GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. | cae 5 
SUPPLEMENTAL FEED. 
If range forage is covered with snow for more than a few days at a 
time, some other feed must be provided for the goats. On northern 
ranges and at high altitudes this condition sometimes prevails for 
long periods. On most winter ranges in the Southwest light snows 
which soon melt are the rule, so that little feeding is necessary. How- 
ever, even here a small amount of supplemental feed on wintry days 
and during kidding will pay for itself by keeping the animals in 
good condition. 
All kinds of hay from alfalfa or clover to dried brush or straw 
can be fed advantageously. Where alfalfa, clover, vetch, or cowpeas 
are fed no grain is necessary; but it is well to supplement rough fod- 
der with cottonseed cake, oats, barley, or other grains. Roots are 
sometimes fed as a substitute for green feed. Goats like good feed 
and will ordinarily not eat anything soiled by dirt or trampled. Ac- 
cordingly, they have sometimes been considered wasteful. To prevent 
waste, hay should be fed in a feeding rack and grain in troughs. The 
amount of hay and grain fed depends largely on whether the object 
of feeding is merely to prevent loss or to keep the goats in a thrifty, 
erowing condition. With most range herds, from 1 to 2 pounds of 
hay or from one-quarter to 1 pound of cottonseed cake are fed to each 
goat on days when they are unable to obtain sufficient range feed. 
CLIMATE. 
Climate hmits the suitability of range for goats through the effect 
of heavy rains and snows. Dry, rugged areas are generally better 
sulted for goat grazing than wet, marshy lands. Goats seek the 
shelter of timber or of sheds during heavy rains. Continued cold 
rains may keep them unduly confined to sheds and have often caused 
serious losses soon after shearing where sheds were not available. 
The heavy losses that have occurred in the fog belt near the coast 
of northern California and southwestern Oregon would indicate 
that areas subject to heavy fogs and rains are not well suited for 
goat ranges. Despite these heavy losses, however, small herds of 
goats are being grown successfully in portions of the fog belt, though 
they require more care in sheltering and handling than where the 
climate is drier. Ranges subject to heavy snowfall should not be 
used for winter grazing unless warm, dry sheds, and plenty of 
supplemental feed are provided. 
WATER. 
The amount of stock water available determines the suitability of 
a given range for goats, especially at certain seasons of the year. 
Abundant water should be available on ranges used during the spring 
