Chapter XIV. 



'Breeding. 



GOATS in a wild or half-domesticated state breed but 

 once a year. They pair usually from October to December, 

 and bring forth their young from March to May, the period 

 of gestation being twenty-one weeks. Domestication, 

 however, shows its effect in this as in many other instances, 

 and a goat that is well housed and fed on corn will 

 sometimes breed twice in the year and at varying seasons. 

 The best and most certain months for pairing are 

 September, October, and November, as the kids will then 

 make their appearance from February to April ; thus by 

 the time they are weaned the new grass has sprung up, 

 affording a tender bite for their young teeth. But apart 

 from this the earlier in the year they come into the world 

 the better, as they have then all the spring and summer, 

 when feed is best and most abundant, for their growth and 

 development. 



Although the best season for breeding is in the early 

 part of spring, where several milch goats are kept it is 

 not advantageous to have them all in fuH profit at this 

 time, as the supply of milk would' probably be in excess 

 of the household requirements ; whilst in winter the 

 animals would be nearly dry, and then milk would be 

 scarce. They should therefore be arranged to kid at 

 varying periods ; for instance, when three are the stock in 



