SO The 'Book of the Goat. 



The Saanen is highly estimated as a milker in its native 

 valley, and this .character has gained adherents for it in 

 several parts of Europe, especially in Germany, France, 

 and Belgium, where it is largely imported. "It is said 

 that in 1893 several thousand head were taken out of the 

 Saanen Valley. Specimens were brought to this country 

 amongst the herd collected together from the Paris Goat 

 Show in 1903, and great things were expected of them, 

 but their reputation as milkers was not maintained, and 

 the breed has with us practically died out." Peer says of 

 this breed : "As compared with the Toggenburg family, 

 my observations lead me to say that there are probably 

 more large milkers among the Toggenburgers than among 

 the Saanens, but that the best of the Saanen goats are 

 superior to the best Toggenburgers ; in fact, that the best 

 of them are probably the best in the world, giving from 

 five to six quarts a day. One German writer says that 

 some Saanen goats for a time give from 7 to 10^ pints 

 of milk a day, and that this happens not occasionally, 

 but as a rule in the Simmenthal district." I can only 

 remark that I have yet to see the goat that gives five or 

 six quarts a day. 



Professor Anderegg, a Swiss authority, writing of 

 this breed, says : " She is the commonest and one of the 

 largest in the Canton Berne, and thrives as well in summer 

 on the mountains as she does in winter in the stable. By 

 reason of her usefulness she is preferable to any other of 

 the Swiss goats." 



For the photograph of the group of Saanens repro- 

 duced on page 49 I am indebted to Mr. C. Sheldon Bull, 

 of Buffalo, U.S.A., who has been able to purchase and 

 import specimens from Switzerland. 



THE SCHWARZHALS. This is a long-haired breed and 

 one that is always horned. Its colour, whence its name 

 " black neck " is derived, is peculiar, inasmuch as it is 



