THE ANGORA GOAT. 69 



Those who enter upon the business of goat raising, however, must make 

 their operations conform to their capital, the same as in any other 

 business. They will lind that desirable does will cost from $5 to $12 

 each, and bucks all the way from $50 to $100 each; so that a large herd 

 of this kind, although preferable, will cost a small fortune, and is 

 beyond consideration by most people who will engage in the industry. 



BUILDING UP A FLOCK FROM SMALL BEGINNING. 



Another plan that may be pursued by one who has limited capital, 

 but time and the patience to wait, is to begin with a few first-class 

 animals and build up a flock from these. The result will be satisfac- 

 tory, and the only drawback is the length of time required. After 

 all, this may be the wisest plan for most beginners to pursue, as 

 experience, so necessary always to success, will be gained as the flock 

 increases. 



BUILDING UP A FLOCK BY CROSSING UPON THE COMMON GOAT. 



It is noted in the historical part of this paper that the Turks many 

 years ago began the practice of crossing Angora bucks upon Kurd 

 does. They probably had in mind the twofold purpose of producing 

 thereby a hardier goat than the pure Angoras and of increasing the 

 number of goats in order to supply the increased demand of Europe 

 for mohair. Crossing the Angora bucks upon the common goats of 

 the United States has been practiced since their introduction, and the 

 results have been very satisfactory in many respects. Many of the 

 large flocks of Texas and New Mexico have had Mexican does for their 

 foundation. Building up a good mohair-producing flock upon this 

 plan requires five or six years. The advantages are that the does with 

 which the beginning is made are cheap, costing from $1.50 to $2.50 per 

 head. During the first and second crosses there are many twin kids, 

 thus increasing the herd in that proportion — a condition not existing, 

 except to a small extent, among either the purebred or thoroughbred 

 Angoras; the size and hardihood of the progeny are increased and the 

 liability to disease decreased. 



Care should be exercised in starting a flock by this method to select 

 only such common does as are entirely white; any other color, how- 

 ever slight, is objectionable. If otherwise, the results might be satis- 

 factory, but the probabilities would be the contrary. In handling the 

 crosses the breeder often finds that atavism becomes apparent when it 

 is most objectionable. For instance, the progeny for two generations 

 of a doe having black spots might appear all that is desirable, while 

 the third generation would produce the latent color. 



In starting with a bunch of common goats that you want to use for raising a graded 

 flock of shearing goats you should use only as pure white goats as you can get, and 

 you should allow no colored goats in the flock. You should also dispose of all 

 those that have long, coarse hair on the thigh and on the fore legs, below the shoulder. 



