GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. 15 
however, that where goats are quietly grazed for short distances 
from the bed ground each day the straying is materially reduced. 
The bad results of the use of a single bed ground throughout the 
year are uneven utilization of the entire allotment, a large over- 
erazed area about the bed ground, poor condition of the goats 
throughout the year, decrease in the value of mohair produced, slow 
erowth of goats, loss and suffering from lack of feed when snow is 
on the ground, and loss and stunting of kids at kidding time. In 
addition, there may be injury to timber reproduction, erosion, and 
even pollution of the water supply to such an extent as to necessitate 
exclusion of goats from the area. 
Several bed grounds.—The use of several bed grounds at different 
places on the range aids materially in securing more even utiliza- 
tion of the forage over the entire allotment, lessens the concentration 
of grazing, and makes possible the recuperation of the overgrazed 
areas and the utilization of each part of the range at the most ad- 
vantageous time. The improvement in the quality and quantity of 
the forage and the reduction in trailing and driving of the goats 
results in better growth of goats and mohair. 
Representative kids in two herds using several bed grounds dur- - 
ing the year showed 6.5 and 8.3 pounds greater increases in weight 
than was made by kids of the same grade in a herd using only a 
single bed ground for the whole year. The does in all three herds 
were practically the same size when grazing began. Those in the 
two herds using several bed grounds were kept in a superior condi- 
tion, which aided materially in the growth of the kids. Kids of 
average size and condition in the two hoe using several bed grounds 
weighed in the late fall an average of 38.3 and 40.1 pounds, respec- 
tively. Representative kids in the herd using the single bed ground 
weighed an average of only 31.8 pounds at the same time. In this 
herd a few kids of does in good condition averaged 44 pounds. In 
the other two herds some kids of does that were in very good condi- 
tion throughout the summer weighed approximately 50 pounds. 
It is seldom possible to apply successfully the principles of im- 
proved goat range management when only a few bed grounds are 
used. The use of many bed grounds, however, makes possible appli- 
eation of these principles. When a bed ground is used for only a 
short period the goats can be quietly grazed close by throughout the 
day. The longer a bed ground is used the greater distance it is 
necessary for the goats to travel for fresh feed. When a bed ground 
has been used a week, the feed around it is dirty, and since goats are 
fastidious animals they trail ever much unused, soiled feed. The in- 
creased trailing is apt to cause overgrazing, at least to some extent. 
Just as soon as overgrazing begins to take place, and the goats must 
