The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-07-09
FOREST EXPERTS
STUDY GOAT
GRAZING
Say It is Desirable on Some
Government Lands but Not
on Others.

WASHINGTON, July Sin COnnec-
ton with the effort to introduce the
best methods OF handling all classes
of live stock on the national forests, a
study of the goat industry has been
inaugurated by officials in charge who
say that in parts of the southwest
large numbers of AngOra goats are
raised for their hair. In 1915 over
fifty thousand of the animals were
grazcd on national forests in six
states.
Goats Desirable.
The goats raised in the west feed
mostly on brushy underground, which
they are said to like even better than
the succulent grass found in the same
region. On this account the forest
service officials say that in many
places the goats are really desirable,
as they thin out the dense brush and
allow grass to get started. In num-
Der of instances, it is stated, new cat
tie range will thus be provided,
Many people think that the fOresters
have been opposed to letting goats
range on the national forests, but Off
Gals say that this is not true. In
some places, particularly in hardwood
regions, goats damage young forest
growth. In many of the coniferou7
forests Of the west, however, this dam
age is slight il the range is not over
stocked and the animals are properly
handled. Often, it is said, they are OF
real benefit in keeping down inham-
mable brush and thus aiding in pro-
tecting forests from fire.
The goats are grazed in bands OF
500 to $500, though the smaller herds
are more common. Sheds are neces-
sary during the kidding season, since
the newly born kids are almost aG
helpless as babies and must be pro-
tected from the cold and wet. After
they get to be six or eight weeks old
it is hard to kill them with club, az
one ranger put it.
When the kids are small they are
not allowed to run with their mothers
Sometimes they are kept in a corral
Just high enough to prevent them from
Jumping out, but low enough to allow
the nannies to jump in. Often each
kid Is tied out to a stake and the moth
er comes in during the day so the kid
can have its dinner.
When grown the goats have consid-
erably more agility and courage than
sheep and fight off coyotes and othev
predatory animals,
Hair Valuable.
Most Of the goats are raised for their
hair which brings from twenty tc
fifty cents a pound, according as fash
ion dictates that mohair and alpaca is
or is not to be worn. The average cut
Of hair is said to be aboue 2l2 pounds
per animal.
Unlike sheep, which can go long pc
RODS without water, the goats must
have water frequently and their range
has to be planned with this in mind
The herding, it is said, has been con-
sidered lazy mans job In the past
the animals have been given little at
tention and some owners still follow
the old plan.
Under new methods which are being
tried, the herders must take more care
with their hocks. The goats are not
allowed to spend more than one night
in succession at any camp, and ar!
handled in such a way that all the
range is used, but not over-grazed,
Officials who are watching the expert
ments say that the approved methods
will doubtless enable the owners to
derive greater profits from their herds
and make It possible to better the con-
dition OF the range.