GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. dy 
they can go without water for longer periods. When the forage 
becomes dry and the dews are light, wethers and dry does should 
be watered every other day and does with suckling kids should be 
watered every day. 
Goats should be bedded away from water and grazed quietly to 
and from it. They should never be driven hurriedly to it, nor be 
allowed to “shade up” at water, nor be held there for more than 
an hour. An hour is usually sufficient time for them to obtain all 
the water they need. Often greater use of the range is made by 
bedding the goats away from water than would be possible if the 
goats were bedded at the few watering places. The success of this 
plan depends to a great extent upon the topography of the range, 
the presence or absence of enough water for camp use away from 
the stock water, and the cost of transporting water for camp use 
when there isn’t enough. 
SALTING. 
Goats are more easily handled and thrive better if salted regu- 
larly at short intervals than if salted at long intervals. Rock salt 
1s often placed on the bed ground, so that the goats can eat of it 
every night if they desire. Coarse granulated salt is fed either in 
small quantities every night or in larger quantities at intervals of 
approximately a week. It is ordinarily placed on rocks, in troughs, 
or in boxes to prevent waste and to keep it clean. It is believed best 
to feed every night, giving just the amount the goats will eat. If salt 
is fed at great intervals or if rock salt is used, the goats are apt to 
crowd and injure one another. 
Medicated salt is fed by many growers with success, although some 
’ growers think that it may cause the goats to shed if fed too freely 
in the spring. 
The amount of salt fed varies from about one-half pound to 
six pounds for each goat per year. However, it is probable that on 
most goat ranges three and one-half or four pounds per goat per 
year will prove to be most satisfactory. A greater amount should be 
fed when the range is green and succulent than when it is dry. 
SHEARING. 
Angoras are sheared once or twice a year. In the colder climates 
they are generally sheared once, in March or April. This gives a 
longer staple and a more valuable fleece than when they are sheared 
twice during the year, but the amount of mohair from the single 
clip is usually shghtly less than from the two clips. In warm cli- 
mates, especially in the Southwest, many Angoras are sheared twice 
during the year, usually in February or March and in September or 
84091 °—19——2 
