2 BULLETIN 149, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the land: third, increasing the production of mohair and meat by 

 decreasing - loss and by better selection, care, and management of the 

 goats. Investigations have been made of all these phases of the 

 problem and the results are incorporated in this bulletin in the fol- 

 lowing order: (1) the character of range required by goats; (2) 

 methods of management of range which will insure profitable goat 

 production without effects detrimental to the other uses of the area 

 grazed: and (3) the selection, care, and management of goats so as 

 to increase the production of mohair and meat. 



RANGE SUITABLE FOR GOATS. 



The suitability of range for goats depends to some extent upon 

 climate and water, but chiefly upon forage. 



The ideal goat range should possess forage suitable for goats at 

 all times of the year, be well drained and free from continued heavy 

 rains, and be adequately supplied with watering places and suitable 

 bed grounds. Since browse furnishes the bulk of range ieed for goats 

 throughout the year, there should be an abundance of this available. 

 Grass and weeds are necessary for does and kids during the spring 

 and summer, but not during the winter. They are not essential 

 for wethers at any time. They are of considerable value at all times, 

 however, to give variety to the forage. On extensive brush areas, 

 the stand of brush should be sufficiently open to allow herding of the 

 goats. On small areas the brush may be dense. Extensive areas 

 where brush grows too dense for immediate use can eventually be 

 made wholly usable by allowing the herds to graze into them grad- 

 ually from adjacent more open areas. 



The value of the different kinds of range forage plants varies 

 greatly with variation in the associated plant species, the stage of 

 growth, the region, and the tastes of individual goats. However, 

 it is the general opinion that the relative importance of browse, 

 grasses, and weeds is in the order named. 



BROWSE. 



Browse furnishes most of the forage for goats on the ranges. 

 During the summer browse and grass are often grazed in approxi- 

 mately equal quantity, provided about equal amounts of palatable 

 species of both make up the forage. In the Avinter, however, browse 

 is the principal goat feed, and it is absolutely necessary on any winter 

 goat range which is subject to continued snow. Evergreen browse- 

 species are of value throughout the year, but are ordinarily grazed 

 most during the winter. Deciduous species are of greatest value 

 during the summer, but twigs and buds of such species often furnish 

 much winter forage. 



