Chapter XXI. 



The Goat as a Foster*Mother. 



A GOAT may be induced to bring up the kids of other 

 goats after she has weaned her own, though these animals 

 will not do so as readily as cows. There is no difficulty 

 in getting a goat to take to other kids when they are put 

 to her soon after they are born, especially if she has been 

 recently delivered of her own ; but when the little 

 strangers are brought after the others have been weaned 

 and are removed, she generally refuses to allow them to 

 suck, and not infrequently ill-treats them. Some goats 

 are more unmanageable in this respect than others, but 

 when great repugnance to the new-comers is shown the 

 following method may be adopted, and will be found in 

 most cases to be effective ?*'- 



Place the goat it is intended to use as a foster-parent 

 by herself for a few days, and let her udder get each 

 time well distended before putting the kids to her. Goats, 

 like most other animals, dislike solitary confinement, 

 preferring society, especially of their kind. They will 

 therefore more readily associate with the strange kids 

 when there are no others to fraternise with. By allowing 

 'the udder to get distended, discomfort to the goat is 

 produced, which is relieved as soon as the kids begin 

 to suck, and this, in conjunction with the advantage 

 already gained, will often lead to the goat adopting the 



