GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. ou 
COSTS AND RECEIPTS. 
COSTS. 
The cost per head of running goats varies rather widely between 
herds. The items making up this expense are feed, loss, depreciation, 
labor, buck service, interest on investment, and other miscellaneous 
costs. These costs vary considerably with variation in efficiency of 
management, economic location, topography of the range, improve- 
ments and equipment necessary, labor supply, and the demand for 
range by other classes of stock. 
On southwestern ranges very little feed other than range forage 
is provided except for vibe bucks. The cost of such range feed in 
Arizona and New Mexico is often small since the goats are generaliy 
run on public domain free of charge or on National Forests for a 
small fee. Where it is necessary to graze them on private or leased 
land, as is sometimes done in these States and nearly always in 
Texas, the interest on the investment in the land or the lease fee 
comers increases the forage cost. In the Northwest the cost for 
supplemental winter feed usually increases the total feed charges. 
The loss by death in the Southwest is generally about 10 per cent 
of the grown goats, and is due mainly to predatory animals but 
somewhat to poisonous plants, disease, straying, adverse climatic 
conditions, and in a few cases to starvation. In many herds the 
average loss is much less than 10 per cent, often being less than 
D per cent. 
The depreciation in wethers is practically nothing if they are not 
retained too long. In does the depreciation varies from 5 to 10 per 
cent annually. Where there is a good market for goats as meat 
the depreciation may even be less than 5 5 per cent. 
One or two herders are provided per herd of 1,200 to 1,500 grown 
goats. Mexicans are generally employed and up to 1917 received 
Sgt: of from $20 to $60 per month and board. During 1917 and 
1918 it was often necessary to pay higher wages than these. A 
camp tender is sometimes provided for each herd or for several 
herds if owned by the same person. The camp tender’s wages are 
about the same as the wages of the herders. A manager is some- 
times hired for a large outfit. Two or more extra men are a 
for from one to two months at kidding time with each herd of 
1,000 to 1,200 head. 
Buck service costs vary widely in different herds, because of 
variation in the value of the bucks, the number of does allowed for 
each buck, whether they are titled with neighbors after two or 
three years’ use, and the feed and care given. The average value of 
bucks used in range herds is $35 to $50 
