38 the 'Book of the Goat. 



turned out to be exceptionally good. There is no doubt 

 that by a combination of the Nubian or Anglo-Nubian 

 and the Swiss breeds like the Toggenburg, Alpine, or 

 Saanen handsome animals and splendid milkers are to be 

 obtained. The poor quality milk, as regards butter-fat 

 which is the one failing of Swiss goats as milkers is 

 compensated for by the Eastern blood, the milk of Anglo- 

 Nubians being much richer. In all such crosses I should 

 prefer to use the Toggenburg or Saanen as the male, 

 these breeds being the purer-bred animals and stamping 

 their features in a more pronounced manner on their 

 offspring than the Anglo-Nubian. As examples of 

 successful cross-bred goats coming under the above 

 description may be mentioned Miss E. Mortimer's Brox- 

 bourneTopsy, a champion winner, and Miss E. M. Pope's 

 Broxbourne Dorothy, first prize in its class and the reserve 

 number in the milking competition at Tunbridge Wells 

 Show in 1909, the latter an Anglo-Nubian- Saanen, but 

 showing chiefly the colour and characteristics of the 

 Saanen. Both these goats were bred by Mr. H. E. 

 Hughes. 



The crossing of the Nubian with the common short- 

 haired goat has been practised in France with the same 

 degree of success as in England, though on a much smaller 

 scale. In M. Crepin's book "La Chevre " two goats 

 are depicted, each out of a half-bred Nubian by a pure 

 Alpine, and the author reports that they excel as milkers 

 both of the breeds from which they are the produce. 

 The appearance of these animals fully justifies the state- 

 ment. There can be no doubt that the chief advantage 

 gained by this crossing of breeds is the introduction of 

 absolutely new blood, and the effect of this is very quickly 

 observable in improved stamina and a more abundant milk- 

 flow. In England, where goat-breeders have so few 

 opportunities of importing stock from abroad, and where 



