64 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



carefully watched so long- as they are so tied, which will be from 

 seven to ten days. 



The does should remain with the kids until they leave them of their 

 own accord to go out for feed. The kids may then be allowed to run 

 loose in a pen together until the}^ are large enoug'h to go out with the 

 flock, which is when they are from four to six weeks'' old, or when 

 they are able to jump a l)oard from 12 to 20 inches high placed across 

 the gate. The height of this board restrains the kids that are too 

 small to follow the flock and at the same time enables the does to go 

 and come as they please. W. G. Hughes & Co., of Hastings, Tex., 

 have a device for separating the does from the kids which is better 

 than the board. It is a bridge, either end of which drops to the 

 desired height. This device enables the does to go out and in without 

 injuring the udder, which is apt to occur where they have to jump a 

 board. A picture of this bridge in use is shown in fig. 2 of Plate XH. 



The following is from "California Angoras," published by C. P. 

 Bailey & Sons Company: 



There are in use two methods of handling kids at kidding time, namely, the cor- 

 ral method and the staking method. Each of these has points which render it 

 most valuable under certain conditions and in certain localities. 



Tlie corral method. 



This method may be used with any number of goats. With various modifications 

 and adaptations which best suit the size of the flock, the climatic conditions, the facil- 

 ities for feeding, etc. , it may be used by the beginner with success. We have practiced 

 this method in Nevada for more than twenty-five years. If the herd is a large one, 

 say 1,000 head, three men are required to handle the goats at kidding time. The 

 service of the bucks is so managed that the kids will be dropped gradually through 

 several weeks. At the height of the season we expect from 75 to 100 kids a day. 

 The season lasts about thirty or forty days. Fortunately, most of the kids are 

 dropped in the daytime. 



We have four or five small corrals, fenced with 36-inch woven wire and large 

 enough to hold 50 does and their kids. The doe should be allowed plenty of room, 

 because if too close to her neighbor she may adopt the other doe's kid. Besides 

 these small corrals, two large ones are needed, each large enough to hold 1,000 does. 

 Along the fence of one of these corrals are a dozen small pens just large enough to 

 hold a doe and kid. At the gate of this large corral a lUmp board is placed. This 

 jump board is intended to keep back those kids which are not large and strong 

 enough to jump over it. A 2-inch board about 18 inches high will answer the pur- 

 pose. Another device sometimes used is a platform open at the end, so that the kida 

 may run under it and thus avoid being trampled upon when the goats are going out 

 over the platform. 



The small corrals may l)e made of panel fence and located in a meadow where 

 some feed is afforded. The does should always have some kind of feed at kidding 

 time. 



In the morning the flock is carefully examined, and all does which show signs of 

 kidding during the day should be separated and placed in one of the small corrals. 

 The large flock is now turned out, and one of the men is sent with them with instruc- 

 tions to take the herd at once as far as he intends to go for feed that day, and then 



