GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. 17 



they can go without water for longer periods. When the forage 

 becomes dry and the dews are light, wethers and dry does should 

 be watered every other day and does with suckling kids should be 

 watered every daj^. 



Goats should be bedded away from water and grazed quietly to 

 and from it. The} T should never be driven hurriedly to it, nor be 

 allowed to " shade up " at water, nor be held there for more than 

 an hour. An hour is usually sufficient time for them to obtain all 

 the water they need. Often greater use of the range is made by 

 bedding the goats away from water than would be possible if the 

 goats were bedded at the few watering places. The success of this 

 plan depends to a great extent upon the topography of the range, 

 the presence or absence of enough water for camp use away from 

 the stock water, and the cost of transporting water for camp use 

 when there isn't enough. 



SALTING. 



Goats are more easily handled and thrive better if salted regu- 

 larly at short intervals than if salted at long intervals. Rock salt 

 is often placed on the bed ground, so that the goats can eat of it 

 every night if they desire. Coarse granulated salt is fed either in 

 small quantities every night or in larger quantities at intervals of 

 approximately a week. It is ordinarily placed on rocks, in troughs, 

 or in boxes to prevent waste and to keep it clean. It is believed best 

 to-feed every night, giving just the amount the goats will eat. If salt 

 is fed at great intervals or if rock salt is used, the goats are apt to 

 crowd and injure one another. 



Medicated salt is fed by many growers with success, although some 

 growers think that it may cause the goats to shed if fed too freely 

 in the spring. 



The amount of salt fed varies from about one-half pound to 

 six pounds for each goat per year. However, it is probable that on 

 most goat ranges three and one-half or four pounds per goat per 

 year will prove to be most satisfactory. A greater amount should be 

 fed when the range is green and succulent than when it is dry. 



SHEARING. 



Angoras are sheared once or twice a year. In the colder climates 

 they are generally sheared once, in March or April. This gives a 

 longer staple and a more valuable fleece than when they are sheared 

 twice during the year, but the amount of mohair from the single 

 clip is usually slightly less than from the two clips. In warm cli- 

 mates, especially in the Southwest, many Angoras are sheared twice 

 during the year, usually in February or March and in September or 

 84091°— 19 2 



