170- The 'Book of the Goat. 



Treatment after K_fdding. 



While giving birth to the kids a goat is best left 10 

 herself, as these animals rarely require any assistance. 

 As soon as it is over, which may not be the case, if there 

 be several, for an hour or more (thirty or forty minutes 

 elapsing in some instances between the births of kids), 

 the mother should have a drink of oatmeal-water, made 

 by pouring boiling water on a handful or two of coarse 

 Scotch oatmeal, and allowing it to stand until lukewarm ; 

 on no account should quite cold water be given at such 

 times. After this drink, which is the first thing the 

 goat looks for, a bran-mash may be offered her. The 

 mash is made by pouring boiling water over a quart or 

 so of bran until thoroughly wet without being too sloppy. 



The first act of the newly-born kids upon gaining their 

 legs, which they do, if healthy and strong, almost as 

 soon as they are into the world, is to make for their 

 mother's teats. These they are sometimes slow to find; 

 but that is of no consequence, as they do not actually 

 require nourishment for several hours. If the udder be 

 full of milk, however, a portion should be drawn away, 

 as the great weight and pressure will cause the mother 

 pain, and if the milk be not removed it is apt to form 

 clots and produce inflammation; when this happens, as 

 will be noticed by the great heat of the bag, it 

 should be fomented with hot water, rubbed over with 

 vaseline or goose-grease, and well worked in the hand. 

 As soon as the milk comes freely the kids should be put 

 to the mother, and if they do not then suck properly, 

 the teats must be placed in their mouths; once they have 

 drawn a few drops, they rapidly improve the occasion, 

 and do not often require a second lesson. 



For the first three days the milk has a highly yellow 

 appearance, and, containing as it does a considerable pro- 



