4 BULLETIN 749, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
(Stmmondsia californica), palo verde (Parkinsonia spp.), franseria 
(Franseria dumosa), mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), and screw- 
bean (Strombocarpa pubescens). 
ee berries of the cedars (Juniperus Spp.) and ei gees (Juni- 
us spp.) and the nuts of pifion (Pius edulis) are eaten readily 
ie goats; but conifers as forage for goats are of low value and, as 
a general rule, are not seriously eroded when there is a sufficient 
amount of more palatable browse available. Frequently, however, 
on overgrazed goat ranges there is considerable injury to conifer 
reproduction. 
8 
> 
GRASSES. 
It is essential to have grass available for does at kidding time 
and during the summer, to provide succulent forage so that there 
may be an adequate supply of milk for the kids. Young kids also 
receive much nourishment from grass forage. 
Many grass species are of high value for goats during the summer, 
and give an excellent “finish” to the fiesh of those which are to be 
sold for meat in the fall. As erass Sante coarse and tough in the 
fall it becomes less palatable to goats, and generally from this time 
n through the winter it is orazed oy Vitle. 
Where grass grows scattered in dense brush stands, it is more 
closely grazed than where it forms a considerable part of the forage. 
On southwestern ranges the gramas' and eragrostes” are probably 
the most valuable grasses for goat grazing. Of medium palatability 
are some of the muhlenbergias,? small feather-grass (Andropogon 
scoparius), pion mountain-rice (Oryzopsis fimbriata), prairie-grass 
ores obtusata), and wolftail (Lycurus phicoides). Grasses 
of low palatability are grazed only when the range 1s overgrazed or 
when there is a scarcity of grass. 
WEEDS. 
The herbaceous flowering plants, “weeds” as they are generally 
called on National Forest ranges, are usually of greater palatability 
when green and tender than when dry. Accordingly, they furnish 
little feed during the winter, but are often important at other times 
of the year. Alfileria (Zvodium cicutarium) on low ranges, however, 
furnishes considerable winter feed: The chief value of most weeds 
hes in providing variety in the forage for does and kids during the 
spring and summer. ; 
1Side oats (Bouteloua curtipendula), blue grama (B. gracilis), and hairy grama 
(B. hirsuta). : 
2 Panicled eragrostis (Hragrestis erosa) and Mexican eragrostis (2. mexicana.) 
3 Wright’s mublenbergia (Muhlenbergia wrightii) and Berlandier’s muhlenbergia (MN. 
berlandievi). 
