderstandings, mistrust and misguidedness 

surrounding wild horses never seems to settle. When 

it comes to controversial western issues, nothing 

comes close to feral horses on the public ranges for 

longevity and emotionalism. 

How did we get where we are and why are so many 

myths perpetuated about these horses? Durable as an 

unshod range horse’s hoof, the opinion of people on all 

facets of this controversy are difficult, if impossible to 

change. I want to try and dispel two of those mythsthat 

the Bureau of Land Management is doing its best 

to eliminate the wild horse herds and western ranchers 

agree with this policy. It seems as though where you 

come from to this issue is the point of view which is perpetuated 

and misunderstood. I have known about wild 

horses most of my life. I have seen them in all states 

of condition and their habitat in good and bad. I have 

seen them running free across a valley in a herd raising 

that dust cloud. I have seen one black horse against 

an impossibly large landscape in a valley that was a 

hundred miles long and with only two occupants, me 

and the horse. Personally, I like these sights and I know 

other ranchers who like these sights too. I have also 

seen horses captured from the wild in corrals. This I do 

not like to see unless it is for theirs and the land’s own 

good. So long as these horses which were always managed 

by people continue to be controlled in numbers and 

locations by wise and proper management, I have no 

problem with the public ranges being occupied by some 

horses. But for me, it is not necessarily the horse I am 

concerned about, I am concerned about the land. 

For that matter, this is also the concern of the Bureau 

of Land Management. Note the word “land” in the 

bureau’s name. Now, I understand a wild horse advocacy 

group’s concerns about the horses. But, if a horse, 

or any animal, has no habitat, the animal suffers. I am 

sure that a horse advocacy group does not want to see 

horses suffer. However, if horses are allowed to reproduce 

and the herds grow at a 20% rate per year with no 

control, eventually they will have no habitat, they will 

suffer and die. That is why the BLM occasionally must 

gather horses from the western ranges. 

It is a paradox to me that a horse advocacy group 

would oppose a gather of 2500 mustangs from ranges 

near Gerlach, Nevada as it recently did because the gather 

is to protect the land and the horses. The particular 

herd management area (HMA) from which the horses 

Wild Horses 

are to be gathered has an appropriate management level, 

or AML, of @ 400-500 horses and, I am told, there are 

about 3200 horses over populating this range. And yet 

John Holland of the Chicago based Equine Welfare Alliance 

representing 60 organizations said in the Reno 

Gazette Journal on Monday November 16, 2009: “The 

BLM continues to say wild horses are overrunning the 

range but they have no scientific evidence.” In this same 

article a spokesperson for the BLM said there is science 

to support the removal of some 11,500 horses from 

western ranges over the next 3 years. This is necessary 

because the wild horse population on the public lands is 

at least over populated by this number according to the 

most conservative estimates. 

There have been documented instances in the past 

of absolute tragedies relative to an over abundance of 

horses. I have talked to people who have seen these 

tragedies and yet the horse advocates continue to ignore 

them, or they simply refuse to believe the evidence. 

Among the most infamous, in my view, was in 1990’s 

on the Nellis Bombing Range in Southern Nevada, a 

place which had not allowed cattle grazing for many 

years. The year in question, people saw, photographed 

and reported in official documents, the death and injury 

of many hundreds of horses. Colts were seen up to their 

knees in mud in what used to be a water hole surrounded 

by the carcasses of dead horses. An official count put 

the population in this area at about 6,200 horses in the 

autumn of the year. Six months later only about 4,300 

horses were counted. Where did approximately 2,000 

horses go? An emergency gather was undertaken with 

an appropriation of $1 million from Congress. Over 500 

orphan colts and fillies were captured and transported 

to the BLM holding facilities near Reno, Nevada. Some 

of these young horses were too sick or weak and they 

died too. The horses had increased in population to such 

a number that their habitat could no longer support them 

and so they suffered and died. As noted range scientist 

and Range Professor Emeritus Wayne Burkhardt 

of the University of Nevada, Reno recently said at a 

Wild Horse and Burro conference: “All populations of 

large grazers expand beyond habitat capacity absent 

controls.” 

A myth the advocacy groups and the media perpetuate 

is livestock ranchers want to eliminate the 

wild horses from the public ranges. This is extremist 

emotion-based propaganda at its worst, kept alive so 

the advocacy groups can have an enemy to fight and the 

media can have a controversy to exploit. 

The BLM has the obligation to protect the public 

land for a variety of legally protected uses. The public 

has a right to use its lands for recreation, hunting and 

fishing, for mining, livestock grazing, oil and gas exploration 

and pumping and for just enjoying the wide 

vast spaces of the west. The land has not been set aside 

for the exclusive use of wild horses and burros, but for 

their use at appropriate numbers along with all of the 

other uses the law allows, and the BLM is mandated to 

perpetuate. 

It should be acknowledged there are extremists 

on both sides. With all due respect to a recent letter 

writer to a popular livestock industry publication who 

advocated repeal of the 1971 Wild Horse and Burro 

Act, I don’t think that is a feasible or reasonable position. 

Free-roaming horses have been a part of the North 

American Western Landscape since Spanish explorers 

turned loose, or had horses escape from their expeditions 

in the 15th century, 500 years ago. But almost 

immediately after those first horses became part of this 

landscape, humans have managed them. Thus, the notion 

these horses have been free-roaming all these centuries 

is not entirely accurate. They were free-roaming 

until they were caught and used by mankind. Some 

horses were abused and that is wrong. Horses have been 

abused since they were first domesticated. Think of the 

horses slaughtered by humans in all the wars in which 

they were used up into the 20th century. Even now, 

horses are used in Afghanistan by U.S. troops, their 

allies and their adversaries. We humans have also harnessed 

horsepower through the eons. There were about 

6.9 million horses in the United States in the 1880s. 

But for railroads, steamships and canal boats, horses 

provided the bulk of our transportation, goods hauling, 

agriculture power and interestingly, a great deal of our 

cheap meat for human consumption. At the time of the 

Great Depression there were about 6.9 million horses 

still performing many of the same functions. Today, 

the U.S. has a domestic horse population of about 9 

million horses, almost none of whom provide the above 

services. We do love our horses! And this is rightly so. 

Horses are great and noble and wonderful creatures. We 

should care about them and care for them. 

Just as domestic livestock are cared about and for, 

wild horses should be too. Cattle and sheep do use the 

public ranges according to the terms and conditions of a 

permit. Almost all of those permits limit the use to some 

Continued on Page 22 



People are often 

unreasonable, illogical, 

And self-centered; 

Forgive them anyway. 

If you are kind, people 

may accuse you 

Of selfish, ulterior 

motives; 

Be kind anyway. 

If you are successful, 

you will win some 

False friends and some 

true enemies; 

Succeed anyway. 

If you are honest 

and frank, 

People may cheat you; 

Be honest and frank 

anyway. 

What you spend years 

building, someone 

Could destroy overnight; 

Build anyway. 

If you find serenity 

and happiness, 

There may be jealousy; 

Be happy anyway. 

The good you do today, 

People will often 

forget tomorrow; 

Do good anyway. 

fraction of a twelve month period. Usually it is around 6 months, 

at which time the domestic animals must be removed from that 

public range to another range, or, most typically, private land. The 

horses who share the range with cattle or sheep stay year around 

on the range. If their numbers increase too much, theirs and other 

habitat for wild animals and livestock is diminished and in many 

places destroyed. That is why the BLM seeks to control numbers, 

not eliminate horses forever. 

At the same conference referenced above, a BLM official 

from Washington D.C. said this: “The Department of Interior Initiative 

on Wild Horses announced recently by Secretary Salazar 

in no way would result in increased numbers of cattle grazing on 

the public land. The numbers of horses are set by land use planning, 

appropriate management level and the original number of 

horses set by the Act of 1971.” The Bureau of Land Management 

has to manage the land and if this means reducing or temporarily 

removing all livestock or gathering wild horses, they are required 

to remove those animals so that the public’s land is protected. This 

is purely and simply an aspect of good resource management. 

There are a myriad of Federal Laws; National Environmental 

Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Federal land Policy Management 

Act, The 1872 Mining Law, The Taylor Grazing Act 

and indeed, the Wild Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 

which provide the guidelines and basis upon which the BLM 

must act within scientific constraints and mandates to protect the 

public land. 

The Act of 1971 said this, among other things: “Sec. 3…..The 

Secretary shall manage wild free-roaming horses and burros in a 

manner that is designed to achieve and maintain a thriving natural 

ecological balance on the public lands.” The act does many other 

things including an acknowledgement that wild horse use is just 

one of many multiple uses for which the public lands are to be 

managed. Furthermore, the Act gives the Secretary of the Interior 

the authority to remove excess horses from the range “to preserve 

Continued from Page 21 

and maintain the habitat in a suitable condition for continued use.” 

I will talk more about the specifics of the Act and the economic 

facets of this multi-layered issue in a future column. 

It is clear the BLM is not allowed, let alone contemplates the 

elimination of wild horses from the western ranges as is sometimes 

implied from reports about BLM activities, and outright 

charged by advocacy groups and their spokespersons. It is also 

clear that while livestock grazing is one of many legally authorized 

multiple uses, it is not an exclusive use, nor are cattle and 

sheep replacing wild horses. It is also clear that the BLM has to 

balance many interests and uses in managing the land. 

The falsehoods perpetuated to support established agendas 

and improper purposes must be disclosed for what they are: at 

best, misunderstandings and at worst, lies. For instance, the one 

which always brings many a ranchers’ blood to a boil is the notion 

that ranchers want to eliminate all horses from the public lands 

in favor of cattle and sheep. While it is probably true that many 

ranchers wish the Act was never passed because of the problems 

it created rather than solved, there is recognition that the will of 

the American people is to protect some horses and this law is now 

widely accepted. Ranchers, however, want the horses managed 

properly just as their livestock are subject to certain conditions 

and standards of proper scientifically based range management 

principles. 

To prove the above point, this is the policy the Nevada Woolgrowers 

Association and the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association 

recently approved at their annual convention: 

“The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association and the Nevada Woolgrower’s 

Association continue to support sustainable, healthy, 

well-managed herds of Wild Horses and Burros on healthy Nevada 

rangelands.” 

Would a wild horse advocacy group spokesperson like to 

debate the issue? 

I’ll See You Soon. 

Give the world the 

best you have, 

And it may never be enough; 

Give the world the best 

you’ve got anyway. 

You see, in the final 

analysis, 

It is between you and God; 

It was never between you 

and them anyway. 

– Mother Teresa 

Rolly Lisle Injured in Motorcycle Accident 

On November 5th, Rolly Lisle was riding his motorcycle to 

check fence and water on the family’s winter horse allotment. He 

hit an unseen rock, and was thrown from the bike. Knowing he was 

badly hurt, he was somehow able to stand his bike up, get it started, 

and ride it several miles back to the pickup where family friend, 

Randy Bunch, was waiting. 

Randy drove Rolly the 40 miles back to the Rancho Grande 

at North Fork, where Rolly is employed by Simplot Livestock, 

and where he lives with his wife, Becky, and son, Tyler. Becky 

had received a phone call and had already called for Summit Air 

Ambulance, based in Elko, Nevada. The helicopter took Rolly to 

Northern Nevada Regional Hospital, where it was determined that 

his injuries were more serious than what could be treated in Elko, 

and he was then flown to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center 

in Boise, Idaho. 

Once at St. Alphonsus, further tests revealed that Rolly had 

broken the T7 vertebra in his back, and fractured the C7 vertebra 

in his neck, but somehow his spinal cord remained miraculously 

uninjured. Rolly also suffered severe lacerations to his forehead 

and right eyelid. He was in ICU at St. Alphonsus for two nights, 

and underwent surgery on Saturday, November 7th to repair both 

his back and his eyelid. 

Rolly was released from the hospital on November 11th, and 

then spent time with family in Bruneau, Idaho, before returning 

home to the Rancho Grande on November 23rd. A follow-up appointment 

with the ophthalmologist went well; the doctor was 

happy with how the eyelid had healed. Follow-up with the neurosurgeon 

is scheduled for December 9th. Rolly is wearing a neck 

brace and back brace, and is making progress in his recovery by 

the day. 

The Lisle family wishes to express their profound gratitude for 

the outpouring of love and support they are receiving. 



A continuation of the SCIENTIST CONTRIBUTIONS 

from the Great Basin Wildfire Forum. 

GREAT BASINWildfire FORUM 

THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS 

Portions of Great Basin Wildfire Forum: The Search for Solutions are reprinted with permission. 

The technical editors are Dr. Elwood Miller, Professor Emeritus, and Dr. Rang Narayanan, Associate Dean of 

Outreach, both from the University of Nevada, Reno, and the copy editing and design was done by Mr. Bob 

Conrad, Nevada Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. 

Great Basin Wildfire Forum: The Search for Solutions is a publication of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment 

Station, University of Nevada, Reno. For more information, go to the website: www.cabnr.unr.edu/naes. 

The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or the Experiment Station. 

ROBERT BLANK 

dr. ROBERT BLANK 

has been a soil scientist 

since 1987 with the USDA- 

Agricultural Research 

Service in Reno, Nevada. 

From 1973 through 

1983 he worked for the Soil 

Conservation Service 

(now NRCS) in South Dakota 

and mapped soils in 

McPherson and Brown Counties. 

He received his MS 

and PhD degrees from 

the University of Idaho. 

ELEVATED ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOX- 

IDE has fundamentally altered plant competitive 

relationships in the Great Basin. Simply put, there are 

winners and losers. Unfortunately, many of the winners 

are introduced annual grasses and weeds. The growth 

response of selected species to a doubling of atmospheric 

CO 2 can be seen in the table below. Overall, growth of 

cheatgrass increases markedly with increasing atmospheric 

CO 2 . It also appears that this increase has a bearing 

on cheatgrass invasiveness. First, the CO 2 enhanced 

growth response contributes to increased fuel loads, 

thereby fostering wildfires. Second, data indicate that 

many of the native perennial plant species that compete 

with cheatgrass often have less growth response with increasing 

CO 2 than cheatgrass. All things being equal, the 

greater growth afforded by increased CO 2 to cheatgrass 

may increase its competitive ability. 

Conversely, a greater understanding is needed of 

the processes that suppress cheatgrass establishment 

when perennials are present along with the inhibiting 

factors in certain soils that prevent cheatgrass establishment. 

Given the abundance of cheatgrass, it is reasonable 

to expect that some of the native soil organisms such as 

nematodes, fungi, and bacteria have evolved or could be 

coerced to evolve to become pathogenic to cheatgrass. 

We know that available soil nitrogen is a key factor in 

controlling invasiveness. Increasing the availability of 

nitrogen to cheatgrass accelerates its growth relative to 

native perennials. Therefore native perennial species 

should experience a competitive edge if nitrogen mineralization 

can be reduced, resulting in decreased levels of 

available nitrogen. Basic research should be undertaken 

to determine how and which plants or guild of plants 

reduce the nitrogen mineralization potential in Great Basin 

soils. Cheatgrass fosters wildfires, and considerable 

nitrogen is lost via volatilization from fires. Given these 

facts, it is reasonable to suspect that sufficient nitrogen 

loss from the soil after many wildfire events will result 

in cheatgrass becoming self-limiting. We are presently 

researching these topics. 

Elevated atmospheric 

carbon dioxide has 

fundamentally altered plant 

competitive relationships 

in the Great Basin. Simply 

put, there are winners 

and losers. Unfortunately, 

many of the winners 

are introduced annual 

grasses and weeds. 



A continuation of the SCIENTIST CONTRIBUTIONS 

from the Great Basin Wildfire Forum. 

GREAT BASINWildfire FORUM 

THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS 

Portions of Great Basin Wildfire Forum: The Search for Solutions are reprinted with permission. 

The technical editors are Dr. Elwood Miller, Professor Emeritus, and Dr. Rang Narayanan, Associate Dean of 

Outreach, both from the University of Nevada, Reno, and the copy editing and design was done by Mr. Bob 

Conrad, Nevada Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. 

Great Basin Wildfire Forum: The Search for Solutions is a publication of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment 

Station, University of Nevada, Reno. For more information, go to the website: www.cabnr.unr.edu/naes. 

The contents do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or the Experiment Station. 

DONALD KLEBENOW 

dr. DONALD KLEBENOW 

is professor emeritus of wildlife 

from the University of 

Nevada, Reno. His degrees 

are from the University of 

Montana and the University of 

Idaho. Throughout his career 

his research emphasis was 

wildlife habitat management, 

mainly on rangelands. He 

serves on the Nevada State 

Sage Grouse Committee. 

Wildfire is now 

considered by many 

as the major threat to 

wildlife populations. 

Urbanization, agriculture development, 

ecological shifts and climate change are major 

stressors that have led to reduced densities of many wildlife 

species in the Great Basin. Fire protection policies 

and early grazing practices permitted shrubs to increase, 

creating ubiquitous stands dominated bysagebrush or 

piñon and juniper. 

Wildfires, now larger and more widespread, often 

burn these woody habitats, setting the stage for exotic 

invaders to replace native vegetation. Wildfire is now 

considered by many as the major threat to wildlife 

populations. Often fires burn at elevations that are winter 

habitat for many wild species. Sagebrush-dependent 

birds and mammals lose their habitat. Conversion to 

exotic dominated vegetation monotypes often prevents 

natural ecological succession from recovering what once 

was a native habitat. 

The wildlife impact has varied. Shrub-dependent 

species such as sage grouse and mule deer are suffering 

from the widespread conversion of their habitat. 

Others may respond differently. While sagebrush fires 

may remove important winter forage, overall pronghorn 

antelope are doing well in Nevada. Their population is 

at an all-time high. Elk is another big game species that 

continues to extend its distribution in Nevada. Possibly 

these last two big game species are responding to rangeland 

management practices that are providing habitat 

more suited to their needs. Recently, the presence of 

disease is arousing concern. West Nile virus has been 

confirmed in bird species in the Great Basin. Corvid 

family birds are the most susceptible, but West Nile also 

affects others. In Nevada, the virus has been confirmed 

in sage grouse and Brewer’s sparrow, both sagebrushdependent 

species. The role of disease in the decline of 

these two species, as well as others, is essentially not 

known due to the disease’s recent discovery. While data 

on population numbers exist for hunted species, information 

on non-hunted species is limited. For example, 

Brewer’s sparrow may well have been the most common 

bird in sagebrush habitats in the 1955–1975 period. It is 

noticeably less seen today. Is its occurrence threatened? 

What about the sage sparrow? This shrub-nesting, 

secretive bird is less noticeable even when population 

numbers are abundant. If it has declined, we are apt to 

not to even realize it. The impact of diseases such as 

West Nile virus, as well as habitat loss from fires, leads 

to another factor involved with management of the Great 

Basin wildlife habitat: litigation. Litigation continues 

between conservation groups and the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service regarding the potential listing of sage 

grouse as an endangered species. The rationale for the 

present litigation is based on new information regarding 

numbers, population densities, genetics, disease impact 

and other related population features, i.e., nesting and 

brood success, habitat characteristics, etc. 

Great efforts are being made to ensure healthy sage 

grouse populations. The knowledge of this bird’s population 

features, status, habitats and habitat conditions is 

better than it ever has been. Management projects have 

been initiated to improve their habitat. 



Range Plants for the Rancher 

By Paul T. Tueller, Ph.D., CRMC 

This month I describe a common shrub found on lowlands across the State of Nevada. 

This plant has several common names, Rubber Rabbitbrush, Gray Rabbitbrush, Yellow 

Brush or Stinking Brush with the scientific name of Ericameria nauseosa (Pallas ex Pursh) 

Nesom & Baird or Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Pall.) Britt. I learned this plant by this second 

scientific name now listed by some in synonymy. The International Plant Names Index 

(IPNI) recognizes 30 subspecies. 

Rubber rabbitbrush favors sunny, open sites throughout a wide variety of habitats 

including open plains, valleys, drainage ways, foothills, and mountains. The plant is cold 

hardy, and tolerant of both moisture and salt stress and exhibits a number of adaptations for 

surviving in an arid environment. One of these is that leaves and stems are covered with 

a felt-like layer of trichomes (hairy outgrowth of the 

epidermis) that insulate the plant and reduce transpiration 

water loss. 

All Rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus species are late 

flowering, usually in August and September when their 

crowns become a bright golden glow of flowers. For 

some it marks the start of hay fever season. This glow 

gives rise to the Latin name “Chryso” “thamnus,” 

“golden” “bush.” Thomas Nuttall named this genus in 

the early 19th century for its “affinity to [the genus] 

Chrysocoma and brilliant golden yellow flowers.” 

“Nauseosus” means “heavy scented. This plant is as 

western as the sagebrush species and thus these native 

shrubs really convey a sense of place. 

This native perennial shrub varies from 12 to 90 

inches tall with a rounded crown and several erect 

stems from the base. They reproduce from seeds and 

root sprouts. In most conditions it is a heavy seed producer. 

Seed (achene) size appears to be correlated to 

habitat; subspecies adapted to sandy sites have larger 

achenes. Once germinated plants spread easily and 

quickly. The inflorescences and bracts of the seeds 

often persist well into the next year. The flowers are ½ 

inch long or smaller, arranged in an umbrella shaped head. The leaves are alternate, linear 

to spatula shaped blades with entire margins and are 1 to 3 nerved. The twigs are erect, 

flexible (rubbery) and yellowish-green. The trunk is gray-brown with small cracks. The 

bark is fibrous and somewhat shreddy. 

It is fast growing, reaching maturity in 2 to 4 years but relatively short-lived shrub, 

usually 5 to 20 years. It has been aerially seeded. Rubber rabbitbrush can be troublesome 

on rangelands when it invades and occupies areas at high densities. It is a difficult to control 

because it is resistant to herbicides and has the ability to resprout from the crown. Rubber 

Rubber Rabbitbrush 

rabbitbrush can be an important structural and ecological component in both stable and 

disturbed plant communities. Its ability to stabilize soil and reduce wind and water erosion 

preserves habitat for other shrubs, forbs, and grasses. This shrub is an excellent plant for 

erosion control because it has deep roots, produces heavy litter, and is able to establish on 

severe sites. 

Rubber rabbitbrush grows on a wide range of soils. Soils tend to be medium to coarsetextured 

and somewhat basic, but may range from moderately acidic to strongly alkaline. 

Rubber rabbitbrush establishes readily on disturbed areas and can often become the 

dominant vegetation on lands that have been disturbed by fire, insects, vehicles, or heavy 

grazing. Some subspecies have broader ecological amplitudes than others, allowing them 

to establish in a variety of habitats. Although it grows 

vigorously, it does not exclude or inhibit herbaceous 

species. Production of herbaceous cover is often greater 

where rubber rabbitbrush is present than when it is 

not present. This species is often found associated with 

basin wildrye, big sagebrush and western wheatgrass 

among other lowland Great Basin species. 

Rubber rabbitbrush is browsed by deer, pronghorn, 

and by domestic animals, but palatability varies 

greatly between the several subspecies and ecotypes. 

Unlike some forage shrubs, however, rubber rabbitbrush 

is quite resilient to browsing. In addition to food, 

C. nauseosus also provides cover for small mammals, 

birds, and has been reported to be useful to newly born 

pronghorn. It is, in general, considered of little value to 

all classes of livestock although it can be an important 

browse species on depleted rangelands. In general, 

wildlife and livestock forage only lightly on this species 

during the summer, but winter use can be heavy in 

some locations. Fall use is variable, but flowers are often 

used by wildlife and livestock. A few leaves and the 

more tender stems may also be used. It is occasionally 

reported to be toxic to livestock. However, the plant is 

so unpalatable that quantities sufficient to cause toxicity are not likely to be ingested. 

American Indians reportedly made chewing gum from pulverized wood and bark. It 

was also used as tea, cough syrup, yellow dye, and for chest pains. It was once considered 

as a small commercial source for rubber extraction, and was studied extensively during 

World War II as a substitute for commercial rubber. Some accessions, for example, produce 

up to 6 percent stem rubber and 20 percent resin. Finally, some forms may have ornamental 

shrub potential. For many reasons this is a good plant to know. 



➤ 

➤ 

Winnemucca 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

H 

➤ 

➤ 

➤ 

Mifflin, M. D 

Nevada: 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

Elko 

Lake Clover 

1730 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

40˚ 00'00" 

Horse Snorts 

AND Cow Bawls 

Lake Buffalo 

1414 

River 

Humboldt 

River 

Lake Eagle 

1570 

Living 

Lake Waring 

on 

+12 

1761 

Lake Railroad 

Lake Franklin 

Lake 1484 

1850 

Lahontan 

1332 

River 

Lake Dixie 

1097 

iver 

ke Wellington 

1475 

Carson 

Walker 

Bishop 

I don’t have the date or paper it was clipped from but here it is 

Lake 

in 

Toiyabe 

its entirety. 

1702 

37˚ 00'00" 

Lake Rhodes 

REFERENCES CITED 1351 

38˚ 00'00" 

Hemphill-Haley, M. A., 1987, Quaternary stratigraphy and late Holocene faulting along the 

base of the eastern escarpment of Steens Mountain, southeastern Oregon: M.S. thesis, 

Arcata, Humboldt State University, 84 p. 

Tonopah 

Lake Tonopah 

Lindberg, D.N., and Hemphill-Haley, M.A., Lake 1988, Columbus Late-Pleistocene pluvial 1463 history of the 

Alvord basin, Harney Co., Oregon [abstract]: 1402Northwest Science, v. 62, no. 2, 

p. 81. 

Area of late Pleistocene lakes (not all are shown). 

Mifflin, M. D., and Wheat, M. Shoreline M., 1979, altitude Pluvial in lakes meters and shown estimated below pluvial lake climates nameof 

Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 94, 57 p. 

Lake Rhodes 

1351 

Lake Tonopah 

38˚ 00'00" 

Lake Russell 

Lake Columbus Lake Gilbert 1463 

I’ve just been listening 2155 to the news about all this health care 

1750 

1402reform. 

Lake Dixie 

1097 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

River 

NEVADA 

CALIFORNIA 

Yesterday’s Wealth 

River 

Lake Rhodes 

+15 

1351 

Reno 

40˚ 00'00" 

Lake Russell 

Lake Diamond 

1829 2155 

for the gander. Same goes for social security. They work for us, we are their em- 

Lake Labou 

ployers. They are not better than 

1274 

the people they “represent”! They Lake just Renniehaven’t 

Lake Desatoya 

1899 1945 

learned that yet. Too bad I can’t think fast enough to spout off that statement to 

+82 

River 

Humboldt 

by Jeanne King 

Seems simple enough to me. Two simple little acts would restore faith in the 

powers that are trying to write this new deal. One, write a law to put a cap on 

mal-practice lawsuits and any frivolous suits, and second, a law requiring that 

Lake Edwards 

everyone subscribe to this insurance policy. That 1609 includes the president and all 

+8 

his gaggle of congressmen. What is good enough for 39˚ 00'00" the goose is good enough 

some fed telling me how to run my business or care for my cows! 

Along those same lines, I’m going to requote a newspaper clipping I keep 

on my refrigerator. It has been in that place of honor so long it is turning yellow. 

This story, I know, is not true but I found it so interesting I wanted to tell it 

anyway. so here it goes 

“General Military” 

“A reader reports she was listening to the radio recently when she heard 

one of the all-time best comeback lines of her life. This is an exact replication 

Lake Hubbs 

Here in the western Great Basin, we live upon the compounded wealth 

1920 

Lake Gale 

of the million El Nino years of the Ice Ages. We farm on the floors of vanished 

Lake Lahontan, from McDermitt to Hawthorne, from Susanville to 

1905 

+26 

River 

Lake Tahoe 

Reno 

Lake Newark 

Crescent 1926 1847 Valley, and on the floors of Lake Diamond, Lake Franklin, Lake 

Clover, and others. The malls and residential subdivisions of Reno and the 

Lake Spring 

1759 

Carson-Gardnerville area Lake are Wellington built upon the rich irreplaceable soils of what 

1475 

Lake Rennie 

Lake Jake 

were backwater deltas. We raise hay and graze cattle on river floodplains 

Ely 

built against the resistance of vast swamps, water slowing and meandering, 

dropping its silt loads, the area of deposition backing gradually upstream. We 

Lake Tahoe 

seek those ancient lakes still, with our wells and pumps, chasing water driven 

1926 

deep into the rocks and Bishop fill by hundreds of pounds of standing water pressure 

over two million years. 

Lake Wellington 

1475 

Lake Maxey 

As we contemplate the challenges and threats 1762 to our region and our 

resources, we must recognize the conditions necessary for the creation of 

our natural resource base are long past, making our need to be mindful of its 

ongoing protection all the more crucial. 

—Preston Wright 

Lake R 

Lake Carpenter 

1824 

121˚ 00'00" 119˚ 00'00" 120˚ 00'00" 118˚ 00'00" 119˚ 00'00" 117˚ Lake 00'00" Railroad 

118˚ 00'00" 116˚ 00'00" 117˚ 00'00" 

135 

11 

1484 

Lake Cave 

1829 

of the National Public Radio (NPR) interview between a female broadcaster 

and US Army General Reinwald who was about to sponsor a Boy Scout Troop 

visiting his military installation. 

Female Interviewer: “So, General Reinwald, what things are you going to 

teach these young boys when they visit your base?” 

General Reinwald: “We’re going to them climbing, canoeing, archery, 

and shooting.” 

Lake Russell 

2155 Female Interviewer: “Shooting” That’s a bit irresponsible, isn’t it?” 

General Reinwald: “I don’t see why, they’ll be properly supervised on the 

rifle range.” 

Female Reheis, Interviewer: M. C., and Morrison, “Don’t R. B., 1997, you High, admit old pluvial lakes that of western this Nevada, is a interribly dangerous 

Link, P. K., and Kowallis, B. J., eds., Proterozoic to recent stratigraphy, tectonics, and 

activity to be teaching volcanology, Utah, children?” 

Nevada, Maximum southern known Idaho, area and central of pre-late Mexico: Pleistocene Provo, Brigham lakes Young 

University Geology Studies, (not v. all 1, basins p. 459-492. have been examined for evidence 

General Reinwald: “I don’t of pre-late see Pleistocene how. deposits) We will be teaching them proper rifle 

Reheis, M. C., Sarna-Wojcicki, A. M., Reynolds, Lake Rennie R. L., Repenning, C. A., and Mifflin, 

discipline before M.D., they in press, even Pliocene touch middle Pleistocene a firearm.” lakes in the western Great Basin: Ages 

and connections, in Hershler, R., Currey, D., and Madsen, D., eds., Great Basin Aquatic 

Female Interviewer: Systems History: Washington “But D.C., you’re Smithsonian Institution. equipping them to become violent 

Possible additional area of pre-late Pleistocene lakes 

killers.” Reheis, M.C., Slate, J.L., Sarna-Wojcicki, (former elevation A.M., raised and Meyer, by sedimentation) 

C.E., 1993, A late Pliocene to 

middle Pleistocene pluvial lake in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada and California: Geological 

General Reinwald: Society Bishop of American “Well, Bulletin, v. 105, you’re p. 959-967. equipped to be a prostitute, but you’re 

not one, are you?” Stewart, J. H., and Dohrenwend, J. C., 1984, Geologic map of the Wellington quadrangle, 

Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 84-211, scale 1:62,500. 

The radio went silent and the interview ended.”” 

NEVADA 

CALIFORNIA 

Lake Jonathan 

38˚ EXPLANATION 

00'00" 

City 

Pre-late Pleistocene lake-deposit locality 


Shoreline altitude in meters shown below lake name 

Maximum known area of pre-late Pleistocene lakes 

Pliocene lake-deposit locality (not all basins have been examined for evidence 

of pre-late Pleistocene deposits) 

Late Pleistocene overflow 


Possible pre-late Pleistocene overflow and modern sill height 

(former elevation raised by sedimentation) 

in meters above late Pleistocene lake level 

Lake ColumbusLake Antelope 

1402Lake Reveille 1745 

1512 

Lake Russell 

40˚ 00'00" 

Lake Columbus 

2155 1402 

38˚ 00'00" 

EXPLANATION 

Major drainages in the Lahontan 

City 

basin 

Tonopah 

Lake Labou 

1274 

Hemphill-Ha 

base of t 

EXTENT OF PLEISTO 

Arcata, H 

293 p. 



Tonopah 

Lake Tonopah 

1463 

CALIFORNIA 

42˚ 00'00" 

41˚ 00'00" 


Late Pleistocene boundary of Lahontan basin 

Lake Rennie 

Pliocene lake-deposit locality 

Inferred increase of drainage basin area 

in pre-late Pleistocene time Late Pleistocene overflow 

State borders 

39˚ 00'00" 

Possible pre-late Pleistocene overflow and mod 

Bishopin meters above late Pleistocene lake level 

Bishop 

EXTENT OF PLEISTOCENE LAKES IN THE WESTERN EXTENT GREAT OF PLEISTOCENE BASIN LAKES IN THE W 

Weide, D. L., 1975, Postglacial geomorphology and environments of the Warner Valley 

Now, that’s Hart still Mountain a area, great Oregon: come-back!!! Ph.D. dissertation, Los And Angeles, so University right! of California, 

293 p. 

EXTENT OF THE PLEISTOCENE LAKES IN 

37˚ 00'00" 

37˚ 00'00" 

Back to real life, winter’s coming on and I By 

By 

37˚ have 00'00" moved back to Battle 

THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN 

119˚ 00'00" 118˚ 00'00" 117˚ 00'00" 121˚ 00'00" 116˚ 00'00" 120˚ 00'00" 115˚ 00'00" 119˚ 00'00" 114˚ 00'00" 

Marith Reheis 

By Marith Reheis 

Marith Reheis 

121˚ 00'00" 120˚ 00'00" 1999119˚ 00'00" 118˚ 00'00" 

1999 

1999 

Mountain. However, I’m not sure it is any warmer here than at the PX. I’m 

just a whimp! 

My story just isn’t complete without a kid story. 

Brooke has been with us all fall and tells of taking her niece and two 

nephews to the ice cream shop. Being as they are country kids and hadn’t been 

to a real Area of ice late Pleistocene cream lakes (not shop all are shown). to sample all the different flavors, they were suitable 


impressed. They raced up the counter so excited about all the different toppings 

for their cones. 

Maximum known area of pre-late Pleistocene lakes 

(not all basins have been examined for evidence 

“Gummy Bears! Springles! Chocolate! M and M’s!” 


The little girl comes to the coconut and looks up at Brooke with a question 

on her 

Possible 

face. 

additional 

“Toe 

area of pre-late 

nails?” 

Pleistocene 

Just 

lakes 

priceless! Of course you need the proper facial 


expressions to really appreciate the moment! 

REFERENCES CITED 

40˚ 00'00" 

39˚ 00'00" 

Lake Reveille 

1512 

Hemphill-Haley, M. A., 1987, Quaternary stratigraphy and late Holocene Lindberg, faulting D.N., along and the Hemphill-Haley, M.A., 1988, Late-Pleistocene pluvial history of the 

EXPLANATION 

Alvord basin, Harney Co., Oregon [abstract]: Northwest Science, v. 62, no. 2, 


p. 81. 

City Arcata, Humboldt State University, 84 p. 

Major drainages in the Lahontan basin 

Mifflin, M. D., and Wheat, M. M., 1979, Pluvial lakes and estimated pluvial climates of 

Lindberg, D.N., and Hemphill-Haley, M.A., 1988, Late-Pleistocene pluvial history Nevada: of Nevada the Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 94, 57 p. 

Pre-late Pleistocene Alvord lake-deposit basin, Harney locality Co., Oregon [abstract]: Northwest Science, v. 62, no. 2, 

Reheis, M. C., and Morrison, R. B., 1997, High, old pluvial lakes of western Nevada, in 

p. 81. 


Link, P. K., and Kowallis, B. J., eds., Proterozoic to recent stratigraphy, tectonics, and 

volcanology, Utah, Nevada, southern Idaho, and central Mexico: Provo, Brigham Young 

Pliocene lake-deposit 

Mifflin, M. 

locality 

D., and Wheat, M. M., 1979, Pluvial lakes and estimated pluvial climates University Geology of Studies, v. 1, p. 459-492. 

Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 94, 57 p. 

Reheis, M. C., Inferred Sarna-Wojcicki, increase A. of M., drainage Reynolds, basin R. L., area Repenning, C. A., and Mifflin, 


M.D., in press, in pre-late Pliocene Pleistocene middle Pleistocene time lakes in the western Great Basin: Ages 

Reheis, M. C., and Morrison, R. B., 1997, High, old pluvial lakes of western and Nevada, connections, in in Hershler, R., Currey, D., and Madsen, D., eds., Great Basin Aquatic 

Link, P. K., and Kowallis, B. J., eds., Proterozoic to recent stratigraphy, Systems tectonics, History: andWashington D.C., Smithsonian Institution. 

Possible pre-late volcanology, Pleistocene overflow Utah, Nevada, and modern southern sill height Idaho, and central Mexico: Provo, Brigham Young 

Reheis, M.C., Slate, J.L., Sarna-Wojcicki, A.M., and Meyer, C.E., 1993, A late Pliocene to 

in meters above University late Pleistocene Geology lake level 

State borders 

Studies, v. 1, p. 459-492. 


Society of American Bulletin, v. 105, p. 959-967. 

Reheis, M. C., Sarna-Wojcicki, A. M., Reynolds, R. L., Repenning, C. A., and Mifflin, 

Stewart, J. H., and Dohrenwend, J. C., 1984, Geologic map of the Wellington quadrangle, 

M.D., in press, Pliocene to middle Pleistocene lakes in the western Great Basin: Ages 

Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 84-211, scale 1:62,500. 

and connections, in Hershler, R., Currey, D., and Madsen, D., eds., Great Basin Aquatic 

Systems History: Washington D.C., Smithsonian Institution. 


Hart Mountain area, Oregon: Ph.D. dissertation, Los Angeles, University of California, 

293 p. 

Reheis, M.C., Slate, J.L., Sarna-Wojcicki, A.M., and Meyer, C.E., 1993, A late Pliocene to 


By 

Society of American Bulletin, v. 105, p. 959-967. 

I’m sure with Christmas and Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’ll hear 

some more lines from EXTENT more kids. OF PLEISTOCENE Be a lot of them around LAKES Thanksgiving! IN THE WESTERN Once GREAT BASIN 

again, anyone having some cute stories from kids, please let me or the magazine 

know. Everybody needs a laugh now and then from the little people! 

Marith Reheis 

Take care and stay warm and busy!! 

Reese 

River 

+36 

Lake Pine 

Stewart, J. H., and Dohrenwend, J. C., 1984, Geologic map of the Wellington quadrangle, 

1999 Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 84-211, scale 1:62,500. 


Hart Mountain area, Oregon: Ph.D. dissertation, Los Angeles, University of California, 

+44 


Truckee 

Hemphill-Haley, M. A., 1987, Quaternary stratigraphy and late Holocene faulting along the 


Arcata, Humboldt State University, 84 p. 

The Pleistocene Age 

Carson 

Walker 

Truckee 

River 

River 

Carson 

Walker 

NEVADA 

Lake Russell 

2155 

PLEISTOCENE LAKES SUMMARY 

Most late Pleistocene shoreline altitudes and lake names are from Mifflin and Wheat (1979). 

Lake Warner shoreline from Weide (1975), Lake Alvord shoreline and overflow from Hemphill- 

Haley (1987), and Lake Coyote shoreline and overflow from Lindberg and Hemphill-Haley (1988). 

Shaded relief base generated in Arc/Info from USGS 1:250,000-scale DEMs. Pre-late Pleistocene 38˚ 00'00" 

shorelines from Reheis and others (1993), Reheis and Morrison (1997), and Reheis and others 

(in press), except for Lake Wellington (Stewart and Dohrenwend, 1984). See Reheis and others 

(1993; in press) for information on lake-deposit localities. 

Map projection: Lambert Conformal Conic. 


Digital cartography: Michael O'Donnell and Jonathon Rademaekers. Shoreline altitude in meters shown below lake name 

Area of late Pleistocene lakes (not all Maximum are shown). known area of pre-late Pleistocene lakes 

Shoreline altitude in meters shown (not below all basins lake have name been examined for evidence 


Manuscript approved for publication June 16, 1999 

Any use of trade names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey 

This map was produced on request, directly from digital files, on an electronic plotter. 

This map is also available as a PDF file at http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov 

NEVADA 

Maximum known area of pre-late Pleistocene Possible additional lakes area of pre-late Pleistocene lakes 


(not all basins have been examined for evidence 




UTAH 

River 

River 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

39˚ 00'00" 

Humboldt 

+82 

EXTENT OF 

37˚ 00'00" 

Lake Labou 

1274 

121˚ 00'00 

Lindberg, D 

Alvord b 

p. 81.

+15 

NEVADA 

UTAH 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

+36 

40˚ 00'00" 

MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES 

MAP MF-2323 

121˚ 00'00" 120˚ 00'00" 119˚ 00'00" 118˚ 00'00" 117˚ 00'00" 116˚ 00'00" 115˚ 00'00" 114˚ 00'00" 

+44 

Lake Gilbert 

1750 

Lake Diamond 

1829 

Owyhee 

Lake Antelope 

1745 

Washington 

INDEX MAP OF 1˚ x 2˚ QUADRANGLES 

COVERING THE STUDY AREA 

Klamath 

Jordan 

Adel 

Falls 

Valley 

River 

Lake Hubbs 

1920 

River 

Oregon 

Idaho 

Alturas Vya McDermitt Wells Brigham City 

Lake Edwards 

1609 

+8 

Lake Warner 

1457 

Lake Jonathan 

Lake Alvord 

1311 

Lake Coyote 

1278 

Lake Newark 

1847 

+26 

Lake Gale 

1905 

Nevada 

California 

Utah 

Arizona 

UTAH 

Susanville 

Lovelock Winnemucca Elko Tooele 

Chico Reno Millett Ely Delta 

Sacramento 

Walker 

Tonopah Lund Richfield 

Lake 

NEVADA 

Reese 

Lake Spring 

1759 

San 

Jose Mariposa Goldfield Caliente Cedar City 

42˚ 00'00" 

OREGON 

Lake Desatoya 

OREGONLake IDAHO Jake 

CALIFORNIA 

1899 NEVADA 1945 

Ely 

+134 

Lake Meinzer 

1768 

39˚ 00'00" 

Lake Lake Surprise Toiyabe 

15671702 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

Lake Maxey 

1762 

41˚ 00'00" 

+34 

Winnemucca 

Lake Eagle 

1570 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

River 

Lake Railroad 

1484 

Lake Cave 

1829 

Humboldt 

River 

Elko 


1824 

+12 

Lake Clover 

1730 

Lake Waring 

1761 

hodes 

1 

Lake Buffalo 

1414 

Lake Franklin 

1850 

Humboldt 

Lake Pine 

+15 

Lake Tonopah 

1463 

Tonopah 

Lake Lahontan 

1332 

Lake Reveille 

1512 

Lake Dixie 

1097 

River 

+36 

Lake Gilbert 

1750 

Lake Diamond 

1829 

+44 

Lake Hubbs 

1920 

38˚ 00'00" 

Lake Antelope 

1745 

40˚ 00'00" 

Reno 

Truckee 

River 

River 

Lake Edwards 

1609 

+8 

Lake Jonathan 

Lake Newark 

1847 

+26 

Lake Gale 

1905 

Carson 

Lake Labou 

1274 

Reese 

Lake Desatoya 

Lake Jake 

1899 1945 

Ely 

Lake Spring 

1759 

+82 

Lake Tahoe 

1926 

Walker 

39˚ 00'00" 

Lake Wellington 

1475 

River 

Lake Toiyabe 

1702 

Lake Maxey 

1762 

CALIFORNIA 

NEVADA 

Lake Railroad 

1484 

Lake Cave 

1829 


1824 

37˚ 00'00" 

117˚ 00'00" 116˚ 00'00" 115˚ 00'00" 114˚ 00'00" 

Lake Rhodes 

1351 

City 

EXPLANATION 

Lake Russell 

2155 

Lake Tonopah 

Lake Columbus 

1463 

1402 

Major drainages in the Lahontan basin 

Lake Rennie 

Tonopah 


Lake Reveille 

1512 




Shaded relief base generated in Arc/Info from USGS 1:250,000-scale DEMs. Pre-late Pleistocene 





Digital cartography: Michael O'Donnell and Jonathon Rademaekers. 

38˚ 00'00" 



Pliocene lake-deposit locality 


Bishop 

Inferred increase of drainage basin area 

in pre-late Pleistocene time 

NEVADA 

CALIFORNIA 

Manuscript approved for publication June 16, 1999 

Any use of trade names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply 

endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey 

This map was produced on request, directly from digital files, on an electronic plotter. 

This map is also available as a PDF file at http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov 

Possible pre-late Pleistocene overflow and modern sill height 

in meters above late Pleistocene lake level 

State borders 

37˚ 00'00" 

" 120˚ 00'00" 119˚ 00'00" 118˚ 00'00" 117˚ 00'00" 116˚ 00'00" 115˚ 00'00" 114˚ 00'00" 


CENE LAKES IN THE WESTERN GREAT BASIN 

ley, M. A., 1987, Quaternary stratigraphy and late Holocene faulting along the 

he eastern escarpment of Steens Mountain, southeastern Oregon: M.S. thesis, 

umboldt State University, 84 p. 


By 

.N., and Hemphill-Haley, M.A., 1988, Late-Pleistocene pluvial history of the 

asin, Harney Co., Oregon [abstract]: Northwest Science, v. 62, no. 2, 


., and Wheat, M. M., 1979, Pluvial lakes and estimated pluvial climates of 


Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Bulletin 94, 57 p. 





Shaded relief base generated in Arc/Info from USGS 1:250,000-scale DEMs. Pre-late Pleistocene 





Digital cartography: Michael O'Donnell and Jonathon Rademaekers. 

The Progressive EXPLANATION Rancher December 2009 27 

City 

Major drainages in the Lahontan basin

SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT 

Wild Horse and Burro Management – Then, Now, and Where To? 

Presented by Rex Cleary 

As part of The 2009 Conference on Wild & Feral Horse and Burro Management and Policy 

John Ascuaga’s Nugget, Sparks, Nevada – November 4, 2009 

Introduction - A review of Wild Horse Management 

Plans and Gather Plans reveals a flurry of activity in the 

field. There are now more variable management factors to 

draw on for wild horse management alternatives than ever. 

The six variable management factors that are being applied 

and blended into a variety of management alternatives are: 

➣ Appropriate Management Level (AML) 

➣ Selective Removal 

➣ Fertility Control 

➣ Sex Ratio 

➣ Non-Breeder Herd Component 

➣ Gather Frequency 

AML – Many horse herds have had a single figure for 

AML that was intended for either an upper or lower limit. A 

single figure has been used both ways. It is now increasingly 

common to find the AML expressed as a range with both 

an upper and lower limit. The intent is to manage the herd 

staying within the range. The herd is to be gathered down 

to the lower limit. Then, when the herd increases back up to 

the upper limit, another gather is triggered to take the herd 

back to the lower limit. The lower limit is commonly 60 % 

of the upper, but it varies. 

The lower limit should allow maintenance of a selfsustaining 

population, and at the same time enable a minimum 

feasible level of management. The upper limit must 

be consistent with the objective of maintaining a thriving 

natural ecological balance with the habitat and all other 

creatures in the herd management area. It would be helpful 

if BLM would publish the collective national AML lower 

limit in addition to the upper limit. 

Selective Removal – Animals are removed periodically 

to return the herd to the lower limit of the AML range. 

It is possible to remove only younger animals that are more 

readily adoptable. Use of this removal standard will allow 

the older and unadoptable animals to be retained in the herd 

to live out their natural lives on the rangelands. That alleviates 

the high cost of putting animals into long term holding 

facilities. Unfortunately, the adoption market has taken 

a nose dive, so the utility of removing adoptable animals 

as a population control mechanism has lost some, but not 

all, effectiveness during the current recession. The desired 

herd characteristics should be defined and used to select the 

younger animals that will be retained for orderly breeding 

stock replacement and even age structure of the herd. 

Fertility Control – Fertility control has become a 

widely used tool for restraining reproduction. Currently, 

the most widely used method is PZP. The majority of herds 

implementing PZP vaccination use a 22 month controlled 

release formula administered in conjunction with a gather. 

Some analysis indicates this 22 month formula provides 

infertility at 94% for year one, 82% for year two, and 68 

% for year three. Fertility returns to normal on the fourth 

year. BLM issued an instruction memo in March of 2009 to 

direct and guide the implementation of fertility control in 

the field. It is one of the more effectively written instruction 

memos I have seen. For example, it says in part “It is the 

policy of BLM to apply fertility control as a component of 

all gathers unless there is a compelling management reason 

not to do so.” 

Sex Ratio – Some analysis indicates that modest 

changes in herd sex structure can slow the growth rate of 

the herd comparable to contraceptives. When small alterations 

in sex ratio are combined with fertility control, even 

greater reductions are seen. On the other hand, common 

sense suggests that herd sex ratios favoring males higher 

than the natural norm of 50/50 will cause increasing stress 

and turmoil in the herd as the males increase. That is caused 

by the occurrence of more aggressive males fighting for 

fewer females. The agitation increases the number of harems 

and decreases the harem size. 

Non-Breeding Herd Component – A substantial 

non-breeding component has been designed and planned 

for the Nevada Wild Horse Range. The target is a breeding 

herd of 240 to 400 plus a non-breeding component of 60 to 

100 geldings for a total AML of 300 to 500. The sex ratio 

is planned at 60/40 in favor of males. This is an interesting 

experiment that bears watching. Although I have not seen 

it mentioned, I think a potential benefit of the non-breeding 

component is as a stress reduction agent. For example, it 

could be used to relieve the stress and turmoil caused by 

sex ratio manipulation favoring males in any herd. The 

number of males that exceed the number of females can 

be gelded. That would leave the breeding herd sex ratio at 

the norm of 50/50. This should be given consideration so 

that the sex ratio manipulation could be applied to reduce 

reproduction rates while mitigating the potential stress and 

turmoil increase. 

Gather Frequency – The gathering frequency can be 

varied from every year up to every fourth year or longer. 

Along with selective removal and fertility control, this is 

helpful to adjust and control the herd increase rate. 

Jenkins Model – The model utilizes the WinEquus 

software created by Dr. Stephen Jenkins of the Department 

of Biology, University of Nevada at Reno. This population 

model was designed to help wild horse and burro specialists 

evaluate the different management alternatives under 

consideration for a given herd. All the recent wild horse 

management and gather plans use the Jenkins Model to 

develop combinations of factors for evaluation and decide 

on a preferred alternative. It is effective and invaluable. The 

potential amount of combinations is so great that they are 

cumbersome at best without the modeling capability. 

There is a recent flurry of wild horse management 

and gather plans that utilize the variable factors and the 

Jenkins Model for evaluation. There seems to be no limit 

on the room for creativity and the field offices are making 

good use of the opportunity. In fact, I would characterize 

the wild horse planning and management activity currently 

underway as one of the most energetic and sweeping biological 

experiments in the history of public lands. Given 

that state of affairs, I believe BLM is well equipped with 

planning tools, including population modeling, to do their 

job of managing wild horses. 

So What’s Wrong? - Why is BLM encountering so 

much difficulty? I believe there are two systemic problems 

that are bogging them down. 1) No will to stop accumulating 

excess wild horses in holding facilities, and 2) An 

absence of dependable and consistent funding to finance 

the management task. 

Accumulating Excess in Holding Facilities – Drawing 

on my experience, I am convinced it is possible to 

manage all herds within an AML range and keep them self 

sustaining without necessity of exporting animals to holding 

facilities. It can require time and patience to get a herd 

shaped up to do so, but it is quite possible if you focus on 

that objective. I say that because my crew in the Susanville 

District designed an experiment with that objective explicitly 

stated. The experiment was implemented on the thirteen 

Susanville HMAs and it was successful; without three 

of the tools now available – Fertility Control, Sex Ratio, and 

Non-Breeding Component. These tools have added to the 

capability to make herds self sufficient. 

Not only is self sufficiency possible, it is of paramount 

importance. That is beyond dispute. There is a saying that 

“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is quit 

digging!” BLM needs to quit digging. By that I mean stop 

adding horses to the holding facilities. 

In my review of management and gather plans, I have 

not seen any mention of how and when any herd would be 

managed to be self sufficient. There is plenty of evidence 

of the desire to restrain reproductive rates, but no evidence 

of intent to get closure with self sufficiency and stop adding 

to the holding facilities. The BLM field offices have by and 

large had a free ride. They have not been given ownership 

of the holding facility problem. Nor have they been given 

any responsibility to alleviate the problem by stopping the 

contribution of animals. 

Dependable and Consistent Funding – The erratic 

funding history for the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program 

is a nightmare. BLM has for decades prepared ample 

gathering plans that sit on the shelf unfunded. At the 20% 

annual increase rate, the consequences are disastrous. 

Populations quickly propagate out of control. And the 

gathering expense is not just deferred, it is compounded 

as colts start having colts. The consequences render the 

program insensible. 

The Society for Range Management (SRM) is “the professional society dedicated to supporting persons who work with rangelands and have a commitment to their sustainable use.” SRM’s 

members are ranchers, land managers, scientists, educators, students, conservationists – a diverse membership guided by a professional code of ethics and unified by a strong land ethic. This series 

of articles is dedicated to connecting the science of range management with the art, by applied science on the ground in Nevada. Articles are the opinion of the author and may not be an official 

position of SRM. Further information and a link to submit suggestions or questions are available at the Nevada Section website at http://www.ag.unr.edu/nsrm/. SRM’s main webpage is www. 

rangelands.org. We welcome your comments. 



When the federal budget has gotten tight, one of the first 

soft spots identified for budgeting relief has been the wild horse 

and burro gathering funding. The gathering can always be 

deferred and the animals gathered another year as the thinking 

goes. That premise has never been true. It is less true now. But, 

the attitudes that drive the situation will prevail. Time and time 

again BLM has tried to convince the Bureau of the Budget and 

Congress how disastrous and explosive the situation is, to no 

avail. Wild Horse and Burro budgeting reform is desperately 

needed if the agency can be expected to perform professionally. 

Recourse would be to give the Wild Horse and Burro Program 

a status equivalent to the Entitlement Programs. They are always 

funded and funded first. 

Congress passed the Wild Horse and Burro Protection 

Law in 1971. They mandated the current protection and management 

program. If Congress is reluctant to fund the program 

to manage it properly, they should get out of the wild horse 

business and retract the wild horse and burro protection law 

rather than force the Secretary and BLM to wallow in such 

sensitive unfunded mandates. 

The situation is clearly explosive now that we see the 

The Wild & Feral Horse and Burro Management and 

Policy conference was jointly hosted by the Nevada Section 

and Society for Range Management (SRM) as a component of 

SRM’s ongoing Center for Professional Education and Development 

seminars. The conference was held in Sparks, Nevada 

at John Ascuaga’s Nugget from November 3-5, 2009. Approximately 

150 people attended representing diverse interests and 

backgrounds ranging from wild horse advocates, rangeland 

management professionals, BLM, FS, state and county government, 

several Native American tribes, academia, conservation 

groups, Humane Society of the US, domestic horse breeders 

and ranchers. 

The purpose of the conference was to search for practical 

solutions to the current wild horse and burro (WHB) dilemma 

on public rangelands and the issue of domestic horse disposal 

and release upon public and private lands due to the downturn 

in the economy and lack of economic disposal methods due to 

closure of all horse slaughter facilities in the US. The first portions 

of the conference provided a tour of the BLM Palomino 

Valley WHB Center and educational presentations. The tour 

and presentations were provided to establish basic ecological, 

biological and economic realities surrounding both feral and 

wild horse management; practical solutions must be based 

upon these realities. 

Several very key points of consensus were derived from 

the conference discussion forums transcending all breakout 

sessions: 

1) Congress must adequately and reliably fund the 

management of WHB on public lands 

2) Wild horses and burros belong on public rangelands 

of the western US as a component of the 

multiple use concept and must be managed for a 

thriving ecological balance in context with other 

multiple uses as required by the 1971 WHB Act. 

3) Congress must be fiscally responsible to the 

American public. 

4) Maintaining rangeland health (upland and riparian) 

is imperative! All multiple uses on public rangelands 

must be managed for a thriving ecological 

balance that is sustainable over the long term and 

provides for the health and well being of wildlife, 

horses and burros, rural cultures and economies 


ROAM Act looming. If that Bill is enacted, wild horses and 

burros will propagate unrestricted until they quickly become 

a pestilence like grasshopper and mormon cricket infestations. 

Then wild horses will be at risk of being viewed as pests as 

they are in Australia. What a shame it would be to relegate our 

National Heritage Icon to that status through neglect. 

I will close with an historic anecdote. I worked in the Carson 

City BLM District when the Aircraft Prohibition Law was 

passed in 1959. I observed and followed the effect of the law 

over a large landscape in Western Nevada. The law stopped the 

private use of aircraft to gather wild horses for market hunting. 

It also stopped inhumane practices that were being conducted 

in the course of market hunting. Interestingly enough, the 

populations in western Nevada stabilized as cowboys, ranchers 

and sport hunters gathered horses without aircraft and roped 

colts and younger ones for their own use. The wild horse populations 

became stable for 12 years until the Wild Horse Law 

was passed in 1971. Then the populations were released and 

exploded without controls under the protection law. The irony 

is the wild horse populations stabilized in the 12 year period 

without costing taxpayers one thin dime. 

Summary Points from the 

The 2009 Conference on Wild & Feral Horse 

and Burro Management and Policy 

and the rangeland resources on which all are 

dependent. 

5) HR 1018, the ROAM Act, was not supported by anyone 

or any entity represented at the conference. 

6) Tribal entities, their sovereign lands, enterprises, 

cultures and economies are being adversely affected 

by US federal policies and regulations on 

wild horse and burro management, and loss of 

disposal of their excess horses through US horse 

slaughter facilities. 

7) Tribes want to be consulted and included in policy 

and regulatory development processes as delineated 

in current law and regulation. The tribal representatives 

present at the conference all expressed 

their disappointment in lack of consultation and 

coordination from federal entities. 

8) There is a need for credible information and 

education about wild horses, their management, 

impact upon rangelands, population numbers and 

dynamics, fertility control, alternative management 

options, etc. An information clearinghouse 

consisting of representatives from various associated 

interests, agency representatives, academia 

and range science was proposed. 

Although not unanimous, the majority of attendants supported 

DOI Secretary Salazar’s WHB management proposal 

as a beginning. However, in order for the Secretary’s proposal 

to be successful, WHB populations on the public rangelands 

must be brought to and kept at appropriate management levels 

(AML). AML on public rangelands must be achieved in order 

to: 

• protect rangelands and multiple uses 

• maintain the number of excess horses from public 

rangelands in equilibrium with disposal potential, 

i.e. the number of wild horses in long-term holding 

cannot continue to increase and should be eliminated 

over time 

Additionally, the majority expressed the opinion that Congress 

cannot continue to mandate BLM management of wild 

horses while depriving BLM any of the management options 

authorized in the 1971 WHB Act and withholding adequate 

and consistent funding. 

Rex Cleary 

Rex Cleary put in a career 

with BLM in Nevada, Montana 

and northeast California. 

His wild horse experience 

includes the Carson City 

District Office (1959 to 1963) 

where as a range con, Rex 

observed and followed the 

effect on western Nevada wild 

horse populations resulting 

from the enactment of the Aircraft 

Prohibition Law in 1959. 

The law stopped the private 

use of aircraft to gather wild 

horses for market hunting. 

Rex was in Montana 

(1967 to 1975) first as wild 

horse staff assistant to the 

State Director for wild horses 

while the issue was raging 

over the Pryor Mtn. horses 

and then as Billings District 

Manager where he managed 

the Pryor Mtn. Wild 

Horse Range for four years. 

In the Susanville District 

Office (1975 to 1989), Rex 

served as District Manager for 

14 years. The District had well 

over 5,000 wild horses before 

gathering was begun. When 

the dust settled, the District 

had 13 HMAs with a total 

AML of around 1,300. Rex 

established and managed the 

Modoc-Washoe Experimental 

Stewardship Program. One 

of the successful experiments 

conducted was to manage the 

wild horse herds within AML 

and be self sufficient so that 

no horses would be added to 

the national holding facilities. 


Photo 

Laurie 

Errington-10/09 

Cory Shelman Retires Nevada 

Stallion Stakes Trophy 

The Tom Kane Revolving Trophy which has been awarded to the Nevada Stallion 

Stakes Open Snaffle Bit Champion since the inception of the event in 1990 was finally 

retired after twenty years by Cory Shelman of Burns, OR, at the Nevada Stallion Stakes 

held in Elko on August 22 and 23, 2009. The award was sponsored by the family of the 

late Tom Kane who was a long-time fair board member, president, and life-long supporter 

of the Elko County Fair stockhorse events. Shelman outscored the other twenty horses 

in the event on DW He Be A Playgun, a 2005 gray stallion by Playgun, owned by he and 

Linda Bunch of Tuscarora, NV, to win the event for the third time. In commenting on 

his most recent win, Shelman said “Pistol is a tough little bugger who doesn’t know the 

meaning of the word quit. Retiring the Tom Kane trophy was an added thrill, especially 

when one looks at the roster of previous winners..it reads like a Who’s Who of Great Basin 

horsemen and women. I feel a real sense of humility, honor, and achievement to be able to 

take it home for keeps.” Previous winners of the trophy were 1990- Karla Jones -Scootin 

Boogie(Karla Jones), 1991-Jim Vincent-Small Town Pride (Willis and Shirley Packer), 

1992-Bill Horn-Como Doc Beaver (Bill and Rita Horn), 1993-Leroy Horn-Wendy Cal Tivio 

(Leroy Horn), 1994-Jim Barton-Zippo Red Colonel(Jim Barton), 1995-Bill Van Norman – 

Mee Colonel Zippo(Bill Van Norman), 1996-Bill Van Norman-Mee Red Jackie(Bill Van 

Norman), 1997-Martin Black – Fancy Stormy Blue(Susan Robinson), 1998-Tink Elordi- 

Oliver Jacob(Tink Elordi), 1999-Tom Hagwood-Chexout The Calboy(Tom Hagwood), 

2000-Doug Koontz – Till A Leo(Doug Koontz), 2001-Cory Shelman – Dry N Freckles (Jay 

Wright), 2002-Ty Van Norman-Showstoppin Boon(Van Norman Quarter Horses), 2003- 

Brad Bowlen-Feathers N’ Cash(John and Billie Filippini), 2004-Doug Koontz –Young 

Widower(Doug Koontz), 2005-Cory Shelman-FL Mister Dual Pic(Ken Jones), 2006-Gary 

Stark – Smokums Filly(Brent and Kathy Reynolds), 2007-Carmen Buckingham-Hesa 

Quien Sabe(Carmen Buckingham), 2008-Flint Lee – Freckled Lil Pepto(Dean and Sharon 

Rhoads), and 2009-Cory Shelman-DW He Be A Playgun(Shelman/Bunch Joint Venture). 



F i n a n c i a l Fo c u s 

Presented by Sonny Davidson, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones in Elko, Nevada 

Here’s Your Year-end Investment Checklist 

We’ve pretty much seen it all this past year— a bear market, a long rally and even a 

period of neither-up-nor-down. But even though we’ve only got a few weeks left of 2009, 

you still have time to make some moves that can pay off for you in 2010 — and beyond. 

Here are a few suggestions to consider: 

• “Max out” on your IRA — and make regular contributions next year. For the 2009 

tax year, you can contribute up to $5,000 to a traditional or Roth IRA, or $6,000 if you’re 

50 or older. And you have until April 15, 2010, to fully fund your 2009 IRA. Of course, it’s 

not always easy to come up with lump sums of money, but do whatever you can to make 

up for any shortfalls in your IRA for 2009. And in 2010, consider setting up automatic 

monthly contributions to your IRA — it’s a much more efficient way to maximize a great 

retirement-savings vehicle. 

• Increase your 401(k) contributions. If your employer permits it, try to add more 

money to your 401(k) or other retirement plan before the year ends. By increasing your 

401(k) contributions, you can lower your adjusted taxable income while you potentially 

build more resources for retirement. 

• Convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Depending on your individual situation, 

a Roth IRA, which offers the potential for tax free growth, provided you meet certain 

conditions, may be a better choice for you than a traditional IRA, which offers the potential 

for growth on a tax deferred basis. Consequently, if you meet eligibility limits, you may 

want to convert your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. However, this conversion is likely 

going to be a “taxable event,” so you’ll need to have money available outside your IRA for 

the tax bill. You’ll want to discuss this move with your tax advisor. 

• Sell your “losers.” If it’s appropriate for your portfolio balance and long-term goals, 

you may want to sell some investments that have lost value to take the tax losses. If these 

losses exceeded your capital gains from selling appreciated stocks, you can deduct up to 

$3,000 (or $1,500 for married couples filing separately) against your other income, reducing 

the amount on which you must pay taxes. And if you lost more than $3,000, you can carry 

over the excess into subsequent years. Consult with a tax advisor before selling investments 

to claim a tax loss. 

• Consolidate your investment accounts. Instead of having an IRA with one firm, some 

other investments with another and a cash-value insurance policy with a third, you might 

want to consolidate all your assets with one provider. That way, you’ll be better able to align 

all your assets with a central, unified investment strategy. 

• Review your insurance coverage. Over the course of a year, you could experience 

significant changes in your life: marriage or divorce, the birth of a new child or the departure 

of an older child from your home, the start of a new job or retirement from an old 

one, and so on. That’s why you’ll want to make sure you have the right amount and type of 

insurance to protect your family and your financial future. 

By making these moves, you can close out 2009 on a positive note — while positioning 

yourself for progress on your long-term goals. 

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward 

Jones does not provide tax or legal advice. 

Wells FFA Have a Clean Sweep at Range 

By Katy West, Wells FFA Reporter 

On September 29th Wells FFA took five members to the state range 

competition in Starr Valley. The range competition started out by having the 

teams gather at the Great Basin College to get their score sheets, and go over 

the rules. 

The Wells FFA made a clean sweep of the competition by winning first 

high team. Myles Nance won first high individual, Katy West won second high 

individual, Shannon Walker won third high individual, and Margaret Wright 

won fourth high individual. 

The competition consists of two parts, the first being plant identification, 

and the second being range site evaluation. For the plant I.D. portion plants 

already growing, and some plants brought from different parts of the state are 

flagged. The members need to know the name and the characteristics of the 

plant. After they determine the characteristics of the plant they have to know if 

desirable or undesirable for wildlife food, desirable or undesirable for wildlife 

cover, and desirable or undesirable for cattle food. 

The second part of the competition the members have to I.D. a marked 

range site. The members have to determine if the site is poor, fair, good, or 

excellent based certain factors of the range site. Also in the information that 

is given about the site is what the desired score of the site is. For example if 

the score is fair and the site is desired to be an excellent, the members have to 

determine what about the site to fix. 

In the end, all of the studying they did for the Range competition paid off 

in a first place wins for the Wells FFA Chapter. 

Wells FFA Attends Nationals 

By Katy West, Wells FFA Reporter 

On October 19th at 11:00 p.m. the Wells FFA Chapter left on a bus with 14 

students and 4 advisors, to attend the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, 

Indiana. The Chapter went to Nationals to compete in Farm Business 

Management (FBM), Poultry, and Job Interview. Teams qualify for Nationals 

by winning a contest at their state level either as a team or individually. 

Seth Garrett, Ivan Kelley, and Landon Rose competed in FBM and received 

a silver emblem as a team. Seth, Ivan, and Landon all received silver 

emblems for individual scores as well. 

Rowdy Hutchison, Melora Weeks, and Emma Ballard competed in Poultry 

receiving a bronze emblem as a team. Emma received a silver emblem and 

Rowdy and Melora received bronze emblems as individuals. 

Aly Reynolds competed in Job Interview, which is an individual competition, 

and received a bronze emblem. 

Five members from the Wells FFA Chapter were honored at the Convention 

for receiving their American FFA Degree. Suzie Taylor, Jenna Brough, 

Jimmy Lotspeich, Sam Howell and Britney Supp all received the American 

Degree. The American FFA Degree is the highest Degree awarded to members. 

Members must have received their State FFA Degree to qualify for their 

American Degree. 

While at the National Convention Wells attended the first general session, 

the guest speaker was Mike Rowe, the host of Dirty Jobs. The sessions were 

held in the Conseco Field House, just a few blocks from where the Career fair 

was being held. The Career Fair showcases different careers and colleges set 

up booths to advertise their schools. Many of the booths are interactive where 

students can play fun games and get prizes for participating. Some members 

went to watch the competitions in their spare time. 

The Chapter arrived home late the 24th after a grueling day of travel. The 

Greenhand Officers are now busy planning the annual potluck that is scheduled 

for the 1st of December in the Wells Elementary multi-purpose room. The 

Chapter Officers are also helping the Greenhand officers with the potluck. 



DR. Margaret, Ph.D. 

How to Condition Score Horses 

Dr. Margaret Winsryg, Ph.D. 208-308-0106 MNM Consulting Services 

Condition scoring is a handy management tool to assess relative body fat 

without the use of scales, gadgets, calculators or anything other than your 

hands, eyes and a little experience. Condition scoring was originally developed at Condition Score 2: Very Thin: Bony 

Texas A&M University for use in broodmares, but has since been developed for use in structures of the neck, shoulders and withers are 

other species of livestock as well. Horses are assigned a score between 1 and 9; 1 being faintly discernible. Spinous processes, ribs, top 

a very emaciated animal, and 9 being an extremely obese animal. 

line, point of hip and buttock are prominent. Noticeable 

First, condition scoring is independent of a horse’s breed, muscling or aerobic fitness, 

space between inner buttocks. Animal 

conformation, age, hydration or gut fill. Condition scoring is an assessment only of the is emaciated. 

amount of body fat covering certain skeletal landmarks on the body, such as the point of 

the hip and buttocks, ribs, spine and so on. While some of the observation points (such 

as through the hindquarters or around the tail head) are also areas occupied by muscle, 

manual palpation and a little practice will easily differentiate between fat and muscle. 

Horses with a gut full of hay may look very rounded at first glance, but the prominence Condition Score 3: Thin: Neck, withers and shoulder are accentuated, but not obviously 

of the skeleton will not change upon closer inspection. Likewise, a dehydrated horse will 

thin. Tail head is prominent. Slight fat cover over ribs, but still easily discernible. 

appear tucked-up and long through the underline, but prominence of the landmarks will Spinous processes, point of hip and point of buttock are rounded, but easily discernible. 

not significantly change. 

Twist is filled in, but without noticeable deposition of fatty tissue. 

There are nine areas throughout the body: 

1) Neck 

2) Withers 

3) Shoulder 

4) The area directly behind the elbow 

5) Top line 

6) Ribs 

7) Tail head 

8) Point of hip 

9) Point of buttock 

Each area should be appraised and scored individually and then the scores averaged 

to produce a final overall score. This doesn’t mean you need to laboriously write down and Condition Score 4: Moderately Thin: Neck, 

calculate each area. What it does mean is that you need to look at the total horse and take withers and shoulders are not obviously thin. Ribs 

into account individual differences. Some horses can be quite plump in the stomach area are faintly discernible. Point of hips and buttocks 

and yet still look a little ribby, (example a brood mare) so the overall score should look at are not visually discernible. Fat can be felt around 

areas other than just those ribs. Other horses can have quite a bit of fat cover, but because the tail head, prominence somewhat dependent 

of funny conformation through the croup, look thin in just that one area. Be sure to look at upon conformation. There is a slight negative 

all the areas, then form a general overall score based on individual areas of observation. crease (a ridge) along the top line, especially over 

When appraising each area, use your hands as well as your eyes. Skeletal landmarks the loins and hindquarters. 

can be hidden by a furry winter coat, dirt, lighting or just the way the horse is standing. 

Hold your hand flat, fingers together, and feel for the reference points. Then walk around Condition Score 5: Moderate: Neck, withers and shoulder appear rounded and blend 

the horse and see if your observations are consistent from the other side as well. 

smoothly into the body. Ribs cannot be seen but are easily felt. Back is level with neither a 

The descriptions for the individual categories are as follows: 

ridge nor a gully along the top line. Fat around tail head is beginning to feel spongy. Slight 

Condition Score 1: Emaciated: Bony structures of neck, shoulders and withers easily 

amount of discernible fat deposited between buttocks (twist). 

noticeable. Spinous processes, along the ribs, top line, point of hip and point of buttock 

all project prominently, with an obvious ridge down the back. Individual vertebrae may 

be identifiable. There is significant space between inner buttocks (“twist”). The animal is 

extremely emaciated; no fatty tissue can be felt. 

Condition Score 6: Moderately Fleshy: 

Fat beginning to be deposited 

along the neck, 

withers and shoulders. Fat 

over the ribs beginning to 

feel spongy, ribs cannot 

easily be felt. Fat around 

tail head feels soft. May 

be slight positive crease 

(gully) along the top line. 

Noticeable fat deposition 

between buttocks. 



Condition Score 7: Fleshy: Fat deposited along neck and withers and behind shoulder. 

Individual ribs can be felt, but with noticeable filling between ribs. Slight positive 

crease down back. Fat around tail head feels soft. 

Condition Score 8: Fat: Noticeable 

thickening of neck. Area 

along withers is filled with fat; area 

behind shoulder is filled in flush 

with body. Ribs cannot be felt; noticeable 

positive crease down back, 

fat around tail head is very soft. 

Significant fat deposited along inner 

buttocks. 

Condition Score 9: Extremely Fat: Bulging fat along neck, shoulders and withers. 

Flank is filled in flush. Patchy fat appearing over ribs, obvious positive crease down back. 

Obvious fat deposited along inner buttocks. 

With winter approaching our horses are getting very thick coats so don’t forget to score 

your horse a few times this winter because you may not see weight loss but you will feel it. 

It is much easier to fix a problem before they lose too much weight. 

Try new Trilution, a complete supplement 

with Vitamin, mineral, direct fed 

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Vitamin and minerals take care of the 

horse nutrient requirements and the direct 

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Winsryg for a 10 lbs. bucket 208-308-0106. 

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The Progressive Rancher Coloring Contest 

Tear out or copy this page, color it and mail it in. Sponsored by Bill Nicholson and Jeanne King. 

Age Groups: 5-7, 8-10, 11-12. 

Mail your artwork to: The Progressive Rancher, 1188 Court St., #81, Elko, NV 89801. Include your name, address and age on entry. 




Anybody who is around horses very much will end up picking up a foot for 

some reason. There are ways to do it that is more fitting for the horse and 

helps them to get good and stay good about their feet, then there are ways that are less 

fitting and can make them worse about their feet. 

The first thing that needs to happen is the horse needs to stand still. If the horse is 

moving around or even thinking of moving they will be shifting their weight or possibly 

leaning on the person or pulling the foot away. If the horse isn’t standing good before the 

foot is picked up they may not stand good after the foot is picked up. So a little effort to get 

the horse to stand before the foot is picked up may help the situation. 

Another part that may be uncomfortable to the horse that some people may skip past 

and create a problem later is not getting the horse comfortable to touch. Being able to rub 

your hand all the way down the leg to the coronary band without the horse stepping away 

or raising the leg may be helpful. If the horse is ticklish and raises the leg as you rub your 

hand down it, it may work out alright and the horse relaz ater awhile or the horse may flinch 

later because of being ticklish and pull the foot away. 

Regardless of the reason its not good for the horse to learn to pull the foot away. They 

can learn that they can take control when they want to and this can be hazardous to a person 

when your shoeing and have a nail sticking out or sharp tools in the wrong position. Try 

to understand why and prevent the horse fro learning to pull a foot away from you. If they 

are worried, get them more confident about what is happening. If they are tired set their 

foot down sooner. 

Ho w a b o u t a Fo o t 

There are a number of ways to ask for the foot and as long as the horse knows to transfer 

their weight to the other three legs and remain balanced on three legs it can eliminate a 

lot of other issues. As the leg is held up we need to feel around and find a place to hold the 

leg that helps the horse to balance. If its a front leg or hind leg and we pull it out to the side 

to far we can make it hard for the horse to relax and eventually thy will get tired of leaning 

away to balance and will start leaning into us to balance. 

But if we let the leg hang underneath the horse, it will make it easier for them to stand 

and balance. Our knees will need to bent and pointed under the horses belly for the front 

foot and the lower we can hold a front or hind foot the easier it is for the horse. If the horse 

gets heavy with a hind leg, just cradle the pastern above your knees and don’t let the gaskin 

area rest on your hip. Again, your knees will be pointed about 45 degrees with the horse, if 

your knees or toes are pointed straight back you are in a position to invite the horse to lean 

on you. Then when we set the foot down we can help the horse by setting the hoof vertical. 

Set the foot on the ground about eighteen inches back of where it would be if the leg was 

straight underneath them. This will help the horse learn to wait and maintain a relaxed leg 

all the way to the ground and even a few seconds after the person lets go. 

There are a lot of reasons for a person to have trouble with a horses’ feet, but like 

anything else with horses, if we can offer a good presentation and build a good understanding 

and foundation for the horse we will get along better. It goes back to the three basic 

principles. If they have the proper level of motivation and we are not in their way, they will 

do whatever they can possibly do for us. 

This should be a Great Investment property ideal for a 1031 Exchange! Deeded 

Sheep Base in Elko Co.: 10,960 deeded acres plus a 29percent public BLM permit in 

the mountains just northeast of Elko. Fifty percent of the mineral rights included. Good 

summer spring and summer range for sheep or cattle. Annual lease income , plus inexpensive 

Ag taxes. Price: $1,425,800. 

Dawley Creek Ranch - located in one of the most beautiful Ranching valleys of 

the West “Ruby Valley” Set at the foot of the Majestic Ruby Mountains with approx. 

1100 acres of lush meadows and good private pasture. This ranch has approx. 6000 

deeded acres. Approx. 700 acres are currently being cut for meadow hay plus two 110 

acre pivots with Alfalfa/Orchard Grass hay. This ranch runs approx. 500 pair plus heifers 

and bulls year long and around 30 head of horses. No water fights in this case as 

the water doesn’t run off the ranch but rather fills a Snow Water lake called Franklin 

Lake. This ranch has been a target for Conservation easements. Priced at $4,500,000. 

And contingent upon being able to complete a 1031 exchange into another acceptable 

property. 

Waddy Creek Ranch: located in a remote Nevada Ranching Valley called Charleston 

which sits at the foot of the Jarbidge Wilderness which is part of the Humboldt National 

Forest. The ranch is bounded on two sides by Forest. There is no power in the Valley 

but there is land line phone. Two creeks provide irrigation water for approx . 138 acres 

of historic meadow. This property has Quaken Aspen Groves and is quite beautiful. Access 

is on a County Road. There is a BLM grazing permit attached to the ranch for 71 

head . Price: $500,000. Terms considered. 

Indian Creek Ranch: White Pine County , Nevada. This is a great property for a 

hunter as it is surrounded by Public lands and has pleantiful Mule Deer, Antelope and 

Elk. There is a large Spring arising on high ground that could provide pressure for 

hydro power, or gravity flow domestic or irrigation water. This is an old historic ranch 

base and can provide summer pasture for cattle or horses and includes Approx. 200 

acres in three separate parcels. Pinyon Pine and Utah Juniper plus some Cottonwood, 

willows and Quaken Aspen. Very Scenic. Approx. ½ mile off County Maintained road. 

Price- $425,000. 

Bottari Realty 

Paul D. Bottari, Broker 1222 6th St., P.O. Box 368 Wells, NV 89835 

Work: 775-752-3040 

Home: 775-752-3809 • Fax: 775-752-3021 

www.bottarirealty.com • paul@bottarirealty.com 

From the Great Basin Tradition 

Bridle Horse Series 

with Martin Black 

Great Basin horseman Martin Black delivers an 

insightful DVD series for the aspiring bridle horse 

maker and admirer alike! 

In these DVDs, Martin 

will share with you 

what he has learned 

from his experiences 

buckarooing 

on some big outfits 

and working around 

top-horseman using 

traditional gear and 

methods. Learn the 

function and use of 

this traditional gear, 

proper fitting and selection 

in the process 

The Hackamore 

The Two-Rein 

The Bridle 

of making of bridle 

horse. This is not the 

latest and greatest he 

is sharing, but rather 

an old tradition he 

wants to preserve 

Order online at www.martinblack.net 

and honor. 

Save 15% when you order the series, all 3 DVDs Filled with great 

for $134.95. Or order separately, $54.95 each. music and historical 

Send a check made payable to Martin Black to: photos this series is 

Martin Black c/o Eclectic Horseman sure to educate and 

PO Box 174 Elbert, CO 80106 entertain. 

Call 208-249-7070 



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U.S. POSTAGE 

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