162 The 'Book of the Goat. 



more profitable in the long run, the value of the animal 

 being greatly enhanced, and the yield, I believe, increased. 

 As regards the male, it was thought at one time that he 

 should not be less than two years old, but experience has 

 shown this to be a mistake. Good stock have been got 

 by bucks considerably under twelve months, but it is 

 certain that after that age the male is quite capable of 

 service with the best results. 



QDjfrtim, or " S'eason." 



A goat may come in season at any time after parturition, 

 and until conception has taken place will continue doing 

 so at certain intervals according to the time of year. 

 From September to December, or as far on as January, 

 this is generally repeated about every three weeks; 

 thence till the end of March the intervals are longer, 

 and from that month up to the close of August a goat 

 may go the whole time without showing any signs of 

 a disposition to breed. 'Much depends upon the system 

 of feeding; where the animal is housed and fed chiefly 

 on corn she may possibly come on several times during 

 the summer months. The presence of a he-goat further 

 encourages this desire to propagate. The duration of the 

 period is also dependent on the time of the year ; in the 

 autumn and early winter it will last three days, but in 

 spring only two, and after that perhaps only for twenty - 

 four hours or even less. 



M. Crepin is of opinion that the she-goat is more 

 disposed to breed when in an enervated condition. He 

 has informed me that amongst the herds he has imported 

 from the Alps, and which were brought to Paris by road, 

 having been driven all the way, he has found that a 

 considerable number came in season on their arrival, even 

 in the summer months, being tired out by their long 

 journey. The same authority states in his book that the 



