32 BULLETIN *i49 f U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



There are a number of other miscellaneous costs. Shearing, which 

 is done once or twice a year, usually costs about 4 to 8 cents per 

 head for each shearing. Salt is usually furnished at the rate of from 

 H to -i pounds per goat per year. Goats are dipped once or twice 

 a year for lice at a cost of about 2 or 3 cents per goat for each dip- 

 ping. Interest on the investment, taxes, depreciation of improve- 

 ments and equipment, which includes maintenance and repairs, and 

 minor costs of running, also add to the total. 



In a number of Xew Mexican range herds of Angoras grazing on 

 National Forests, and made up of does and wethers, it was found 

 that, exclusive of interest on investment and owner's labor, the annual 

 co-t of running the yearlings and wethers during 1915 and 101 G 

 varied from about 95 cents to over $2 per head, and the cost of 

 running the does and their kids varied from about $1.62 to $2.78 

 per doe. In some herds it costs more than the highest figure given 

 here ; but few herds can be run for less than the lowest figure under 

 such conditions as prevailed in 1915 and 1916. 



RECEIPTS. 



The receipts vary widely in different herds, mainly because of 

 variation in the type and grade of goats and in the care and manage- 

 ment they receive. The receipts from does are materially affected 

 by the percentage of kids raised. This percentage based on the num- 

 ber of does bred varies on the range from about 50 per cent to nearly 

 100 per cent, though the average is about 60 per cent. The receipts 

 from goats include receipts from mohair, net receipts from sales of 

 goats which were on hand at the beginning of the year, the value of 

 the kids raised during the year, whether sold or retained in the 

 flock, and miscellaneous receipts. 



The average gross receipts during 1915 and 1916 from grown 

 wethers in the herds studied were about $2 per head or slightly more. 

 From yearlings the receipts were higher, because the mohair from 

 goats of this age is of high quality, a large amount is produced, and 

 there is a considerable increase in value of the animals as a result 

 of gain in weight. The total receipts from does, which include re- 

 ceipts from kids up to 12 months of age, were usually higher than 

 from either grown wethers or yearlings. The total annual receipts 

 during 1915 and 1916 from average does in the range herds of grade 

 goats studied varied from about $3 to more than $5.50 per doe. 



SUMMARY. 



On far western ranges goats are raised mainly for mohair and 

 meat and secondarily for milk and hides. There is need for im- 

 provement in methods of management in order to eliminate damage 

 to the range so common on goat ranges and to place the industry 

 on a better financial basis. 



