GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. 33 



Range suitable for goats should possess a mixture of browse, 

 grasses, and weeds, be free from continued heavy rains and snows, 

 and be well supplied with bed grounds and watering places. 



For proper management of any goat range the forage should be 

 utilized in such a manner as best to meet the needs of range and 

 goats. The entire range should be divided for seasonal use into three 

 parts, spring range, summer and fall range, and winter range. The 

 grazing on these divisions should be of such intensity and distribu- 

 tion as to secure a uniform utilization and to allow the forage to 

 make sufficient growth to maintain itself. 



The spring range must necessarily be grazed heavily at that time, 

 but it should not be overstocked and should be protected from graz- 

 ing at other times of the year. 



The summer-and-fall range, containing the forage at the higher 

 elevations, must usually be grazed during the growing period of the 

 vegetation. The grazing, accordingly, should be well distributed 

 and should be deferred until after seed maturity on successive parts 

 of the division so as to insure proper revegetation. 



The winter range, located on areas low enough to avoid severe 

 storms, should be reserved for winter grazing only, in order to in- 

 sure an ample supply of suitable winter forage. The grazing should 

 be well distributed over the division, and the range close to the 

 sheds should be reserved for use during stormy periods only. 



Overgrazing causes deterioration of the range, erosion, injury to 

 timber reproduction, and impairment of the growth of goats and 

 mohair. Excessive overgrazing may even cause serious loss and suf- 

 fering among the goats at critical periods. The number of goats 

 should be regulated so as to prevent overgrazing. 



Plenty of fresh, palatable feed has a marked beneficial effect on 

 mohair production, growth of the goats, percentage of kids raised, 

 and proportion of losses. Therefore, instead of overstocking a range 

 with a large number of inferior-grade goats, the producer should 

 graze high-grade goats to the number the range can conservatively 

 carry. The net revenue will be just as great if not greater. 



On the range it is most economical and gives the most satisfactory 

 results to graze goats in herds of about 1,200 head. It also proves 

 best to graze breeding does separate from dry does, wethers, year- 

 lings, and weaned kids. 



Open, quiet herding, and grazing of the goats for four or five 

 hours both in the cool of the morning and the cool of the evening 

 with a rest on the range during the heat of the day is the most suc- 

 cessful method. 



The use of the same bed ground throughout the year results in 

 uneven utilization of the forage, a large overgrazed area about the 

 84091°— 10 3 



