46 The Boofc of the Goat. 



Sedgemere Celia, probably the largest doe of this kind 

 ever exhibited, at about the same age weighed i33lb. 



The Toggenburg may be said to be the most popular 

 breed of goat in England at this moment, as indeed it 

 has been for some years. This is due to two important 

 qualities its great milking capacity and its docile, kindly 

 nature. Anyone visiting a herd of goats of various sorts 

 amongst which there are Toggenburgs will generally find 

 that whilst the others move off at the approach of strangers 

 the Swiss will come up to be patted, and will feed readily 

 from the hand. In regard to its milking qualities a great 

 deal could be written. Amongst those breeders who have 

 done much in earlier days to make this goat popular and 

 who have devoted personal attention to its breeding and 

 milking are Mr. Bryan Hook, of Churt, near Farnham, 

 and Mr. Gates, of Guildford. Both these breeders have 

 kept records of the yields of their animals, particulars of 

 which may be read with interest. A goat in the herd of 

 the former, although not quite pure-bred, named Uma, a 

 winner of several milking prizes, gave about a ton of milk 

 in two years. Having kidded on Qth May, she gave on 

 the 1 2th 5lb. 2 oz. a day. On ipth June she was giving 

 6 Jib., and so on till 23rd Jan. of the next year, when 

 her yield had dropped to 2lb. daily. In Mr. Gates's herd 

 one goat gave a daily average of 6 Jib., another 4lb. 6oz., 

 a third 4-lb. 3joz., and a fourth ^.Ib. The largest quantity 

 given in one day by one specimen, Melissa, was 81b. njoz. 

 (iolb., it should be observed, equals one gallon). Five 

 goats gave during their milking period in 1898 a total of 

 7,i4olb. As a set-off against this productiveness for 

 quantity it must be observed that the quality is poor, the 

 milk of this breed, and indeed of most Swiss varieties, 

 being deficient in butter-fat. The chief reason for the 

 Toggenburg being so abundant a milker consists in the fact 

 that in Switzerland special attention to this feature has 



