•1 BULLETIX "49,, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



{Simmondsia californica), palo verde (Parklnsonia spp.), franseria 

 (Franseria dumosa), mesquite {Prosopis glandulosa), and screw- 

 bean (Strombocarpa pubescens) . 



The berries of the cedars (Juniperus spp.) and junipers {Juni- 

 perus spp-) and the nuts of piilon (Pinus edulis) are eaten readily 

 by goats; but conifers as forage for goats are of low value and, as 

 a general rule, are not seriously grazed when there is a sufficient 

 amount of more palatable browse available. Frequently, however, 

 on overgrazed goat ranges there is considerable injury to conifer 

 reproduction. 



GRASSES. 



It is essential to have grass available for does at kidding time 

 and during the summer, to provide succulent forage so that there 

 may be an adequate supply of milk for the kids. Young kids also 

 receive much nourishment from grass forage. 



Many grass species are of high value for goats during the summer, 

 and give an excellent " finish *' to the flesh of those which are to be 

 sold for meat in the fall. As grass becomes coarse and tough in the 

 fall it becomes less palatable to goats, and generally from this time 

 on through the winter it is grazed very little. 



"Where grass grows scattered in dense brush stands, it is more 

 closely grazed than where it forms a considerable part of the forage. 



On southwestern ranges the gramas 1 and eragrostes 2 are probably 

 the most valuable grasses for goat grazing. Of medium palatability 

 are some of the muhlenbergias, 3 small feather-grass (Andropogon 

 seo partus), pinon mountain-rice (Oryzopsis fimbriata), prairie-grass 

 (Sphenopholis obtusata), and wolftail (Lycurus phleoides) . Grasses 

 of low palatability are grazed only when the range is overgrazed or 

 when there is a scarcity of grass. 



WEEDS. 



The herbaceous flowering plants, "weeds'' as they are generally 

 called on National Forest ranges, are usually of greater palatability 

 when green and tender than when dry. Accordingly, they furnish 

 little feed during the winter, but are often important at other times 

 of the year. Alfileria {E r odium cicut avium) on low ranges, however, 

 furnishes considerable winter feed. The chief value of most weeds 

 lies in providing variety in the forage for does and kids during the 

 spring and summer. 



1 Sido oats (Bouteloua curtipendula) , blue grama (B. gracilis), and hairy grama 



(B. hirsuta). 

 - I'anicled eragrostis [Eragrostis erosa) and Mexican eragrostia [E. mexicana.) 

 3 Wright's muMenbergia (Muhlenoergia wrighUt) and Brrlandior's muhlenbergia (M. 



berlandieri) . 



