GOATS OlsT FAR WESTERN RANGES. . 11 



If any of these conditions prevail, steps should be taken imme- 

 diately to stop the overgrazing. The overgrazed areas should be 

 protected from grazing until after seed maturity of the main forage 

 plants, excessive concentration of grazing should be stopped, and the 

 goats should be handled under the methods outlined in this bulletin. 

 If this fails to eliminate the overgrazed condition, there are too 

 many goats grazing the area allotted to them, and either the number 

 of goats should be reduced or the area increased so that sufficient 

 forage will be provided. 



An average of approximately four acres of the grass-brush type 

 and from three to six acres of the true-brush type, depending upon 

 the palatability of the browse species, should be allotted to each 

 goat for yearlong grazing. This is for normal utilization of the 

 forage by goats when they are grazed alone under good manage- 

 ment and kept in good growing condition. So many varying factors, 

 however, enter into the grazing capacity of every range that even 

 though goats are allotted a carefully ascertained area the range 

 should be watched at all times and the number of goats adjusted 

 to the available forage. 



Plenty of fresh, palatable feed reduces the death rate and has a 

 marked beneficial effect upon the mohair production, the growth of 

 the goats, and the proportion of kids raised. Two goats in good con- 

 dition producing 4 pounds each of high-class mohair may yield 

 a greater net revenue than three goats in poor flesh producing only 

 3 pounds of mohair each. Therefore, instead of overstocking a range 

 with a large number of low-grade goats, high-grade goats should be 

 grazed to the number the range can conservatively carry. The net 

 revenue will be just as great, if not greater, and the probability of 

 occasional heavy losses will be largely eliminated. 



MANAGEMENT OF A RANGE HERD OF GOATS. 



The management of the goats is closely associated with the man- 

 agement of the range, and determines largely whether they will show 

 a profit or loss. The effect on the forage is reflected in the growth 

 and production of the animals using the range. In addition, methods 

 of handling affect the animals directly. Bad management of goats 

 on the range may offset all the good effects of careful range manage- 

 ment and careful selection oi the breeding herd. 



SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THE HERD. 



On the range, goats are grazed in herds of from a few hundred 

 head to over two thousand. General range practice has shown, how- 

 ever, that it is most economical to graze goats in herds of approxi- 

 mately 1,200 head of grown goats. Herds of this size produce the 

 most satisfactory results. With herds of less than 1,200 average 



