GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. 31 



COSTS AND RECEIPTS. 



COSTS. 



The cost per head of running goats varies- rather widely between 

 herds. The items making up this expense are feed, loss, depreciation, 

 labor, buck service, interest on investment, and other miscellaneous 

 costs. These costs vary considerably with variation in efficiency of 

 management, economic location, topography of the range, improve- 

 ments and equipment necessary, labor supply, and the demand for 

 range by other classes of stock. 



On southwestern ranges very little feed other than range forage 

 is provided except for the bucks. The cost of such range feed in 

 Arizona and New Mexico is often small since the goats are generally 

 run on public domain free of charge or on National Forests for a 

 small fee. Where it is necessary to graze them on private or leased 

 land, as is sometimes done in these States and nearfy always in 

 Texas, the interest on the investment in the land or the lease fee 

 generally increases the forage cost. In the Northwest the cost for 

 supplemental winter feed usually increases the total feed charges. 



The loss by death in the Southwest is generally about 10 per cent 

 of the grown goats, and is due mainly to predatory animals but 

 somewhat to poisonous plants, disease, straying, adverse climatic 

 conditions, and in a few cases to starvation. In many herds the 

 average loss is much less than 10 per cent, often being less than 

 5 per cent. 



The depreciation in wethers is practically nothing if they are not 

 retained too long. In does the depreciation varies from 5 to 10 per 

 cent annually. Where there is a good market for goats as meat 

 the depreciation may even be less than 5 per cent. 



One or two herders are provided per herd of 1,200 to 1,500 grown 

 goats. Mexicans are generally employed and up to 1917 received 

 wages of from $20 to $60 per month and board. During 1917 and 

 1918 it was often necessary to pay higher wages than these. A 

 camp tender is sometimes provided for each herd or for several 

 herds if owned by the same person. The camp tender's wages are 

 about the same as the wages of the herders. A manager is some- 

 times hired for a large outfit. Two or more extra men are required 

 for from one to two months at kidding time with each herd of 

 1,000 to 1,200 head. 



Buck service costs vary widely in different herds, because of 

 variation in the value of the bucks, the number of does allowed for 

 each buck, whether they are traded with neighbors after two or 

 three years' use, and the feed and care given. The average value of 

 bucks used in range herds is $35 to $50. 



