d to another
field. As soon as the leaves on the first tract have regrown the goats
should be again confined to this land. In this way the leaves are
continually destroyed. This process can be continued as fast as the
leaves regrow. By this method it is estimated that a bunch of one
hundred to one hundred and fifty goats will clear forty acres of thick
brush in about two years. In countries where the grass grows as the
brush dies, goats will eat some of this grass, but they prefer the
browse.
On some of the older goat ranches, where the Angora has been raised
exclusively for the mohair and mutton, it has become quite a problem to
prevent the goats from killing out the brush. The goats have done well
where other kinds of livestock would have starved, but as soon as the
brush is killed the land produces almost nothing, and even the goats
cannot make a living. To prevent as far as possible their killing the
brush the flocks are moved frequently from one range to another, so that
the shrubs have a chance to recuperate between visits. In this way
brush can be kept almost indefinitely for the goats. On some of the
western ranges, where cattle and sheep have, by continual cropping,
killed much of the grass, good browse remains. These ranges would have
to be abandoned if it were not for the goat. Goats do not in any way
interfere with the pasturage of cattle or other livestock. Cattle feed
contentedly on the same range with the goats, and this fact has led many
southern cattle men to invest in goats. The goats are herded on the
brushy lands, and the cattle range over the same territory and eat the
grass. Horses have a great fondness for goats.
SALT.
Goats, like other livestock, should have a small amount of salt. The
salt should be kept where they can get it at liberty, or else it should
be fed at regular intervals. If ground salt is given, care should be
taken to see that individuals do not eat an oversupply of the salt.
WATER.
While Angoras do not require as much water as sheep, yet they should be
given a quantity sufficient at least once a day. In winter goats will
live upon snow. Men have reported that their goats have gone for a week
at a time, and all summer long, without any more moisture than they
could get from browse and weeds, but even if Angoras should stand this
treatment, they will thrive better with water once daily. It is
estimated that under normal conditions a goat will consume about
one-nineti
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